We are incredibly proud to announce the results of a collaboration between WECA and Opportunities Exchange to bring an outstanding business resource for group and family child care providers to life.
The new book, “Build It Strong!: How to Make Your Child Care Business Thrive from Start-up to Retirement,” gives step-by-step expert guidance to ensure child care business practices are in place for provider success.
More on the Book
A practical and insightful guide for early care and education professionals. Whether you’re launching a new program or have decades of experience, this book offers the tools you need to succeed. Authors Kelly Matthews, Paula Drew, and Amy Friedlander bring warmth, wit, and decades of expertise, sharing their own journeys as they guide you through key business practices. From financial management and budgeting to the “Iron Triangle” model of full enrollment, fee collection, and per-child cost coverage, they focus on sustainability and success in child care businesses.
Packed with practical tools and resources, Build It Strong! helps you create a thriving, sustainable program that supports both children and providers, ensuring your success from start-up to retirement.
The Spanish version will be available in the first quarter of 2025.
La versión en español estará disponible en el primer trimestre de 2025.
About the Authors
Paula Drew, MS
WECA Director of ECE Policy and Research
With decades of experience in early care and education, Paula has held various roles in ECE programs, ranging from part-time substitute to executive director. Paula now focuses this experience on policy and research to advance the sector. She resides in Madison, Wis., with her husband, children, two cats, four chickens, and a guinea pig.
Kelly Matthews, MA
WECA Director of Family Child Care Strategy & Advancement
From a family child care substitute, Head Start lead teacher in a trilingual (English, Arabic, Spanish) classroom, child care director, to family child care provider, Kelly has spent her entire career in the early care and learning profession. She lives in Oshkosh, Wis., where she loves to cook, play volleyball, and read.
Amy Friedlander
Philadelphia-Based Early Childhood Education Consultant
Independently and with Opportunities Exchange, Amy focuses her national practice on implementation of new business models for child care, business coaching for child care providers, and automation of the field.
Have questions? Email kmatthews@wisconsinearlychildhood.org.
Additional resources will be available on the Build It Strong website – coming soon!