Our Impact on Our Children's Future
A Transformation at Little Superstars Daycare
Little Superstars Family Daycare in West Haven is undergoing an exciting transformation. Owner Yanerys Esperanza Aziz, who has been caring for children in her community since 2007, recently completed a major renovation through the ARPA-funded and LISC-administered Early Childhood Facilities Construction and Renovation grant program.
Silvia’s Dream Realized
Silvia Arnoso was a preschool educator in her home country, Uruguay, always dreaming of opening a space to teach and inspire children in her community. As a child, she played “teacher” with neighbors, and by 6th grade, she was volunteering at a local preschool. With a clear vision, she dedicated her life to Early Childhood Education, knowing it was her calling.
A Playground - and Flooding Solution
Tucked into a public housing development, The Windham Regional Community Council’s New Heights Early Childcare Program has served the community for nearly 50 years. It supports mainly low-income families and single mothers, many without cars.
Little Wise Family Home Daycare
Diana Gil’s journey as a family child care provider in Wethersfield took a remarkable turn thanks to the Early Childhood Facilities Construction and Renovation Program grant. With deep gratitude, she shared how the grant transformed her space and positively impacted the children and families she serves.
Discover how Connecticut's fragile child care system—and the urgent need for facility investments—is impacting families, providers, and the state’s economy.
Learn how Connecticut is planning and preparing for a much more affordable system of care that will foster growth.
Discover strategic insights that reveal the state of Connecticut’s child care facilities—and inspire action for brighter, safer spaces.
Contents
Methodology, Purpose & Overview
1 Why a Facilities Analysis? Facility Challenges and Funding Gaps Child Care in Connecticut: The Early Childhood Landscape A Struggling Sector A Family Perspective
LISC Facilities Survey Center-Based Respondents
A Transformation at Little Superstars Daycare Family Child Care Respondents Facility Characteristics Owned OR Leased
Silvia’s Dream Realized Historic & Recent Investments in Child Care Facilities Lessons Learned Building for the Future
4 Best Practices & Innovative Models
Best Practices A Playground - and Flooding Solution Innovative Models Co-Location Opportunities Public - Private Partnerships
5 Strategic Recommendations & Implementation Roadmap
1 Discover how Connecticut's fragile child care system—and the urgent need for facility investments—is impacting families, providers, and the state’s economy.
3 Learn how Connecticut is planning and preparing for a much more affordable system of care that will foster growth.
3 Discover strategic insights that reveal the state of Connecticut’s child care facilities—and inspire action for brighter, safer spaces.
Contents
Methodology, Purpose & Overview
1. Why a Facilities Analysis? Facility Challenges and Funding Gaps Child Care in Connecticut: The Early Childhood Landscape A Struggling Sector
2. Current State of Facilities
Silvia’s Dream Realized Historic & Recent Investments in Child Care Facilities Lessons Learned Building for the Future
4. Best Practices & Innovative Models
Best Practices A Playground - and Flooding Solution Innovative Models
Co-Location Opportunities Public - Private Partnerships
5. Strategic Recommendations & Implementation Roadmap
Purpose and Scope of Report
This report assesses the state of child care and early learning facilities in Connecticut, identifying critical infrastructure challenges, funding gaps, and opportunities for strategic investment. It assesses current conditions, highlights best practices, and provides recommendations to ensure sustainable, high-performing learning environments for young children.
Methodology
To develop data-driven recommendations, this landscape analysis utilized multiple research methods, including:
- Analysis of data from the current early learning facilities grant program
- Provider surveys and stakeholder interviews
- Review of existing regulations, funding streams, and best practices
- Research on emerging trends in early childhood facility investments
Overview
This report examines the needs of the early care community within the broader early childhood system, emphasizing the critical role of facility investments, both for increased capacity and to renovate outdated buildings. The following sections will provide a detailed analysis of the current condition of Connecticut’s child care and early learning facilities, highlighting both pressing concerns followed by promising models for improvement, and strategies for sustained investment locally.
The production of this report was supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0128 awarded to the State of Connecticut by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Key Terms and Acronyms
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – Federal COVID-19 relief funding. ARPA added significant supplemental funding to ongoing federal child care and early learning programs.
Blue Ribbon Panel – A group appointed by Governor Ned Lamont in 2023 to provide recommendations on how to implement a viable and sustainable system of early care and education.
Care 4 Kids (C4K) – Connecticut’s child care subsidy program that helps low-to-moderate- income families pay their child care expenses.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) – A federal funding source for child care subsidies.
Child Care Desert – Any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.
Child Care Supply Gap – The difference between the number of available licensed child care slots and the number of children needing care.
Early Care and Learning – Refers to the education and care provided to young children, typically from birth to age 5. It encompasses child care, preschool, and early education programs that foster foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking while ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for growth.
Early Head Start & Head Start – Federal programs providing early education and family support services for low-income families.
Facility Funding Shortfalls – The lack of dedicated funding for improving or expanding early learning spaces.
Office of Early Childhood (OEC) – State agency that oversees a network of programs and services that help young children and families thrive. OEC inspects and licenses child care programs and camps, helps parents find and pay for high-quality licensed care, and offers training and development opportunities to professionals to build their careers.
Mixed Delivery Model – A system of child care that includes various types of providers (large/small, for-profit/non-profit, center-based/family child care).
Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) – A composite measure created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The SVI takes into account 15 different variables about the demographics, income, and living conditions of residents of a community.
Subsidized Slots – Government-funded child care placements that help low- to moderate-income families access care.
Wrap-around Care – Extended hours of child care to accommodate parents’ non-traditional work schedules.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL IMAGES © LISC, 2025.
Disclaimer: To understand our communities and the impact we seek, LISC supports rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods to draw out themes and lessons across the places where we work. Because LISC is committed to building communities of opportunity for all, grounded in the core belief that fostering a sense of belonging is vital to achieving shared prosperity, these reports go where the data and our partners direct our attention – presenting findings and observations in the extraordinarily varied places where we work across the US. By sharing these data and stories, we hope to contribute to the active removal of barriers to opportunity and economic mobility for all residents, regardless of background or zip code.
