Growing high-quality child care businesses in southern New Mexico

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Home-based child care offers families a warm, familiar setting with smaller group sizes and trusted caregivers, providing flexible, personalized care that supports children’s development. In New Mexico — where all families qualify for free child care regardless of income — home-based providers are a vital part of the care ecosystem, especially in rural communities where families often struggle to access care that meets their needs. These small, home-grown businesses also strengthen local economies by creating jobs, supporting working parents, and keeping resources within the community. Growing Up New Mexico, a Santa Fe nonprofit focused on early childhood education and care, created the Escalones Child Care Business Support program to nurture this growing sector of home-based child care entrepreneurs. 

In this video, you’ll hear how Escalones has helped home-based providers establish and grow thriving businesses in one of New Mexico’s “child care deserts” in rural southern New Mexico.