From Dream to License: How My Family Opened a Child Care Center in Just 1.5 Weeks

September 23, 2025

At the start of this year, my family purchased a property in South Windsor, Connecticut, with one big dream: opening a safe, nurturing childcare center for children ages 0–5.

Like so many family ventures, it started with determination and vision. Renovations began right away. Contractors worked to transform the property, staff were hired, and countless details were handled behind the scenes.

By July, after six months of preparation, the big milestone arrived: an on-site inspection by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

That’s when I stepped in.

Walking Into the Inspection

As a Business & Operations Manager, I’ve learned that inspections are more than a box to check—they’re where vision meets regulation. I spent the entire day with the inspector, taking notes, asking questions, and carefully tracking every detail.

By the end of the visit, we had a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with three items that had to be resolved before licensing approval.

Two of those items became my responsibility:

Incorporating the OEC Program Policy Review Checklist into the center’s policies
Creating and posting key policies for families and visitors, including discipline, child abuse & neglect, and late pickup policies

Turning Regulations Into Readable Policies

Over the next week and a half, I poured myself into the work. I built a 15-page policy manual tailored specifically to the center. I also designed clear, parent-friendly posted policies to be visible throughout the building.

What could have been overwhelming became a structured, focused process. My specialty. Within 1.5 weeks, the documents were ready. We submitted them to OEC, and shortly after, we received the news we had been waiting for:

St. Joseph Child Care Center was officially licensed.

The Power of Teamwork

Although I played a central role in bridging regulations with operations, this was never a solo effort. It took contractors, teachers, administrators, and family members all bringing their expertise to the table to turn this vision into reality.

When the approval came through, it wasn’t just a license—it was the moment a dream became a living, breathing space for children and families in our community.

What I Learned

This experience reinforced something I’ve always believed: operations management isn’t about paperwork, it’s about unlocking momentum. Regulations and compliance can feel like roadblocks, but with the right systems and structure, they become stepping stones.

Helping my family achieve their goal reminded me why I do this work. It’s not just about projects—it’s about people, dreams, and creating spaces that matter.