United Way micro-grants support early childhood education providers with professional development, renewal
A few years ago, Antoinette Williams began to notice signs of caregiver fatigue and burnout.
She saw it in her staff at Precious Moments Early Childhood Education Academy. And she saw it in herself.
Antoinette was working 10-hour workdays and coming in on weekends, too. In fact, all her staff were working long hours and taking the job home with them.
“Taking care of children is hard work,” Antoinette, the academy’s director, wrote in a testimonial later. “This is a forward-facing job where you are pouring out of yourself from the time you arrive to the time you leave.”
Thanks to a grant from United Way of Central Indiana, Antoinette and her staff attended the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children conference. Team-building activities strengthened the group. And they began talking about burnout and stress.
“... We also began to talk about being childcare providers and people of color and being in an industry where we feel forgotten and that we do not matter,” she wrote.
A mental health first aid class and “breaking down the stigma” teacher in-service programs lay a foundation for staff to feel comfortable seeking resources and help, according to Antoinette.
Precious Moments Early Childhood Education Academy was one of 37 early child care providers to receive Empower to Educate micro-grants from United Way in 2023. In all, more than $300,000 was awarded in the grant’s inaugural year – designed to help early childhood education providers feel empowered and rejuvenated.
Applications are now open through April 12 for the second round of Empower to Educate micro-grants. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to Paths to Quality Level 1-4 child care providers in United Way’s seven-county service area of Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties. Both traditional child care centers and registered ministries are eligible – and they must be 501(c)(3) organizations.
Providers can use the grants for professional development or for renewal activities.
Those working in early childhood education are experiencing staffing shortages, lack of mental health support and high classroom ratios – among other challenges. Their need for support became even more significant following the coronavirus pandemic, said Fabiha Islam, United Way's manager of early learning.
Ages 0 to 5 are the most important for brain development, she said, and much needs to be invested to support those children. But what about their teachers? How can they be there for their students without support themselves?
The micro-grants give child care centers a way to show appreciation for their staff and provide opportunities for growth.
“We want our teachers to show up in their best, and they cannot show up in their best if we don’t celebrate them,” Fabiha said.
Last year’s grant recipients used the funds in a variety of ways, including sending staff to local and national conferences and making a meditation room. Providers said the opportunities improved morale, allowed staffers to connect with one another and made teachers feel valued.
St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center took eight staff members to Italy through Butler University to learn the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. They brought back what they learned to share with the whole staff.
Early Learning Indiana used the funding to benefit all of its Day Early Learning team members, and Marion County centers were given a portion of the grant funds to be used on renewal and rejuvenation efforts that best suited their individual locations, from relaxation treatments to pottery classes.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, teachers at Saint Lawrence Preschool found themselves turning to bad habits, such as eating unhealthily, to deal with stress. With the micro-grant, they started working with a lifestyle and wellness coach and built an indoor vegetable and herb garden.
At Precious Moments Early Childhood Education Academy, services, trainings and programs last year allowed Antoinette to establish boundaries with families and make program adjustments to benefit staff and children.
“I have found my voice with myself, my family, staff and families we serve in our program,” Antoinette wrote in a testimonial about the grant’s impact.
“This grant has truly revitalized my joy and love for working with children and in the child care industry. I am much better equipped for longevity and moving our program forward.”