Adding more child care in Bristol, Tennessee.
Lisa Lyons opened her new child care program, Kids Like Us Community Center, in June 2022. The program is licensed to care for 383 children, adding much-needed child care to Bristol, Tennessee.
The heart of Kids Like Us is serving children of all abilities and partnering with families to ensure that each child is lovingly cared for in an environment where they can thrive.
Ms. Lyons says the biggest challenge to opening a program as large as Kids Like Us in a rural location, was hiring qualified staff with a heart to serve children of all abilities. It takes a unique team of staff members to meet the needs of all the students. As Kids Like Us has grown and developed their staff, they continue to get closer to realizing its full capacity.
Kids Like Us utilized Establishment Grant funds to outfit their infant classrooms. Ms. Lyons purchased cribs, room dividers, rugs, climbers and changing tables – all with grant funds!
She also created an indoor “town” space with grant funds, so children have plenty of space to play, even when the weather outside isn’t cooperating. Ms. Lyons took care to make sure all students can play in this space. The “town” includes dramatic play elements, toys, equipment that encourage gross motor development, and musical instruments.
Ms. Lyons appreciates all the resources available to child care professionals in Tennessee, particularly those provided by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and ChildcareTennessee. Opening Kids Like Us was a lot easier with staffing and marketing resources, as well as the grant funds available!
Thank you for everything you do in your community, Lisa!