Today we’d like to introduce you to Cdchildcare31@gmail.com Davis.
Hi cdchildcare31@gmail.com, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
## My Journey into Childcare: A Story of Growth, Passion, and Purpose
For over 20 years, I dedicated my career to the field of Social Services, working with individuals ranging from teenagers to the elderly. Throughout those years, I developed a deep passion for serving others, supporting families, and making a meaningful difference in my community.
In 2014, my oldest daughter expressed an interest in exploring a career in childcare. Wanting to support her vision, I made the decision to open a family childcare facility, with the intention of having my daughter oversee its daily operations. We started small, providing care for up to six children at a time.
During our first year, the childcare business flourished. However, my daughter eventually decided to pursue a career in the field in which she had earned her degree. This left me facing a life-changing decision: close the childcare facility or leave my established career in Social Services to take over the business myself.
After carefully weighing the pros and cons, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. **I chose to invest in myself, believe in my abilities, and embrace the opportunity to become a childcare business owner.**
Within two years, my dedication and hard work allowed me to expand from a family childcare home to a group childcare facility, increasing our capacity from six to twelve children. At that time, we provided care for children ages one through four, creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children could learn, grow, and develop.
As the years passed, the need for quality childcare in my community continued to grow. With an overwhelming demand for services and an increasingly long waiting list, I recognized that expanding was not just a business opportunity but also an opportunity to better serve families who desperately needed reliable, high-quality childcare.
In 2024, I proudly opened my second childcare facility, located just one house away from the original location. This expansion allowed us to provide care for newborns through age two, while creating a seamless transition for children to move into our original facility as they grow and continue their early learning journey until they are ready for preschool.
**What began as an opportunity to support my daughter’s dream has grown into a passion and purpose of my own.** Today, I am proud of the journey, the challenges I have overcome, and the impact my childcare facilities have made on the families in my community.
My journey has taught me that sometimes the greatest opportunities come from unexpected changes. By taking a chance on myself, I was able to turn a small family childcare business into two thriving facilities dedicated to providing quality early childhood education, supporting working families, and building a strong foundation for our youngest learners.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While my journey in childcare has been rewarding, it has certainly not been without its challenges. From recruiting and retaining qualified, dedicated staff to maintaining consistent enrollment and filling available childcare slots, each stage of growth has presented its own obstacles.
However, the greatest challenge has been financial sustainability. The childcare industry requires an extraordinary amount of time, dedication, responsibility, and financial investment, yet the revenue generated often does not reflect the true value of the services we provide. Operating a high-quality childcare facility comes with significant expenses, including staffing, supplies, facility maintenance, and the ongoing costs of meeting licensing and quality standards.
As childcare providers, we are entrusted with nurturing, educating, and caring for children during some of the most critical years of their development. Unfortunately, the financial compensation in this field rarely matches the level of responsibility, commitment, and hard work required.
Despite these challenges, my passion for early childhood education and my commitment to serving families remain strong. I continue to believe that childcare is not simply a business; it is an essential service that deserves greater recognition, financial support, and investment. My goal is to continue building a financially sustainable childcare program without compromising the quality of care that children and families deserve.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Davis Family Childcare, LLC?
Tamia Lashawn Davis, M.S., is an accomplished childcare professional, social worker, trainer, and community advocate with more than 25 years of experience in leadership, program management, staff development, and human services. She holds a Master of Science in Professional Leadership with a concentration in Training and Development and a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Counseling from Carlow University.
As the Founder and Director of Davis Family Childcare, LLC, Tamia has successfully provided high-quality early childhood education and care since 2014. She oversees all aspects of program operations, including curriculum development, staff supervision, parent engagement, licensing compliance, employee training, and the creation of enriching learning environments for children ages two months to four years old. Her commitment to fostering children’s growth through hands-on learning and developmentally appropriate practices has made her program a trusted resource for families in her community.
In addition to her childcare leadership, Tamia has hosted other positions in the social service field ranging from Program Coordinator for Ward Home Independent Living Services, Counselor for Job Corp of Pittsburgh to a Case Manager with Family Services of Western Pennsylvania where she developed individualized care plans, coordinated community resources, and advocated for services that supported independence and quality of life. Her extensive background also includes executive leadership, counseling, staff training, recruitment, and program coordination roles within nonprofit and human service organizations, she is also a board member of the organization Trying Together who support high-quality care and education for young children by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities that address the needs and rights of children, their families, and the adults who interact with them.
Throughout her career, Tamia has demonstrated expertise in training and development, team leadership, program administration, counseling, customer service, and relationship building. She is recognized for her ability to develop effective training programs, mentor staff, manage complex operations, and create meaningful opportunities for children, families, and community members.
Her passion for education, community service, and lifelong learning continues to guide her work as a leader dedicated to empowering others and making a positive impact across generations.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Patience and Understanding
Compassion and Empathy
Passion for Working with Children
Strong Communication Skills
Flexibility and Adaptability
Dependability and Responsibility
Teamwork and Collaboration
Emotional Stability and Self-Control
Willingness to Learn and Grow
Respect for Diversity and Individual Needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davisfamilychildcarellc.com
- Instagram: dfc7220
- Facebook: Davis Family Childcare LLC Pittsburgh
