Featuring Christina and Tarris Brown | Overcomer Kids 3E’s, Orlando, Florida
By Eboni Delaney, Assistant Director of Narrative and Movement Building
At Overcomer Kids 3E’s, family child care isn’t just a profession—it’s a purpose, a calling, and a legacy. Christina and Tarris Brown have built their program over the past 14 years as a faith-based home dedicated to encouraging, empowering, and edifying children and families in their community. Their work is rooted in love, and it’s powered by a vision for something greater than themselves.
Now, they’re taking that vision into the next generation.
“We have found our voice to advocate.”
After being featured in the We Are Family Child Care Documentary, and virtual screening where their daughter Quiara was also featured alongside them, Christina and Tarris were struck by a question: How do we bring younger people into the field of early care and education, especially family child care?
Their answer came quickly and clearly: go directly to high schools with ECE programs and speak to students themselves.
They didn’t wait. They acted.
“So of course, we prayed about it, and don’t you know—the ECE teacher at my boys’ high school called me and asked if we would like to come talk to her class.”
Christina and Tarris shared their story with all seven classes at the school, sparking curiosity and planting new seeds of possibility in the minds of future educators. Their presence was so impactful, the teacher is now referring them to other high schools in the area—opening the door for continued outreach.
This isn’t just advocacy. This is recruitment, legacy-building, and ensuring the future of family child care.
Why It Matters
According to the 2024-2025 NAFCC Annual Survey, 66% of family child care educators are over the age of 50, and 30% are over 60. Only 9% of current educators are under the age of 40. If we don’t act now, the field risks a steep decline.
At the same time, family child care educators are reporting record-breaking work hours (over 82% work more than 50 hours a week) while more than half earn under $15/hour—often without access to retirement, health insurance, or paid time off. These issues remain the top policy concerns across the field.
What Christina and Tarris are doing is not just admirable—it’s vital.
They are part of the movement to ensure that family child care doesn’t just survive—it thrives, through intentional mentorship, visibility, and storytelling.
A Family Legacy
At Overcomer Kids, advocacy truly is a family affair. Their daughter Quiara works alongside them as the lead teacher. Their teenage sons are currently earning their FCCPC while still in high school, following in their parents’ footsteps.
“We understand that loving and leading children is a purpose for our life… We’ve put our heart, soul, and faith into this work.”
Christina refers to herself as a “mother of many,” and together with Tarris, they’ve built not only a home for children, but a beacon of what’s possible when family, faith, and purpose meet.
Their story is a powerful reminder: when educators find their voice, they help others find theirs too.
If we don’t intentionally invest in building a pipeline of new educators, we risk losing entire communities of care. Family child care is a lifeline—and without a new generation to carry it forward, that lifeline frays.
We must act now. Are you mentoring the next generation of FCC educators? Share your story: storytelling@nafcc.org.
