Hampton Roads Shared Services (HRSSA) Launches to Support Early Child Care Quality Education Businesses

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Hampton Roads Shared Services (HRSSA) Launches to Support Early Child Care Quality Education Businesses
Added on January 19, 2022 to Press Releases

Hampton Roads Shared Services (HRSSA) Launches to Support Early Child Care Quality Education Businesses

 

HRSSA & HRCF

(Norfolk, VA. January 6, 2022) The Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation (HRCF) with the Hampton Roads Shared Services Alliance (HRSSA) Advisory Council is announcing the launch of HRSSA as a unique program which provides resources that strengthen the early child care business model and enhance overall quality of early care education programs.

HRSSA began as an initiative in October 2018 through the leadership of EVMS Minus 9 to 5, Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsula, and the Advisory Council to improve systemic challenges impacting the early child care industry by offering the benefits of shared services such as automation, technology, staffing, and other best practices necessary for a sustainable business model. HRSSA is now a program of the Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation, a 501©3 nonprofit.

The goals of HRSSA include:

  • Pedagogical Leadership/ best practice supports in a shared services model to improve program quality and improve child outcomes.
  • Quality child care and participation in Virginia Quality.
  • Access to subsidized child care spaces ensuring that all children in our community have access to quality childcare.
  • Increased staff wages and benefits to recruit and retain a quality workforce.
  • Intentional leadership, business training, and networking with other child care leaders on best practices.

“We are excited to now make this initiative a nonprofit child care program which serves child care centers and home-based program owners and directors, the families in Hampton Roads who want more quality education child care opportunities, and our employers who need  sustainable child care services to stabilize their workforces,” said Lauren Small, owner of Early Education Business Consultants, LLC (EEBC), a nationally recognized early child care firm headquartered in Virginia Beach, which manages HRSSA. “We began with a pilot program serving three HRSSA child care center members, and the outcomes for financial stability of each, time-saving processes allowing increased focus on quality education, and overall business sustainability has made it apparent that this organization is exactly what Hampton Roads needs to transform the early child care industry.”

As a program of the HRCF, HRSSA will have an opportunity to serve more early child care centers and home-based programs with the services and training they need to be sustainable through the support of the business community and charitable foundations.

“We are delighted to collaborate with HRSSA in support of this important initiative.  Quality childcare has never been more important to the business community.  As parents go back to work they need assurance their children are safe and being provided professional childcare.  Likewise, children need a great start in their education and the development they will need for their futures in the region.  This is simply a win-win partnership”, said Bryan Stephens, President & CEO Hampton Roads Chamber.   

For more information about community engagement and funding to participate in supporting HRSSA and its early child care program members, please contact the HRSSA Development/Community Affairs Director, Susan Long-Molnar, 757-513-8633

 

About HRSSA

Hampton Roads Shared Services Alliance serves as a catalyst for stabilizing and expanding the child care opportunities for children and their families in Hampton Roads. The nonprofit program of the Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation provides administration, technology, staffing and marketing top quality services for a fraction of the price as well as professional training and consulting to develop sustainable business models for quality education programs. The organization is funded by our partners including Childcare Aware of Virginia, Chesapeake R U Ready, EVMS Minus 9 to 5, Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsula, Suffolk Early Childhood Commission, Virginia Beach GrowSmart, area cities including Newport News, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, as well as our business community. For more information, visit our website, www.hrssa.org or call Community Affairs/Development Director, Susan Long-Molnar, at 757-513-8633.