Child Care Provider Focus: Adriana Aranda, Camila's Playhouse

Adriana with the five children she cares for, including her daughter, Camila (second from right). (Credit: Ben Flores, DES)

Child Care Provider Appreciation Day is celebrated on May 10 to honor the dedicated child care providers and caregivers who nurture and educate children during their early developmental years. In Arizona, there are nearly 2,500 providers who provide care and support to children eligible for child care assistance through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).

Adriana Aranda of Camila's Playhouse is a DES-certified child care provider in Tucson, who can care for up to five children, including her daughter, in her own home.

Adriana was originally in school to be a pharmacy technician, then switched paths after Camila – the namesake for Camila's Playhouse – was born. She was a month premature and had health complications, including contracting RSV. "At six weeks old, I almost lost her," explained Adriana. "That was the point where I was like, 'OK, I'm going to switch back into child care.'"

Adriana straps her daughter, Camila, into a swing. (Credit: Ben Flores, DES)

As someone with prior experience working with children and the mother with a sick child, Adriana realized the importance of quality child care and set out to become a provider. Adriana later became a recipient of an Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant and received funds to create a safe and fun space for the children in her care. A year and a half later, Camila's Playhouse has a new backyard with turf and playground equipment, toys, and all the necessary equipment for safe child care. Camila is now healthy and happy.

Every DES-certified and contracted provider is assigned a surveyor to help them succeed. In Adriana's case, DES State Licensing Surveyor Tatiana Livanios helped her become a DES-certified provider and continues to help her maintain her certification.

Tatiana says she's proud of how hard Adriana's worked to get to where she is today. She explained that she looks out for the providers she supports and hopes that more caregivers like Adriana will become certified child care providers. While Tatiana acknowledges that working as a child care provider is challenging, she says it's also extremely rewarding.

Adriana shares the sentiment, saying that seeing the children in her care develop and grow makes the hard work worthwhile. She recommends being a child care provider and says that caring for children is a gratifying job. "I love what I do, it's rewarding," said Adriana.

Children at Camila's Playhouse play outside before lunch. (Photo credit: Ben Flores)

Become a Child Care Provider

Child care professionals provide a crucial service through safe and nurturing environments for children while their parents work, attend school, or participate in training. In Tucson alone, there are just under 400 DES-certified and contracted child care providers, but more are needed to ensure children and families have access to high-quality care. To learn about becoming a child care provider, visit CCR&R.