Written By Eboni Delaney, Director of Policy and Movement Building
When Angelique Speight-Marshall became a mother in 1992, she did not set out to start a business. She set out to care for her daughter. “I was a new mother raising a daughter with special needs,” she recalls. “Finding child care that truly understood her felt impossible.”
At the time, inclusive child care options were scarce. Many children with disabilities were placed in schools or institutional settings, separated from environments where they could thrive. Families like hers were left navigating systems that were not built for them. “I wanted my daughter to have a good quality of life,” Angelique says. “I wanted her to learn, grow, and move through the world with dignity and confidence. I wanted her to be seen for who she was, not defined by her disability.”
When the right environment did not exist, she chose to create one herself. Angelique immersed herself in learning about multiple disabilities and child development. She listened to professionals, she listened to families, and most importantly, she listened to children. What began as advocacy for her own daughter grew into a calling to serve other families seeking inclusive, relationship-based care.
She opened her own family child care program focused on inclusion, understanding, and genuine care. Over the years, she served children with and without special needs, creating spaces where every child belonged and every family felt supported. “What started as advocacy for my daughter became a mission to serve many children and families like ours,” she says.
As her work grew, Angelique encountered a familiar challenge: space. There were more families in need of care than facilities available. She realized the problem was about access. Parents needed an easier way to find quality child care. Educators needed better visibility and support. The child care industry needed to evolve.
That realization sparked the Family Childcare Locator App. Designed for family child care educators across all 50 states and surrounding areas, the app puts child care access directly in parents’ hands. Families can search for care, communicate in real time, and access payments seamlessly. Providers gain visibility, support, and the ability to manage enrollment and communication in one place. “Through the app, educators can market their programs, stay connected with families, and manage enrollment,” Angelique explains. “Parents can communicate directly and access support every step of the way.”
The app became a reality through Angelique’s participation in the Leaders Shaping Leaders (LSL) program with the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) during the 2023–2024 cohort. As her capstone project, she transformed years of lived experience and insight into a scalable, technology-driven solution.
Angelique views the Family Childcare Locator App as the future of family child care. “Technology is no longer optional; it is the key to staying connected, staying visible, and keeping our industry strong,” she says. For family child care educators, embracing digital tools is not about replacing the heart of care but protecting it, keeping programs alive, accessible, and at the forefront of supporting future leaders.
Family childcare is uniquely positioned to meet the diverse and individualized needs of families, whether children have special needs, parents have non-traditional schedules, or families are seeking a nurturing, relationship-based environment. Professional organizations like NAFCC provide educators with a platform for growth, leadership, and innovation to expand their impact. Programs like Leaders Shaping Leaders give providers the confidence, mentorship, and network to build something new, tackle systemic gaps, and shape the future of care in their communities.
What began as a mother’s need has become a mission: to create accessible, inclusive, and high-quality care for every child. Today, Angelique’s work demonstrates how family childcare is a solution, a pathway for educators to grow as leaders, and a vital piece of the early childhood ecosystem. And that mission continues, one child, one family, and one connection at a time.
