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Re-Thinking Dependent Care Options: Full Report
4.4. Leadership Training: Business Management Skills

4.4. Leadership Training: Business Management Skills

Maybe equally important as identifying a business model for care that encourages market entry and helps providers stay in business, is the need to train those who will be or are putting such ideas into practice. In West Virginia, the most successful child and adult dependent care facilities seem to be operated by individuals with some sort of business background. For this reason, dependent care providers can benefit from training that help them implement best business practices and gain business management skills.

According to a provider in Preston County, people who are chosen to lead dependent care facilities are usually those who have the biggest heart for the cause, but not necessarily the right type of skillset to successfully manage a business. Additionally, it is challenging to get individuals with a business degree to manage a dependent care facility because those jobs usually do not pay much and are sometimes less attractive than other potential career options.

There are many businesses and organizations throughout the country that specialize in training programs for directors of dependent care facilities. Additionally, West Virginia can benefit from a program, potentially in partnership with local businesses and foundations, to better support ECE businesses. Examples of initiatives and programs that can be replicated in the state as well as groups that can offer specialized training are listed in a footnote [188]. These businesses and groups have either been contacted for feedback during the research phase of this project or have been referred to our research team by consulted experts (i.e., entities that could potentially support West Virginia providers and help them realize the ideas listed above).

[Back to 188] For instance, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) has held a series of training sessions with senior center directors to improve their business acumen: National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (2020). n4a University. Additionally, the n4a University, a partnership between n4a and the Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research (CADER) at Boston University, features online training programs designed to ensure that participants have the knowledge and skills needed to meet the long-term services and supports needs of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in a rapidly changing world: n4a University (2020). Online Training for Professionals in Aging & Community Living.

Another example are the services provided by Early Education Business Consultants (EEBC), a consulting company based in Virginia Beach, VA that supports ECE businesses throughout the country and provides customized business training and mentorship to local small businesses in the childcare and early education industry ( Early Education Business Consultants). Several child care providers struggle to stay open because the administrators are usually educators and lack business management skills, so EEBC seeks to teach those important skills to these professionals. EEBC mentors child care providers and teaches them important business management skills, including how to increase enrollment, stabilize staffing and reduce employee turnover, increase revenue and implement effective marketing.

EEBC is also involved in a citywide initiative called Early Education Small Business Training Program, a partnership between Virginia Beach GrowSmart and the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, which, among other things, provides customized business training and mentorship to local small businesses in the childcare and early education industry. The program helps ECE businesses become financially stable by utilizing business best practices and ensuring that the heads of child care centers can devote the majority of their time to quality service delivery and improved outcomes for children. The program is funded by a foundation and championed by local business leaders who advocate about the importance of ECE to the economy. West Virginia could consider replicating a similar program, in partnership with local businesses and foundations, to better support ECE businesses.