03.
All Our Kin
Across America, family child care providers—often women running small daycare businesses in their own homes—play an essential role in their communities. Yet they're frequently overlooked, undervalued, and lack critical resources. Jessica Sager and Janna Wagner founded All Our Kin in Connecticut to change that, recognizing that by supporting these caregivers, they could create a ripple effect: improving early childhood education, empowering local entrepreneurs, and helping entire communities thrive economically and socially. Here’s exactly how they do it:
First, All Our Kin identifies family child care providers operating informally—often without licenses or professional training—and helps them become licensed professionals. They provide simple, step-by-step support through the often confusing licensing process, ensuring caregivers meet safety, health, and educational standards required by the state. Informal child care operations quickly become stable, professional small businesses.
Once licensed, providers gain access to ongoing training and professional development specifically tailored for home-based settings. All Our Kin offers practical classes, workshops, and personalized coaching sessions on essential topics like child development, early learning activities, budgeting, marketing, and even tax preparation. Providers don’t just get theory—they learn useful skills they can immediately use to improve their services and become more financially stable.
Crucially, All Our Kin also connects caregivers with each other, building supportive peer networks. Providers meet regularly to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and encourage each other. This combats the isolation many home-based providers experience, creating a vibrant community of confident entrepreneurs.
The benefits extend far beyond just providers. All Our Kin’s work has direct, practical impacts for everyone involved:
Families can easily find affordable, high-quality child care close to home, allowing parents to reliably go to work knowing their children are safe and thriving.
Local child care shortages are directly addressed by increasing the number of professional, licensed providers available—creating convenience and flexibility for working families.
Children receive higher-quality early education and care, ensuring they start kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
Caregivers become respected local business owners, improving their own economic stability, independence, and confidence.
Entire neighborhoods benefit economically and socially, as each child care business generates spending, creates local jobs, and promotes a stronger community.
All Our Kin’s successful model in Connecticut and New York City has gained national attention. Communities across America now view their approach as a practical, proven solution to the child care shortage. But replicating this success requires commitment, local partnerships, and sustained support for caregivers.
All Our Kin shows clearly how investing in family child care providers isn’t just about child care—it’s about giving communities the tools they need to grow stronger and healthier from the ground up.
A short introduction to the work here
And hear more from CEO Jessica Sager here