October 7, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode, hosts Jennifer Ferreira and Inette Bolden sit down with Tamieka Thomasson, Program Manager III of Child Care Support Services (CCSS) in Montgomery County. Tamieka shares her journey in early childhood education, her passion for play-based learning, and the mission of CCSS to ensure quality care for every child.
Listeners learn how CCSS supports:
- Families through Family Involvement Centers, one-on-one parenting support, and help navigating resources and child care options.
- Educators with on-site coaching, professional learning communities, training, and classroom consultation to strengthen teaching practices.
- Child care programs with guidance on licensing, quality improvement, business growth, and access to funding for facilities and materials.
Tamieka emphasizes CCSS’s commitment to access, quality, and equity, reminding the community: “We are here and we are your partner.”
The episode highlights how CCSS empowers families, strengthens providers, and uplifts educators to create a strong early care and education system across Montgomery County.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Unlock the magic of early childhood with Elevate.
This podcast is brought to youby Early Childhood Services, a
program within Montgomery CountyMaryland's Department of Health
and Human Services.
County Maryland's Department ofHealth and Human Services.
We are dedicated to empoweringparents and educators with the
knowledge and tools to nurturethe next generation.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I'm Inet Bolden and I'm Jennifer Ferreira, and we're
your hosts of Elevate.
Today.
We are talking about child caresupport services, and joining
us today is Tamika Thomason,someone who is deeply involved
in this work and passionateabout building strong
foundations for our youngestlearners.
Tamika is currently the managerwho oversees Child Care Support
(00:53):
Services, a program withinEarly Childhood Services in
Human Development and EarlyChildhood Education from Howard
University, as well as amaster's degree in Human
Development and SpecialEducation from George Washington
University.
She is affectionately known asthe Baby Whisperer by her
(01:15):
friends and family and began hercareer in education at the age
of 13 as a classroom aide childcare center in Washington DC.
She has remained in the fieldfor over two decades, holding
various educational roles,supporting and advocating for
families and young children.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Tamika joined the county in 2014 as a program
manager within Early ChildhoodServices, managing two programs
that promote high-quality earlychildhood programming the Child
Care and Public Space Programand the Family Involvement
Center.
In 2024, tamika was promoted tothe role as Program Manager 3
(01:53):
for the Child Care SupportServices Unit.
Tamika is a strong advocate forhigh-quality play-based
learning in all early caresettings and is passionate about
educating stakeholders on theimportance of play in all early
childhood settings.
Welcome, tamika.
We are so excited to have youhere on Elevate today.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Thank you so much for inviting me.
I'm so excited to be here andreally appreciate the
opportunity to share how wesupport the community and child
care support services.
This work is so meaningful andit's great to have a place to
talk about it.
Thank you again.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Tamika, let's start with the big picture here.
For folks who may not befamiliar, can you please give us
a quick overview, like whatexactly is child care support
services and who do you serve?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Absolutely.
Child care support services ispart of Early Childhood Services
Division under MontgomeryCounty's Department of Health
and Human Services.
Our team supports MontgomeryCounty's early childhood
community on a path to success.
This includes families withyoung children from infancy to
age five, early childhoodeducators and leaders, family
(03:01):
and center-based child careproviders and our broader early
childhood system partners likecommunity organizations, local
coalitions and child careassociations.
So whether you're a parentsearching for child care or
needed resources, a new childcare provider trying to get
started, a child care programworking on quality enhancement
(03:22):
or an educator looking forprofessional growth, we're here
to walk alongside with you.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
That's such an important role and clearly it
touches so many parts of theearly childhood landscape.
Let's dig in a bit.
What kinds of supports do youoffer to these different groups?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Great question.
So let's start with families.
We offer support in a few ways.
We have our three familyinvolvement centers, located
across the county and aredesigned to be welcoming,
accessible spaces for families.
They provide parentingeducation through a modeling
approach, meaning our staffmodel strategies and routines in
(03:58):
real time, and parents andcaregivers also get one-on-one
support in group parent trainingsessions to help with everyday
challenges and to build skillsto strengthen the parent-child
relationship.
We also have our familyresource specialists who help
families connect to the county'sresources, parent trainings and
navigate in the child caresystem.
(04:20):
So, whether that's findingdiapers or finding a child care
provider that fits their needs,they're here to support in any
way that they can.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
That sounds like a game changer for families.
What about educators?
How do you support theprofessionals working directly
with children?
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Well, we know that the early childhood educators
are the backbones of the earlychildhood system, and so we put
a lot of energy in supportingtheir professional growth and
well-being.
We offer on-site coaching andconsultation for both new and
experienced educators, classroomobservations with feedback
grounded in best practice,access to professional learning
(04:59):
communities or communities ofpractice where educators can
share strategies andproblem-solve together.
And ongoing professionaldevelopment opportunities,
including workshops, trainings,conferences and symposiums.
Opportunities includingworkshops, trainings,
conferences and symposiums.
Our goal is to supporteducators in ways that feel
meaningful and practical.
We want to build theirconfidence and help them to feel
(05:20):
connected to a larger network.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I absolutely love that, because this work can
sometimes feel so isolated, butyour approach helps people feel
like part of something bigger.
Now you also work directly withchild care programs.
Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yes, absolutely.
We support both family childcare providers and center-based
programs.
Our work includes helping newproviders with program startup,
everything from licensingrequirements to building strong
business practices.
Supporting sustainability andgrowth by offering consultation
on operations, budgeting andstaffing.
(05:56):
And helping programsparticipate in statewide
initiatives like Maryland'sBlueprint for Education, as well
as assisting them in meetingquality standards both within
the state and nationally.
We also provide funding supportfor eligible programs to expand
or improve their facilities,materials or staffing, which is
(06:16):
crucial when trying to meetrising demand or improving
quality.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
You know that's such a comprehensive approach, you're
really touching every layer ofthe system.
So let's say, someone listeningonly remembers one thing from
today's conversation.
What would you want that to be?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh, such a great question.
I would say that we're here.
We're here.
We are here and we are herewith you.
Whether you're a parent lookingfor care, an educator looking
to grow, an owner trying toimprove quality or a partner in
the broader early childhoodsystem, we are not just a
service, we are your partner.
(06:55):
We're working every day toincrease child care access,
elevate educator capacity andensure that quality care is the
standard across our county.
Our vision is rooted in access,quality and equality.
We want young children to growup in safe, nurturing and
enriching environments, everyfamily to have access to
(07:18):
affordable, high-quality childcare, educators to be valued and
supported and programs tothrive.
That's what Child Care SupportServices is all about.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I love that we are your partner.
That's what community is allabout, and it's such a powerful
message and a reminder that noneof us does this work alone.
Thank you so much, tamika, forsharing your time and your
insights, and thank you for theincredible work you and your
team does to elevate earlychildhood in Montgomery.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
County.
Thank you so much, Jennifer andAnnette for having me.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Thank you again.
Thank you.
So, listeners, be sure to tunein to future episodes, where
we'll take a deeper dive intothe various programs that CCSS
offers and we'll explore moresupports and community resources
available to those who nurtureyoung children.
Stay informed, inspired andconnected to the vibrant
(08:16):
community of early childhoodenthusiasts.
Together, let's build a strongfoundation for the future, one
child at a time, and thanks fortuning in to Elevate Podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Stay connected and join the conversation by
following us on social media atDHHSCCSS, and we'll see you next
time.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
This podcast is brought to you by County Cable
Montgomery, your source for newsand information from the
Montgomery County Government.
Connect with us via cable,facebook, instagram or YouTube
by searching for County CableMoCo.
Unlock the magic of early childhood with Elevate.
This podcast is brought to youby Early Childhood Services, a
program within Montgomery CountyMaryland's Department of Health
and Human Services.
County Maryland's Department ofHealth and Human Services.
We are dedicated to empoweringparents and educators with the
knowledge and tools to nurturethe next generation.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I'm Inet Bolden and I'm Jennifer Ferreira, and we're
your hosts of Elevate.
Today.
We are talking about child caresupport services, and joining
us today is Tamika Thomason,someone who is deeply involved
in this work and passionateabout building strong
foundations for our youngestlearners.
Tamika is currently the managerwho oversees Child Care Support
(00:53):
Services, a program withinEarly Childhood Services in
Human Development and EarlyChildhood Education from Howard
University, as well as amaster's degree in Human
Development and SpecialEducation from George Washington
University.
She is affectionately known asthe Baby Whisperer by her
(01:15):
friends and family and began hercareer in education at the age
of 13 as a classroom aide childcare center in Washington DC.
She has remained in the fieldfor over two decades, holding
various educational roles,supporting and advocating for
families and young children.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Tamika joined the county in 2014 as a program
manager within Early ChildhoodServices, managing two programs
that promote high-quality earlychildhood programming the Child
Care and Public Space Programand the Family Involvement
Center.
In 2024, tamika was promoted tothe role as Program Manager 3
(01:53):
for the Child Care SupportServices Unit.
Tamika is a strong advocate forhigh-quality play-based
learning in all early caresettings and is passionate about
educating stakeholders on theimportance of play in all early
childhood settings.
Welcome, tamika.
We are so excited to have youhere on Elevate today.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Thank you so much for inviting me.
I'm so excited to be here andreally appreciate the
opportunity to share how wesupport the community and child
care support services.
This work is so meaningful andit's great to have a place to
talk about it.
Thank you again.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Tamika, let's start with the big picture here.
For folks who may not befamiliar, can you please give us
a quick overview, like whatexactly is child care support
services and who do you serve?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Absolutely.
Child care support services ispart of Early Childhood Services
Division under MontgomeryCounty's Department of Health
and Human Services.
Our team supports MontgomeryCounty's early childhood
community on a path to success.
This includes families withyoung children from infancy to
age five, early childhoodeducators and leaders, family
(03:01):
and center-based child careproviders and our broader early
childhood system partners likecommunity organizations, local
coalitions and child careassociations.
So whether you're a parentsearching for child care or
needed resources, a new childcare provider trying to get
started, a child care programworking on quality enhancement
(03:22):
or an educator looking forprofessional growth, we're here
to walk alongside with you.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
That's such an important role and clearly it
touches so many parts of theearly childhood landscape.
Let's dig in a bit.
What kinds of supports do youoffer to these different groups?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Great question.
So let's start with families.
We offer support in a few ways.
We have our three familyinvolvement centers, located
across the county and aredesigned to be welcoming,
accessible spaces for families.
They provide parentingeducation through a modeling
approach, meaning our staffmodel strategies and routines in
(03:58):
real time, and parents andcaregivers also get one-on-one
support in group parent trainingsessions to help with everyday
challenges and to build skillsto strengthen the parent-child
relationship.
We also have our familyresource specialists who help
families connect to the county'sresources, parent trainings and
navigate in the child caresystem.
(04:20):
So, whether that's findingdiapers or finding a child care
provider that fits their needs,they're here to support in any
way that they can.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
That sounds like a game changer for families.
What about educators?
How do you support theprofessionals working directly
with children?
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Well, we know that the early childhood educators
are the backbones of the earlychildhood system, and so we put
a lot of energy in supportingtheir professional growth and
well-being.
We offer on-site coaching andconsultation for both new and
experienced educators, classroomobservations with feedback
grounded in best practice,access to professional learning
(04:59):
communities or communities ofpractice where educators can
share strategies andproblem-solve together.
And ongoing professionaldevelopment opportunities,
including workshops, trainings,conferences and symposiums.
Opportunities includingworkshops, trainings,
conferences and symposiums.
Our goal is to supporteducators in ways that feel
meaningful and practical.
We want to build theirconfidence and help them to feel
(05:20):
connected to a larger network.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I absolutely love that, because this work can
sometimes feel so isolated, butyour approach helps people feel
like part of something bigger.
Now you also work directly withchild care programs.
Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yes, absolutely.
We support both family childcare providers and center-based
programs.
Our work includes helping newproviders with program startup,
everything from licensingrequirements to building strong
business practices.
Supporting sustainability andgrowth by offering consultation
on operations, budgeting andstaffing.
(05:56):
And helping programsparticipate in statewide
initiatives like Maryland'sBlueprint for Education, as well
as assisting them in meetingquality standards both within
the state and nationally.
We also provide funding supportfor eligible programs to expand
or improve their facilities,materials or staffing, which is
(06:16):
crucial when trying to meetrising demand or improving
quality.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
You know that's such a comprehensive approach, you're
really touching every layer ofthe system.
So let's say, someone listeningonly remembers one thing from
today's conversation.
What would you want that to be?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh, such a great question.
I would say that we're here.
We're here.
We are here and we are herewith you.
Whether you're a parent lookingfor care, an educator looking
to grow, an owner trying toimprove quality or a partner in
the broader early childhoodsystem, we are not just a
service, we are your partner.
(06:55):
We're working every day toincrease child care access,
elevate educator capacity andensure that quality care is the
standard across our county.
Our vision is rooted in access,quality and equality.
We want young children to growup in safe, nurturing and
enriching environments, everyfamily to have access to
(07:18):
affordable, high-quality childcare, educators to be valued and
supported and programs tothrive.
That's what Child Care SupportServices is all about.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I love that we are your partner.
That's what community is allabout, and it's such a powerful
message and a reminder that noneof us does this work alone.
Thank you so much, tamika, forsharing your time and your
insights, and thank you for theincredible work you and your
team does to elevate earlychildhood in Montgomery.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
County.
Thank you so much, Jennifer andAnnette for having me.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Thank you again.
Thank you.
So, listeners, be sure to tunein to future episodes, where
we'll take a deeper dive intothe various programs that CCSS
offers and we'll explore moresupports and community resources
available to those who nurtureyoung children.
Stay informed, inspired andconnected to the vibrant
(08:16):
community of early childhoodenthusiasts.
Together, let's build a strongfoundation for the future, one
child at a time, and thanks fortuning in to Elevate Podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Stay connected and join the conversation by
following us on social media atDHHSCCSS, and we'll see you next
time.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
This podcast is brought to you by County Cable
Montgomery, your source for newsand information from the
Montgomery County Government.
Connect with us via cable,facebook, instagram or YouTube
by searching for County CableMoCo.
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