Congratulations to longtime EEBC client Right Start Early Childhood Center for being one of this year's honorees by the Virginia Infant & Toddler Network. This Chesapeake business is one of only nine programs statewide, chosen by region, to be recognized for taking "great efforts to improve the quality of infant and toddler care."
Winning programs are gifted with resources and materials to support their efforts. Way to go, Right Start, and thank you for showing the whole state the quality level that HRSSA is bringing together.
Virginia Infant & Toddler Network recognizes the winners with resources and materials to support their programs. The organization strives to achieve excellence in early child care by increasing the knowledge level and skills of those who care for infants and toddlers, whether in family day homes or in center-based programs like Right Start.
“I appreciate this honor and realize how all of us in the industry have struggled to staff and support for families during and through COVID recovery, continuing to deal with staffing shortages, and many other critical issues,” said Yvette Anderson, owner/director of Right Start Early Childcare Center. “If I had not had the passion for my business and the organizations which have assisted me to create an early child care business model, I would not be in a sustainable situation today.”
Yvette has devoted her an entire career to educating children. She received her degree in early childhood education from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). When she first started teaching in Norfolk Public Schools, there were not many pre-school classes, so she began by teaching first grade, and then kindergarten. In 2007 she bought Right Start, which had been a church operated child care center.
In 2021, Anderson discovered the Hampton Roads Shared Services Alliance (HRSSA), where early childhood programs increase efficiency and reduce costs through shared services like bookkeeping. She joined and began learning about the organization’s management company, Early Education Business Consultants.
During the first cycle of the EEBC’s Early Education Business Program, Anderson sent a former director to participate, and then during the October session, Anderson attended herself. The eight-session program prepared her to improve the technology, staff hiring and training, and business systems to financial stability.
“Right Start was one of three child care centers in the pilot of our shared services business systems we offer,” said Lauren Small, owner of EEBC. “Yvette was anxious to use the training, consulting, and business systems for everything from payroll, time keeping, and collections to methods for engaging, delegating, and training her staff to increase focus on provide a quality education and care for the children.”
Yvette has moved forward on several goals in 2022 due to her membership in HRSSA, continued engagement with EEBC and advice from the Infant/Toddler Network Services. She wants to increase the number of pre-school and toddlers they serve, and after learning more through the Infant/Toddler Network Services, she is thinking about including infants.
About VA ITSN
The Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (VA ITSN) strives to achieve excellence in early care by increasing the knowledge level and skills of those who care for infants and toddlers, whether in family day homes or in center-based programs. It also serves to link existing community resources that support healthy, safe, and nurturing care for children, birth-36 months. Twenty highly qualified infant and toddler specialists work in nine regional offices across the state, that subcontract with Child Development Resources. Ten highly qualified infant and toddler behavior consultants work across our nine-state regions. The specialists and consultants provide professional development opportunities designed to strengthen the capacity of early care and education programs to deliver high-quality services.
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