May 8, 2026 is Provider Appreciation Day! Today, we celebrate and honor the extraordinary dedication, passion, and tireless work of our family child care providers. Family providers welcome children into their homes, creating warm and nurturing learning environments so they can grow and thrive. They not only help lay the foundation for children’s lifelong success and learning, their impact goes beyond — strengthening their communities, supporting local economies, and giving families the peace of mind that their child is being cared for, nourished, and inspired to play and learn.
We are deeply grateful to be able to support family providers in all regions across New York State. As we know, “It takes a village to raise a child,” so this year, we are excited to celebrate Provider Appreciation Day alongside our valued friends and partners. These partners work to empower, uplift, and support these essential early childhood professionals. We are pleased to share messages in honor of the family child care community from these important leaders and our own QUALITYstarsNY leadership team.
Messages from the QUALITYstarsNY Leadership Team
“QUALITYstarsNY is proud to be supporting more than 900 family child care providers across every region of the state on their quality improvement journeys. The joy, stability, and learning that you bring to life every day for our littlest New Yorkers and their families is essential for building and sustaining thriving communities where children can feel safe, loved, and inspired. We thank you for your service and commitment, and we are honored to be at your side.”
– Erica Doherty, QUALITYstarsNY Senior Director
“Family Child Care educators across New York continue to ensure that children and families have access to comprehensive early care and education. FCC educators, today we recognize you with appreciation and the utmost respect for your dedication and boundless selflessness. You continue to open your doors and provide our youngest citizens and their families with a caring and supportive home-based learning environment. As FCC educators, you provide early care and education to children of mixed ages, which speaks to your professionalism and understanding of child development. You are valued and appreciated for all that you do on behalf of children. Happy Provider Appreciation Day!”
– Yessenia Rosario Adon, Director of Quality Improvement
“Today we celebrate and share our deepest appreciation for the early childhood educators who open their homes and hearts to so many children and their families in their community. Thank you for respectfully and lovingly supporting them to grow into kind and bright little humans.”
– QUALITYstarsNY’s Regional Coordinator Team
Brigid Daly Wagner
Katharine Mora
Jenna Pettinichi
JoAnn Toth
Messages from our Friends and Partners
CSEA/VOICE
CSEA/VOICE (Voice of Organized Independent Child Care Educators) is a union made up and working for more than 10,000 family child care providers across New York State (outside of NYC). By supporting quality, affordable early learning and care in New York and greater investment in our children, our work and our communities, we work to keep providers supported, parents earning and children learning. Learn more at voicecsea.org.
“On Provider Appreciation Day, CSEA VOICE and QUALITYstarsNY proudly stand together to recognize the more than 800 family child care educators participating in QUALITYstarsNY—including the hundreds who are also CSEA VOICE Educators—whose dedication, professionalism, resilience, and expertise are essential to New York’s early childhood system. Together, our partnership reflects a shared commitment to elevating family child care educators as skilled professionals, while advancing quality, strengthening advocacy, and providing meaningful support. Family child care educators are not only nurturing children—they are strengthening families, sustaining communities, and shaping the future of our workforce. We are proud to stand together in recognizing and celebrating your vital contributions every day.”
– Heidi Brandt, President of CSEA/VOICE
“CSEA/VOICE stands in solidarity with the dedicated child care educators who nurture our children in upstate New York. We recognize you as a vital, hard-working part of our communities and the workforce. Both your dedication and commitment are the foundation for the success of our future leaders. Thank you for being there when working families need you the most!”
– Bonnie Caldwell, CSEA/VOICE Director of Early Learning and Care Programs
Family Child Care Association of NYS (FCCANYS) Inc.
The Mission of the Family Child Care Association of New York State is to unify, promote and strengthen the profession of family child care; enriching the lives of providers, children, families, and communities. Learn more at fccanys.org.
“Family Child Care Educators keep our children safe, nurture their curiosity, and prepare them for a lifetime of growth and learning. Along with our network of ECE stakeholders, we invite you to join us in recognizing our dedicated home-based early childhood educators. Thank you for all you do each day. Your impact is seen in the children and communities you serve.”
– Joan Hallett-Valentine, FCCANYS President
