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Hazleton’s Lifeline: How One Daycare Owner Saves Struggling Families
Meet Ivalisse Eufracio-Childs: Building a Bilingual Childcare Haven in Hazleton
Editor’s Note: This article is part of the Voices of Hazleton: Bridging Cultures, Building Community series, profiling Hispanic leaders making a difference in the area.
Who Is Ivalisse Eufracio-Childs?
Ivalisse Eufracio-Childs is a mom, educator, community leader, and business owner in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. She runs Little All Stars Care Center, a bilingual daycare and preschool at 30 East Broad Street.
In simple terms: She helps little kids learn and grow in both English and Spanish while their parents work.
Why She Started Little All Stars
Ivalisse noticed a big problem in her community:
- Many families in Hazleton speak Spanish at home.
- They struggled to find bilingual childcare (caregivers who speak both English and Spanish).
- Without this help, parents couldn’t take the work shifts they needed to support their families.
Important Point:
The first 2,000 days of a child’s life (about 5.5 years) are the most important for brain development.
That’s why preschool and quality childcare matter so much—they help kids get ready for kindergarten and beyond.
Ivalisse decided to fill that gap herself. She opened Little All Stars in 2023 with a clear mission:
"Help keep families together through day and night childcare, freeing parents to take the shifts they need to provide for their children."
Her Journey: From the Dominican Republic to Hazleton
Ivalisse’s path to West Hazleton spans countries and careers. Here’s the timeline:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Early life | Grew up in Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| 2004 | Immigrated to the United States with her two children |
| 2004–2012 | Lived in New York for 8 years |
| Worked as an assistant kindergarten & first-grade teacher (learned childcare skills here) | |
| 2012 | Visited family in Hazleton, fell in love with the nature & community |
| 2012 onward | Made Hazleton her permanent home |
ELI5 Explanation:
Immigrated means she moved from one country to another to live permanently.
Bilingual means speaking two languages fluently—in her case, Spanish and English.
Career Path Before Opening the Center
After moving to Hazleton, Ivalisse tried several jobs. Each taught her something new:
- Paraprofessional (teacher’s aide) – Loved the work, but pay and benefits weren’t enough for her family.
- Amazon warehouse worker – Steady income, but not her passion.
- Bank teller – Learned customer service and finance basics.
- Loan servicer – Helped people with loans and payments.
- Office secretary – Built organization and admin skills.
ELI5 Explanation:
A paraprofessional is like a teacher’s helper—they assist in the classroom but aren’t the lead teacher.
Through all these jobs, she never stopped serving the community.
Community Leadership & Advocacy
Ivalisse wears many hats outside her daycare. She’s a member of:
- PA Human Relations Commission – Works on fairness and equal rights in Pennsylvania
- PA Board Adviser – Advises on state-level education policies
- Latinos Educando Juntos ("Latinos Educating Together") – Supports Latino education
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – The top professional group for early childhood educators
She also ran for school board three times—earning thousands of votes each time—and volunteers with multiple community organizations.
Important Point:
Running for school board means campaigning to help make decisions about local schools—things like budgets, policies, and programs for students.
Family Life & Partnership with Robert Childs
Ivalisse’s husband, Dr. Robert Childs, is a pediatrician (a doctor for kids). Their story is sweet:
- First met when he was her son’s pediatrician (doctor-parent relationship).
- Years later, she worked as a secretary in his office.
- She left that job due to discrimination she faced there.
- Reached out to him for advice on working with children.
- Relationship grew → They got married!
- Ran for school board together as a team (he won; she got thousands of votes but didn’t win).
Robert describes her as:
Hardworking
Kind mother
Strongest person he’s ever met
Challenges Running the Daycare
Running a small childcare center isn’t easy. Ivalisse shares the real struggles:
The Staffing Crisis
| When Opened (2023) | Now |
|---|---|
| 5 employees caring for 24 children | 2 employees caring for 14 children (state max for 2 caretakers) |
Why the drop?
Wages can’t compete with big employers like Amazon nearby.
Takes more of her personal time—time she’d rather spend with her kids and grandkids.
ELI5 Explanation:
States set ratios—rules about how many kids one adult can safely watch. For toddlers, it’s often 1 adult per 5–6 kids. With only 2 staff, the max is 14 kids.
Looking to the Future
Even with challenges, Ivalisse is hopeful and forward-thinking:
Good News for Families
Other bilingual daycares have opened since Little All Stars:
- Little Bear Child Care (West Hazleton)
- Bumblebee Preschool (Hazleton)
This means more options for families—her original goal is spreading!
Her Next Chapter
- Plans to eventually pass the daycare to a new owner
- Wants to keep serving the community in new ways after retirement
- Says:
"Deep down I’ve always seen myself as a caring person, and I hope to continue caring for people even after I pass my daycare to another owner."
Key Takeaways: Why This Matters
CALL OUT: IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Bilingual childcare fills a critical need for Spanish-speaking families in Hazleton.
- Early childhood (first 2,000 days) shapes a child’s future—quality care matters.
- Immigrant leaders like Ivalisse strengthen communities by bridging cultures.
- Small businesses struggle to compete with corporate wages (Amazon effect).
- Community service doesn’t require a title—Ivalisse served long before she owned a center.
- Representation matters—she ran for school board 3 times to advocate for kids/families.
- Her legacy continues as more bilingual centers open, inspired by her work.
Summary
Ivalisse Eufracio-Childs turned a community need into a lifelong mission. From the Dominican Republic to New York to West Hazleton, she’s been a teacher, worker, advocate, mom, and now childcare owner.
Her center, Little All Stars, gives kids a bilingual head start and gives parents the freedom to work. Even when big companies make hiring hard, she keeps going—because caring for people is who she is.
And the ripple effect? More bilingual centers opening. More families served. A stronger, more connected Hazleton.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What does "bilingual childcare" mean exactly?
A: It means the caregivers speak two languages (English and Spanish) and teach/play with kids in both. Kids learn naturally in both languages—great for brain development and cultural pride.
Why are the first 2,000 days so important?
A: That’s roughly birth to age 5.5. During this time, a child’s brain grows faster than any other time in life. Quality care, talk, play, and love during these years build the foundation for learning, behavior, and health forever.
What is a "paraprofessional" in a school?
A: A teacher’s assistant. They help the lead teacher with lessons, supervise kids, prep materials, and support students who need extra help. It’s a vital role but often pays less than a certified teacher.
Why can’t small daycares pay as much as Amazon?
A: Daycares have strict state rules (ratios, safety, training) that cost money. They rely on parent tuition, which many families struggle to afford. Big companies like Amazon have huge profits and can offer higher wages, benefits, and bonuses that small centers can’t match.
How can I support bilingual childcare in my community?
A:
- Enroll your child if it fits your family’s needs
- Advocate for public funding for early childhood education
- Vote for school board candidates who prioritize early learning
- Donate supplies or volunteer at local centers
- Spread the word—awareness helps centers stay full and funded
This article is based on reporting by The Standard-Speaker as part of their "Voices of Hazleton" series. Photos by John Haeger / Staff Photographer.
