Camila's Playhouse: A Provider Success Story from Pima County

Adriana Aranda’s daughter became very ill shortly after she was born. As a single mother of 3, Adriana was very concerned about returning to work while her daughter went somewhere else for child care. With her previous experience in child care and her family’s support, Adriana decided to launch her own child care business. Camila’s Playhouse opened in 2022 as a certified family child care home in Tucson, serving infants and toddlers ages 0 to 2 years.

Home-based child care providers, like Camila’s Playhouse, are a home away from home where children are treated as members of the family, ideal for infants and toddlers.

Adriana’s goal is to provide a loving, warm setting to help babies and toddlers thrive, including a culturally diverse learning environment with programs in English and Spanish. While it is amazing to see what she has accomplished in less than two years, a $25,000 grant to improve her business has helped bring her vision to life.

The renovated outdoor play area at Camila's Playhouse

Adriana used the funding to purchase much-needed equipment, materials, and supplies. The children can now safely play outside on new turf with toys that foster their learning and development. A beautiful shade structure keeps children cool during Arizona’s record-breaking heat and a newly raised wall prevents the neighbor’s dog from jumping into the yard. The outdoor space was wrapped up with a beautiful garden providing fresh fruits and vegetables for the children and a safety gate to separate the play area from the garden.

To keep Camila’s Playhouse open and safe for children during the week, she ensured work was completed on the weekends. “As a single mom, I know how hard it is to find care, and if that care closes, it’s even harder,” shared Adriana. Adriana also increased the health and safety of the indoor spaces where she cares for children: she installed safety cameras, magnetic safety locks for cabinets, child-proof outlet covers, and sanitation stations for children and parents. These improvements in safety and quality have enabled her to increase her capacity from one to four children and still care for her daughter.

“The biggest impact for me has been bringing more kids into my care. I’m completely full with interested parents calling!”

Parents are proud their children attend Camila’s Playhouse. Family is more than blood relatives: Camila’s Playhouse is building a family environment that is loving and caring for the babies and toddlers that bring joy to all of us.

Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant: Pima County Highlights

The Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant program was funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) and First Things First (FTF) through Child Care Stabilization Grants appropriated in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.