This is a free 10-month program created to help you and other family child care programs across Maryland make more money, reduce your administrative task list, and relieve the stress that running a business can bring.  If accepted, you’ll be a part of a cohort of other Family Child Care professionals and business coaches to help you refine your business goals, develop a marketing strategy, implement software tools, and find ways to increase your revenue and bottom line.  This program consists of 57 hours of business training, access to business coaching, and the use of a child care management system designed to help you streamline your business practices.  

Yes, it is free for 10-months, and you will always be connected to your cohort. if you choose to continue with the software once this program ends, you will need to pay a monthly subscription fee.

You must:

• Be a family child care business owner
• Be in business for at least 12 months
• Actively participate or are willing to enroll in EXCELS (at any level)
• Have participated in past trainings and/or feedback opportunities with a Child Care Resource & Referral Agency
• Have a mobile phone
• Agree to participate in the program for 10 months (as long as you are in business)
• Have at least one child enrolled in your program who is not your child.

The Child Care Boost program is open to all family child care owners/directors to help you build on the foundation you’ve already created. As long as you have been in your role for at least 12 months you are encouraged to apply.

We’re providing simple, fast and free software to help you manage your program from a cell phone, computer, laptop, or tablet. The software was designed for and is used by hundreds of family child care providers across the UnitedStates.   We will also provide you with training and support every step of the way to help you learn how to use it from onboarding to implementation.  

Yes, in addition to the software listed above, we will provide you with a choice of free equipment that you can use during this 10 month program.  

We understand how challenging it can be to stay on top of all of the administrative demands of your business.  If your files are unorganized then you need the help of automation and a Business Coach!  No judgement - just help in tidying up your operations and reducing your administrative burdens.

This program will save you time for years to follow by putting in some extra time up front.  You should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week from September through December on business training and learning to use the software.  Beginning in February, you should only need to dedicate 4 hours per month.  Following this 10 month program, you will have learned how to save time using the software and training to support your business and you will grow your bottom line.  

We have program staff and coaches who are Spanish-speaking. And the software is available in Spanish.

Child care is an essential service, and COVID highlighted this and the fact that child care programs need more support to survive and thrive. So Maryland Family Network created the Child Care Boost program, and multi-county support system in partnership with child care resource referrals and child care advocates. Our mission is to help you build a sustainable business, increase your revenue, and get rid of business struggles that keep you from growing.

Do we have to use the Child Care Management Software to participate?

Yes, we will partner with you as you learn how to use a software program.  This business support will help us receive data we need to help you stay full plus you will gain time to commit yourself to the parts of your business that you absolutely love!  

Yes!  The only individuals who will have access to the data that you share is our business coaches and the coordinators of the program.  Any data used for reporting purposes is aggregated, not individual; thus, you will not be tied to anything reported.  Personal information is not shared with MSDE or the Office of Child Care. In addition, any information stored in the child care management software program is protected by technical, administrative, and physical safeguards.  You will select your own password to securely sign into the platform.  We will not have access to your account in any form.

Yes, During the 10 -months of the program, our goal is to help you increase enrollment and revenue so you can afford the cost of the child care management software once the program has completed.  After the program concludes, you will have the option to continue the service at your own cost.

It does! This software helps with enrollment management, paperwork management, attendance tracking, billing, parent communication, lesson plan management, and more.

Yes, you can download a pdf. Document of your monthly attendance that contains the parent signature.

We expect that you’ll spend about 10 hours a month on the program, including time with your cohort and your coaches. There will not be a lot of homework, but you will have tasks to help you grow your business.

Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Center is heavily involved in this project, and provides support and resources around quality, content, best practices and more!

There will be a second cohort for center-based providers at a later date. Our goal is to grow this program to be able to offer it to more family child care home providers and centers at a later date, but this is contingent on us receiving additional financing. We will try our best to grow this program and support more of you!

Most training is held on Tuesday evenings.  There will be some occasions where you will meet with your cohort and coaches on a different day but these will be scheduled up front. We will provide you with an entire schedule.  

We value your time and commitment to this program. Our goal is that you’ll save time and energy on completing business related tasks after completing this program. You will also gain enrollments and increase your profitability.  In addition, you’ll receive the following:

• Choose a new piece of technology (laptop, tablet, printer)
• Child Care Management Software Program
• 45 Hours of Continued Training in professionalism
• Up to 45 hours of Continued Training in Professionalism will be earned through this 10-month program
• 1 year membership to NAFCC.