Mark Your Calendars

Second Annual First State Family Child Care Conference

Saturday, October 14, 2023 I Chase Center on the Riverfront

We’re excited to share that we’ve set a date for the second annual First State Family Child Care Conference — Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Join your colleagues for an event that includes keynote speakers, vendors, and quality-assured professional learning experiences. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as a part of registration.

Stay tuned for more details.

2022 Conference

Thank you for a great first conference.

DIEEC hosted its inaugural 1st State Family Child Care Conference in support of Delaware’s family child care educators. We learned together, networked, and had so much fun! We’re already thinking about ideas for next year. Home-based child care is a culturally responsive way to provide early education, and we want to support your continued success!

2022 Special Guest Speaker

Alexandra R. Patterson

Director of Policy & Strategy for Home Grown, a national collaborative of funders committed to building quality of and access to home-based child care.

For over 15 years, Alexandra has worked in the early learning sector in a variety of roles including early childhood classroom teacher, case manager and supervisor in Pennsylvania’s QRIS system, professional development and technical assistance instructor and most recently intermediary Director for Philadelphia’s prek program, PHLpreK.

Alexandra holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Education from Bank Street College in New York City.

  • Sign for Virden Conference Center in Lewes, DE
  • Conference participant exits bus in front of conference center.
  • Welcome bags stacked on table at conference entrance.
  • Participants check in for conference
  • Participants and speakers pose in front of a banner for the conference.
  • Two conference attendees check in.
  • Speaker giving a presentation to the group
  • Rena Hallem speaks to the conference attendees.
  • Speaker address the first state family conference
  • First State Family Child Care Conference attendees pose outside the main conference room.
  • First State Family Child Care Conference attendees pose around a table.
  • First State Family Child Care participants have discussion at a table.
  • First State Family Child Care Conference main room.
  • Attendee receives a door prize.
  • Attendees seated at a circular table at the First State Famliy Child Care Conference.
  • Attendees fill out a Memory Walk poster.
  • Panoramic picture of the main conference room at the First State Family Child Care Conference
  • Door prize table at the First State Family Child Care Conference.
  • Speaker gives a presentation in front of large screen at the First State Family Child Care Conference.