Child Care Industry

Case Studies

These case studies are designed to provide examples of successful child care facilities development projects in California. While they provide a good idea about what your own project may look like they should not be used as thorough templates for the process.

To find out more details about the steps involved in expanding a family child care home or a child care center visit the Family Child Care Checklists or Child Care Center Checklists on this site.

Case Study One:

Family Child Care Home Expansion

Case Study

Case Study Two:

Child Care Center with Affordable Housing (NEW)

CASE STUDY ONE:

EXPANSION OF A FAMILY CHILD CARE BUSINESS

DECIDING TO EXPAND:

Sophia began her small family child care business (licensed for up to 8 children) in 1994. Her business is located in a lower to middle-class, diverse neighborhood in San Francisco. Soon after Sophia opened her program she reached full capacity and after several months she began a waiting list. By 1997, she was averaging three calls per month for child care spaces that she didn't have available.

Sophia began to think about expanding because the demand for her child care services was clear, and because she knew that many of the low-income families were able to use state subsidies in the form of parent vouchers in order to pay for such services. Also, since Sophia already had a part-time teacher working for her she knew that by expanding she could promote that teacher to a full-time position and open up a new part-time position in her program.

Most of all, Sophia enjoyed the personal satisfaction of knowing that she helped mold the children in her care and that she helped their parents create a good life for their kids. As a professional, this is her highest reward, and she believed that through expanding her program, she would be able to succeed in helping even more children and families in the community.

ESTIMATING TOTAL COSTS:

Sophia started planning her expansion by...