06/02/2023
Hello families and friends! Most of you by now have received the email and letter I sent out on Tuesday. The majority of our fabulous families have been very compassionate and supportive of our decision to close at the end of the month. However, I have received a couple upsetting remarks and questions so hopefully I can clear those up. I have owned TenderCare Heights for over 20 years. I would never make a decision like this without being 100% sure it is what needs to be done. I feel as though Holly Hatfield and I have ran a wonderful program throughout the years. From the cleanliness of the center to the abundance of activities and wonderful curriculum, we have surpassed licensing expectations. I couldn't be more thankful or proud of all the staff who have been with us along the way. So many went on to have professional teaching careers or climbed the ladder in the child care field. Many of you have reached out to me with just as much sadness as you would have felt all of those years ago. I appreciate you! With that being said, things have changed. The State has changed. Children have changed. Parenting has changed. I knew if the day ever came that I felt like we could no longer live up to my high standards of care to every child enrolled, that we would need to close. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean that we are not providing love, safety, and education to your children every day; because we are! It just means that I feel as though the State is gradually taking away our choice on how we go about doing this. Any of you that have been in the childcare field know that what works for some families, doesn't work for others. Also, that IT'S HARD! In my experience, someone with multiple years of center experience is usually more valuable in the childcare setting than someone just out of school with their ECE degree. The State doesn't understand this. But let's be honest, how many of them have ever stepped foot inside a childcare facility? Even better, a facility on the east side of the state. 😏The best way I have of putting it is this..."We have not failed as a business or as a childcare facility, they have failed us!". Every grant that I have been denied for and received a response such as "we ran out of funds" or "you just don't have the diverse community that other centers have" made me want to fight even harder for them to notice us over here. However, we cannot compete with the west side of the state (who, may I add, received over 95% of the competitive grant funds the past 2 years). Just one of these grants would have helped us to hire 2 behavioral specialists to work with our kids. Many have missed important milestones through COVID. This would have easily been a game changer when it comes to staff burn-out. But you cannot operate a private business in WA when the State has their agenda set against you. That agenda is to eventually do away with private care and turn them all into Head Start/ECEAP facilities. This is not because they are looking out for what is best for the children. It is because of the amount of federal funds they will receive. I believe parents should have a choice what type of facility they trust their child to. It should not be a political game or financial gain for the State . While I think Head Start and ECEAP are very good programs, they are not right for every child. My choices as an owner are one-by-one being taken away. I can no longer operate the type of business I want for this community when I don't agree with the options I have been given. Some of these include not being able to accept exemptions for children's vaccinations anymore, hiring only staff with an ECE degree or equivalent while having the financial aspect fall on the parents, and having to go through the State to expel children with behavioral issues (including violence). Unfortunately those are just 3 out of many. I see them as a risk for the children and a burden for parents. Not to mention, turning Washington's childcare field into an employee desert. No one who spent years earning their degree wants to start out at $15.75/hour only to burn out because we were not awarded the ability to afford extra help when dealing with "the youth of today". These children deserve more, the staff who choose to work in childcare deserve more, and all of the parents deserve a choice in the type of program that helps raise their child.
While some of you may look at this like we are throwing in the towel. Please know that if we could find more teachers that deserve to be in the presence of your wonderful kiddos everyday, this wouldn't be an issue. I will not lower our standards and create a liability by hiring a "warm body". I just have to hope and pray that someone great will buy our beautiful building and be able to find the resources that we couldn't. Or that this change might create a change in your lives for the better. We just want what is best for our families and our staff. Thank you for your many years of support and love you've shown us. Special thanks to Holly, Kaysi, Autumn, Meghan, Jade, Ynella, Rikki, Tayli, Somer, Denae, Karlee, Hannah, Kiana, and Mollie. Also to Korbyn, Alexia, Josie, Summer and everyone else that previously dedicated themselves to our TC program and continue to spread their love of the center. Owning TenderCare Heights has truly been a rewarding experience and it breaks my heart to close our doors. Love and best wishes to you all 💙 ~Holli Miller
