Old Dominion University’s Women’s Business Center has successfully graduated its first cohort from the DreamBuilder program, an interactive online training course designed to support aspiring child-care entrepreneurs. This initiative comes after the City of Norfolk decided to require licensure for home-based child-care providers. The program aims to enhance the child-care business journey by providing a comprehensive curriculum covering key aspects such as planning, marketing, pricing, management, and accounting. It also offers resources, support, and community engagement to participants. The DreamBuilder program plays a crucial role in the creation and supervision of Norfolk’s Home-based Childcare Network (HCN), which is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of children by offering standardized training, guidance, and support to home-based care providers. The program is expected to be offered again later in 2022.
Introduction
First Cohort Graduates
The first cohort of ODU’s Women’s Business Center’s DreamBuilder program graduated in January.
Program Overview
In 2021, the City of Norfolk became the first in the commonwealth to require licensure of home-based child-care providers to one or more children. To help aspiring child-care entrepreneurs and ensure parents of safe, high-quality day care, Old Dominion University’s Women’s Business Center began offering the DreamBuilder program, an interactive online training course with a specialized curriculum.
Curriculum Details
The program, tailored to provide a step-by-step framework to give participants the knowledge to launch and successfully operate an in-home child-care business, graduated its first class of child-care entrepreneurs on Jan. 12. The Women’s Business Center provides the participants’ resources and support to complete the course, which will be offered again later in 2022. Providers will learn how to recruit and hire staff, complete business license paperwork, effectively document and budget, as well as other skills.
Core Issues Covered
The DreamBuilder program covers core issues that entrepreneurs must consider when starting a business: planning, marketing, pricing, management, accounting, managing risk, finding funding, setting goals and more. The benefits of DreamBuilder include a course completion certificate, a draft of a business plan, online weekly meetings with an instructor, a community of peers and access to tools and templates.
Community Impact
“We are very excited to contribute to the advancement of new businesswomen in Norfolk, and to play a role in the certification process for the new Norfolk Home-based Childcare Network (HCN),” said Erika Small-Sisco, director of the Women’s Business Center.
Regulation and Oversight
Norfolk’s HCN will be created, administered and overseen by the Department of Human Services. The department began pushing for rigorous training and monitoring following the deaths of four young children in small, home-based child-care programs in Norfolk within a year. Until the law was changed, Human Services had no ability to provide enforcement.
Mission of HCN
The HCN’s mission is to protect the safety and well-being of children and families by providing professional licensure, standardized training, guidance and support for new and existing providers of home-based care. The HCN offers training, resources and professional development opportunities.
Future Plans
Class instructor Bianca Negrone said the first cohort of graduates are “trailblazers” and will set a precedent for home-based child care in the city.
Application Process
Child-care providers interested in beginning the application process can contact the Norfolk HCN for steps to apply for an Initial Family Day Home License. Contact Roniko Richardson, roniko.richardson@norfolk.gov or 757-705-4378, for more information.
Question & Answer
What is the DreamBuilder program offered by Old Dominion University’s Women’s Business Center?
The DreamBuilder program is an interactive online training course designed to support aspiring child-care entrepreneurs by providing a comprehensive curriculum covering key aspects such as planning, marketing, pricing, management, and accounting.
What is the purpose of the DreamBuilder program?
The program aims to enhance the child-care business journey by offering resources, support, and community engagement to participants, ultimately contributing to the advancement of new businesswomen in Norfolk.
What role does the DreamBuilder program play in the creation of Norfolk’s Home-based Childcare Network (HCN)?
The DreamBuilder program plays a crucial role in the supervision of Norfolk’s HCN, which is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of children by offering standardized training, guidance, and support to home-based care providers.
What core issues are covered in the DreamBuilder program curriculum?
The DreamBuilder program covers core issues such as planning, marketing, pricing, management, accounting, managing risk, finding funding, setting goals, and more to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge to start and operate an in-home child-care business successfully.
