The child care system in Massachusetts—and nationwide—is at a breaking point. In 2023, families in our state are paying more for child care than their rent or mortgage, with costs exceeding $46,000 per year for an infant and a toddler in center-based care —essentially the cost of sending a child to college. Meanwhile, early educators, despite their critical role in child development, are earning wages at or near the poverty level. This system demands change, and family child care (FCC) offers a promising solution. 

FCC programs provide affordable, flexible, and culturally responsive care in home-based settings, supporting working families while creating economic mobility for educators. For many Latinas and women of color in communities impacted by historic underinvestment, these programs serve as a pathway to entrepreneurship, helping them earn sustainable incomes and overcome barriers that often make traditional employment inaccessible.  

These women are not only transforming the early education landscape but driving economic empowerment in their communities. On International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to recognizing the achievements, resilience, and impact of women worldwide—we celebrate these entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates who are reshaping early childhood education and creating brighter futures for children and families. 

“Quality, culturally appropriate childcare where children live and play is a critical part of the solution,” said Daphne Principe-Griffin, Interim President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “Family childcare entrepreneurs ensure young children have early learning environments to grow and thrive, allow families to return to work, and contribute to our economy as small business owners.” 

Family child care entrepreneurs like Maria Otaño, Keisha C. Marshall, and Lislbetty Castillo are just three of the 5,685 licensed FCCs operating across Massachusetts, showing us what’s possible when passion meets opportunity.  According to the latest Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) report by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), FCCs represent 18% of all EEC-licensed child care capacity, with 44,864 licensed FCC slots for children available statewide. With support from programs like United Way’s Shared Services, these trailblazing women are proving that investing in FCC isn’t just about providing care—it’s about building stronger communities, empowering families, and setting new standards for early childhood education.  

Maria Otaño’s path to becoming a family childcare educator began with a deeply personal mission—balancing work and caregiving while ensuring her son received life-changing medical care. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Maria moved to Puerto Rico and later to the U.S. in 2006 to seek treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital, determined to help her son walk like other children. 

While working at a restaurant and caring for her son after 11 surgeries, Maria realized that opening a childcare program would allow her to provide for her family while being present for her children. Encouraged by a friend with a daycare, she launched Maria Otaño family childcare business in 2008.  

In the beginning, Maria relied on her nanny experience, thinking that caring for children only involved providing meals, naps, and playtime but soon recognized the need for structured education. She pursued certifications through Urban College, learning about curriculum development and child assessments. In 2021, she discovered United Way’s Shared Services program and completed ASQ Online training, which provided valuable tools to track and support child development. . 

“Sí ves un niño con un retraso o un desarrollo lento en cierta área, ya sabes qué hacer... La evaluación nos da claridad sobre dónde enfocarnos y cómo mejorar,” said Maria.  "If you see a child with a delay or slow development in a certain area, you know what to do… The evaluation gives us clarity on where to focus and how to improve." 

Today, Maria’s bilingual childcare program serves ten children and has a waitlist, reflecting the high demand for quality early education. She employs two assistants, including Andrés, who has trained alongside her since 2013. Committed to continuous learning, Maria ensures her team grows together, focusing on individual developmental needs, especially in speech and motor skills. Her program not only educates but also connects children with their cultural roots.  

“Para mí, family childcare representa mucho más que una fuente de ingresos. Es un espacio donde transmito mi cultura y brindo a los niños aprendizajes significativos desde su infancia,” said Maria.  “For me, family childcare is more than just a source of income. It’s a space where I can share my culture and provide meaningful learning experiences from early childhood.” 

Looking ahead, Maria is proud to have achieved her goal of becoming a Boston Pre-K provider, a significant milestone in her career. She now mentors fellow educators and advocates for greater recognition of family childcare providers as vital to the education system. “Invito a cada educador a aprovechar las oportunidades que nos ofrece United Way. A través de la experiencia, se aprende más, se adquiere mayor confianza, se mejora la calidad del servicio y, en consecuencia, se eleva el nivel educativo del programa hacia la excelencia,” said Maria. “I encourage every educator to take advantage of the opportunities that United Way offers. Through experience, we learn more, gain greater confidence, improve service quality, and, as a result, elevate the educational level of the program towards excellence.” 

Keisha C. Marshall always knew she wanted to work with children, but it wasn’t until 2020—during the height of the pandemic—that she took the leap to make that dream a reality. In 2018, she had purchased a home but hadn’t moved in yet. Then the world shut down, and Keisha found herself pregnant, out of work while living with her parents. She was determined to figure out her next step.  

A year after the birth of her first son Keisha started a transportation business, shuttling kids to and from daycare, school and delivering school meals. Keisha quickly realized the balance of motherhood and running a transportation business requires time which didn't meet her family needs. "I started to have mom guilt. I wasn't there for my children the way I wanted to be.  Although my partner and parents supported my journey, it just didn't make sense to me, after all I was the educator, I was a caretaker, so why wasn't I taking care of my kids fulltime?" 

That's when Keisha decided it was time to open her own daycare, she wanted to be her son’s first educator and be there for her daughter who just started school. "I figured now was the time, I was already in motion with running a business but I wanted to be there 100% for my children." Her journey truly took shape after creating a vision board in January 2022, where Keisha mapped out her dream of becoming a licensed childcare provider. Exactly an hour after creating her very first vision board, Keisha received a call from United Way’s Shared Services. 

“The Shared Services program has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments for me and to know I paved a way for my children is another reward in itself,"  said Marshall. The program made this dream possible by providing a license training program to navigate the complexities of launching and sustaining a child care business. The resources, grants, child care classes, a laptop, and a printer. By September 2022, Keisha officially started her daycare, Kingdom Kidz Treehouse Family Daycare.  

The early days were tough. Keisha had saved money to sustain the business, and the C3 grants helped tremendously, but finding the right families was tough. She learned to set boundaries and part ways with families that didn’t align with her vision. Once she did, things started to fall into place. 

Shared Services provided resources to help Keisha improve her operations. "I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do. They gave me valuable tips on handling different situations, and I really took those to heart," Marshall shared. "The business class helped me understand taxes, time management, and how to structure my daycare policies. I'm building my website with the skills I’ve gained." She also found Shared Services' online templates helpful in crafting her parent handbook and designing her curriculum. 

Now, after two and a half years in business, Keisha feels more confident.

“Without this program, I don’t know how I would have made it this far. Everything presented was very well thought out and useful. This program needs to continue, so we can provide children and families with the childcare services they need to become successful. This is the real deal,” said Marshall.  

Looking ahead, Keisha dreams of expanding her daycare and owning multiple homes, one dedicated to infants, another for preschoolers. “I wish I could have at least two centers. I want to have it in a home, though—I don’t want to have it in an industry building because I still want that home feeling,” said Marshall. She also aspires to create a multi-room learning center. “I’m envisioning calling it Doors because it will have multiple doors where children can explore different subjects by stepping through themed spaces—one for science, another for creative play, and so on.” 

For Keisha, this journey is about more than just running a daycare—it’s about building a foundation for future generations. With passion, resilience, and the right support, her dream has become a reality—and she’s just getting started. 

For Lislbetty Castillo, a Dominican woman raised in Texas, working with children naturally complemented her life as a mother to three boys—one eighteen, another thirteen, and the youngest, eleven. The two youngest are blind. She needed a career that allowed her to care for her children while supporting her family and opening a family childcare business provided that balance. “I used to think, ‘Oh my God, I won’t be able to keep any job,’ because sometimes I’d spend an entire week going to the hospital every day,” Castillo said. 

"I started my business with $5,000—what my husband gave me. I told him, 'I want to open a daycare.' He asked how much I needed, and every week, he’d give me whatever he could—$300, $200, $500—until I had saved enough to open. With that money, I was able to buy all the daycare supplies for two rooms," said Castillo. Her journey was not easy. With little initial guidance, Lislbetty had to research licensing requirements on her own. Over time, she gained the knowledge and confidence to run a successful program and mentor others entering the field.  

Angel’s Keepers Learning Center opened in 2016, closed for a year, and then reopened in 2019. Today, Lislbetty is supported by two assistants: Lina Quiñones and Marina Carmona. She now serves ten children, including one with special needs, and fosters strong relationships with families through community-centered activities. Her ability to balance personal challenges while providing high-quality childcare showcases the resilience and dedication of family childcare educators. 

Lislbetty advanced her early childhood education at Urban College, earning lead teacher and director certifications while running her program. She is currently two semesters from earning her associate's degree and has also obtained her Child Development Associate-CDA. She also completed three courses through United Way’s Shared Services: screening, marketing, and business administration..  

"The marketing course helped me expand my reach—I even created a website! The business course gave me clarity on my finances—how much I spend on groceries, daycare supplies, and more. The ASAQ course helped me identify developmental issues in children that may not be immediately apparent," said Castillo. 

The knowledge Lislbetty gained through her education and training has empowered her to improve her program, but her long-term vision goes even further.  "My dream is to open a childcare center,” she said. “It’s tough, life is getting more expensive, and there are a lot of requirements I don’t yet meet. But I want to create a space where children can play, learn, and be ready for school. Eventually, I’d love to specialize in children with special needs and have a space for them, especially since many providers don’t take in children with disabilities." 

With mentorship, education, resources, and community support, these women have not only grown their businesses but also created more child care slots, supported working families, and provided a nurturing environment for children’s early development. Their success underscores the critical need for continued investment in FCC as a cornerstone of early education— ensuring that it remains accessible, equitable, and community-driven. 

To sustain this innovative, women-led model of entrepreneurship in child care, both public and private investment are essential. These partnerships are key to driving the growth of family child care businesses and enhancing the overall child care ecosystem. For example, a $1.4 million investment from the Healey-Driscoll Administration is expanding workforce development pathways, particularly in FCC. 

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Department of Early Education and Care to advance a thriving, equitable Commonwealth, uplifting and centering the needs of our communities,” said Principe-Griffin. 

On this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women leading the way—because every child deserves a strong start, and every one of us has a role to play in shaping their future.  

To learn more about Shared Services Program and discover more amazing trailblazing women like them, visit the Shero of the Month section on the Shared Services website at www.sharedservicesma.org.