Think Small’s experience working with early learning providers demonstrates that many benefit from additional, targeted support both prior to and during the Parent Aware rating process. Through Learning Communities, Think Small provides the additional training and coaching supports necessary to groups of providers who share a similar barrier, such as language, culture, or geography. This approach builds individual provider quality and cultivates stronger social connections among providers who are traditionally very isolated. Implementing Learning Communities helps providers prioritize quality and remain in Parent Aware. This action aligns with our strategic plan on Early Childhood Quality. The desired result of this strategy is to increase and retain provides participating in Parent Aware. Our theory of change for this intervention rests on the knowledge that adults learn better in groups or communities, especially licensed family child care providers who can feel isolated. Think Small offered Learning Communities in Somali, Hmong, and English cohorts facilitated by a contracted trainer in partnership.
