The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially on early childhood educators. Many have steadfastly served Milwaukee’s families and children, but this commitment has come at a high cost, as revenue has decreased, expenses have increased and uncertainty abounds.
Yimma Davila Castro, owner of Yimma’s Bright Beginnings on Milwaukee’s south side, said, “I was anxious because I wasn’t making enough to pay the bills. Yet many parents, especially nonessential workers, paid their children’s slot to help me continue to be open even if their children didn’t attend so the essential parent could have child care for their children.”
And then there was the stress on the children. Children asked why some of their little friends were no longer there. Toddlers who had been toilet trained began having accidents and had to go back to diapers. Some who were normally good natured began crying, hitting, starting fights.
Fortunately, these providers had support and resources provided through the MKE Early Childhood Education Coalition. In the wake of COVID-19, the Foundation created seven cross-sector teams to convene partners in communitywide relief work. Milwaukee Succeeds, the Foundation’s education initiative, led the coalition, which first began helping providers stay open by procuring practical items such as wipes, toilet paper and cleaning supplies and later by providing stabilization grants.
Later, the coalition shifted its focus to helping providers cope with the long-term effects of the pandemic through trainings in stress management, which were requested by the providers themselves. These Foundation-funded trainings are but one example of the Foundation’s deep and longstanding focus on early childhood education — including research, grantmaking and convening — designed to improve the quality, access and affordability of early childhood education.
The goal was to help providers recognize stress responses in themselves and the children they serve; use effective regulation strategies; and work collaboratively with families to ensure a continuity of strategies between the classroom and the home.
“We recognized that if we didn’t take care of the adults’ well-being, they wouldn’t be able to take care of the children,” said Sara Daniel, vice president of educational services at Wellpoint Care Network (formerly SaintA), which conducted the trainings.
Three virtual trainings for providers were held in July 2021 and one in-person training in August; a training for parents and caregivers was held in November 2021. Additional trainings were held between March and June 2022.
A key component of the trainings was practical implementation tools. All participants learned emotional regulation strategies, such as deep breathing and yoga poses, summarized in a laminated book in both English and Spanish. They also received a big plastic bin filled with equipment to use with the children. This included items like cuddle balls, sensory mats and noise cancelling headphones.
The mental health/stress management program is part of a larger effort by the coalition to reconsider how it and other parts of the early childhood education system supports its professional workforce to ensure quality as well as staff retention. Today, the coalition is more than 30 members strong, and members come together every other Friday to discuss emerging needs and opportunities for the sector.
“We child care providers have to wear many different hats, and it can be overwhelming,” said Davila Castro. “Trainings like these, and the other help we get from the coalition, will help people stay in this field.”