Karen Tylek

Director of Program Operations at Home Grown, investing to improve the quality of and access to home-based child care.

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Licensing is critical infrastructure in the child care system: Through licensing, family child care providers are publicly recognized as child care professionals. In recognition of the important impact of state licensing policy and practice on family child care, Home Grown brought together its first-ever Family Child Care Licensing Work Group. The Work Group consisted of family child care professionals who convened regularly to develop Home Grown’s understanding of state licensing for family child care and develop recommendations for these systems.

Building Belonging: Valuing Family Child Care via State Licensing Systems represents their work. This includes a full recommendation report, videos, and quick guides for state administrators. #childcare #familychildcare #licensing

Read more: https://t.co/4eqGoO7RIE

[Sesame Street in Communities @SesameCommunity]

Thank you, family, friend, and neighbor caregivers! Shout out to Maxine Hynes, a wonderful FFN "I really enjoy being a part of showing children the world and supporting them in their discovery of self and social emotional knowledge." https://t.co/u5uh2MPSC5 #CaringforKids

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

“The most terrifying thing,” says Barb Sinclair, “is that I’ve lost my home and my business in the same instant.”

@anne_vilen's piece illuminates the particular challenges of home-based child care providers in the wake of natural disaster and the effects on their communities

[Anne Vilen @anne_vilen]

In Western NC, after Helene our childcare disaster continues. Here's my latest. Much 🙏 for caregivers holding our communities together. @HomeGrownOrg @dailyyonder https://t.co/C5CO8Nkuav

[Early Edge @EarlyEdgeCA]

Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) caregivers from our CA #LeadingfromHome program participate in social media's #OfCourseChallenge to share more about their identity as FFNs. 💙 @HomeGrownOrg #FFNAppreciationWeek

Learn more about their June advocacy day: https://t.co/mU5g1kAMsZ

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Thanks to all who joined in #FFNAppreciationWeek!

No better way to end the week than by celebrating the work of provider-led network, La Red Latina de Educacion Temprana, including their policy and funding wins. Check it out:

https://t.co/GsU4gRp7Wm

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Policy Momentum in Action: La RED Latina de Educación Temprana MN

La Red Latina de Educación Temprana shares how their FFN caregiver led network is transforming the early childhood system for FFN caregivers in Minnesota.

#FFNAppreciationWeek

WATCH 📽️ : https://t.co/n7oF7ey6L6

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

This excellent piece by @anne_vilen is worth another look. Let's recognize and support home-based pre-K providers in our public policy and funding
@HomeGrownOrg #InHomeChildCare

[EdSurge @EdSurge]

Home-based pre-K provides continuity, stability for children, and culturally responsive care that is accessible for these families.

How could publicly funded pre-K programs enroll more children and accommodate the needs of more families?

Read more: https://t.co/V9UvCgBSxT

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Want to know more about family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care? Check out @HomeGrownOrg's video featuring wonderful caregivers from @myTGnola and La Red Latina de Educacion Temprana
#FFNAppreciationWeek #FFNCareIsAlwaysThere

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

📹 [NEW VIDEO] What is Family, Friend and Neighbor Care?

Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers, who include grandparents, aunts, family friends and neighbors, are the mainstay of the American child care sector. It is the most common kind of home-based child care. Watch our video to learn about who these FFN caregivers are. #FFNAppreciationWeek #FFNCareisAlwaysThere

WATCH ⤵️ https://t.co/QmdHJVDmjn

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

With the current spotlight on child care, Home Grown wants to acknowledge the value and benefit of giving families options for their preferred child care arrangement – whether that is a licensed child care setting or a trusted and license-exempt family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregiver. Currently, more than 11 million children receive care from FFN caregivers.

Two things can be true: families need quality and affordable regulated child care options AND for many families, FFN care is a first choice. Both types of care need and deserve support in our public policy. 💚

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Congratulations @n_renew! 🎉

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Congratulations to Home Grown's own Executive Director Natalie Renew @n_renew for being one of 22 leaders from across the country selected as a 2024 @AspenInstitute #AscendFellow: https://t.co/JESwhDOKxY

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Just over two weeks until #FFNAppreciationWeek! From Sept. 8 through 13, we are celebrating the over 5 million FFN caregivers who look after 11.5 million children each year.

Help us raise awareness and show gratitude for the invaluable contributions of FFN care and caregivers to our communities and society! #FFNCareIsAlwaysThere

Learn more: https://t.co/Np8A2kmYPt

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Want to expand access to pre-K? Let's invest in existing home-based child care providers

"States can increase access by leveraging the existing infrastructure for providing pre-K in the family child care homes that already serve many rural families"
@HomeGrownOrg @dailyyonder

[Anne Vilen @anne_vilen]

How do we make pre-K truly universal? Here's one solution @HomeGrownOrg: https://t.co/Tsfd3ntPdC

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

🔔 FACT: Home-based child care meets the developmental needs of young children through curriculum, activities, engagement, care, and love.

#WhatIsHBCC? Join Home Grown in spreading awareness of this important care type & why it needs support.

📹 WATCH⤵️ https://t.co/VRJfN0nQY4

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Parent Sharon Black describes Shay's home-based child program that her son attended as "heaven."
"I thought it was just heaven there...With Ms. Shay, it was her and only five other kids. So they all got one-on-one time, and it was more of a home setting. And he liked that.”

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

#NewRead via @The74 shines light on the often invisible FCC workforce.

“This has been the most challenging yet rewarding career choice to date. That’s why I advocate — for the people that came before me and those that will come after me." - Shay Jackson

https://t.co/t8Vpg740Rf

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

🤔 💭 Are you subscribed to Home Grown's newsletter?

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news, initiatives and resources.

Join our mailing list here: https://t.co/sjBbVsaLJq

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Wonderful article from HBCC #childcare provider Hayley Village: "navigating a health crisis without a safety net was overwhelming...the constant stress and uncertainty of knowing whether I’d be able to keep the doors open took a toll on my well-being. I deserve better."

[EdSurge @EdSurge]

In this opinion piece, a child care provider shares why early educators need more support and better policies, especially when it comes to health care and retirement benefits https://t.co/YprCgpql23

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

🎉 Happy #ProviderAppreciationDay!

Today we celebrate and uplift child care providers, especially home-based providers, for their contributions and the value that they bring to the young children, families and communities they serve across the country. #ThankYouChildCare

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

"I started out nervously, but surrounded by all of these wonderful women and with my mentor...I am gaining confidence and courage"

Apply now at https://t.co/ALzAUmgfLk

@HomeGrownOrg #HBCCLeadingfromHome

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

#ICYMI- 'How I Learned To Be A Child Care Leader'
"Two years ago, I joined Leading from Home, which has really changed my sense of myself as a leader."

FFN caregiver Catrice shares how her leadership skills have grown since joining #LeadingfromHome.
https://t.co/bC8qsBzd8m

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

🌼 May is #MayAllBabiesThrive Month! 👶🏽

Home-based child care is the most common child care arrangement for babies and supports their developmental needs so that they can thrive. @NCITorg

Our #new resource below shares how HBCC helps babies thrive.
https://t.co/akeG7JnHL7

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Home Grown has been working to build a more inclusive child care system that values and supports home-based #childcare.💚

Watch our newest videos to learn how we define HBCC and hear from parents and providers.

📹 WATCH ⤵️
https://t.co/VRJfN0nQY4
https://t.co/Vzn6iSApTi

[Karen Tylek @KarenTylek]

Join @HomeGrownOrg for an informational webinar today at 5:00 Eastern/ 2:00 Pacific to learn about Leading from Home for #InHomeChildCare providers and how to apply. Register here:
https://t.co/WEAL6s458b

[Home Grown @HomeGrownOrg]

Home-based #childcare is under-resourced, under-appreciated & often invisible.
Provider and caregiver leaders can change that.

Apply for our #HBCCLeadingfromHome initiative or urge a #familychildcare or #FFN provider to apply!

Learn more ⤵️ https://t.co/JbzGJDhjK9