What This Story Is About
- A Nashville woman who spent thousands of dollars and more than a year getting licensed as a childcare provider in Tennessee has launched a statewide initiative — The Bridge Network — to help others navigate the same process.
Why It Matters
- Thousands of Tennessee families are on waitlists for daycare openings, and the complex, costly certification process is a barrier that keeps potential providers from entering the field.
- Aspiring childcare provider Elaine Darden is working with the Bridge Network to complete Tennessee’s licensing process with the goal of one day opening her own daycare.
For Context
- Shetika Davis and Kristina Hale completed the certification process themselves before opening Bridging the Gap Daycare on Sylvan Street in Nashville, and now use that firsthand experience to guide others through the state’s requirements.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) -After spending thousands of dollars and more than a year navigating Tennessee’s childcare licensing process, one Nashville woman has made it her mission to help others do the same.
Shetika Davis is the founder of The Bridge Network, a statewide initiative that guides aspiring childcare providers through the steps required to become licensed in Tennessee.
The costly, complex childcare process
Davis said her own certification experience was far from straightforward.
“It took us about a year and some change to go through the process with back and forths, ups and downs, and it was thousands of dollars of unexpected money that we came into contact with having to pay,” Davis said. “We were not prepared for it at all.”…