Coqui Children's Center: A Provider Success Story in Cochise County

Since 2012, Coqui Children’s Center has provided care for infants through school-age children in Douglas, Arizona. As a 2-star Quality First licensed child care center with a dual language learning program, Coqui Children’s Center fills a critical need in a community where access to child care is limited. 

A $122,500 infrastructure grant has improved the quality and capacity of Coqui Children’s Center, from the classrooms to the bathrooms. “We love our jobs and put so much effort and our hearts into caring for the children. Now, with this grant, we can say we are getting our gift back,” said Denisse Betancourt, director of Coqui Children’s Center.

Denisse used funding to reconfigure the toddler space, removing two non-loadbearing walls to open three small rooms into one large room. This large open space has more natural light, better air flow, and an adjacent bathroom. With the bathroom now adjacent to whole classroom, not just one of the rooms, teachers and children can easily use the facilities and wash their hands. The updated toddlers classroom now an area for sick children to rest away from other children while they wait to be picked up. 

The larger toddlers classroom has also increased the amount of movement the children get throughout the day, helping to reduce anxiety and behavior challenges. Before, teachers noticed that children would start getting irritated being in a small space most of the day. Now, they can move comfortably within the large classroom without teachers having to change classrooms. 

“With this new room, our teachers know we not only care for the children, but we also care for them too,” Denisse said.

Reconfiguring the space has increased Coqui Children’s Center’s licensed toddler capacity by 10 slots, eliminating their waitlist. This increased capacity allows the center to help the community take care of one another, which is especially important because over 70% of the families it serves are single mothers with low incomes. 

Finally, Denisse addressed safety with the grant. When old carpeting was removed, they learned the subflooring was damaged, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Contractors repaired the subflooring and installed new laminate flooring throughout the entire center – improving the safety and cleanliness of their facility. 

“It is so common to see these opportunities in Phoenix and Tucson,” Denisse shared. “We thought it was impossible that we would get anything, but everything is possible. Thank you so much for turning your eyes to Douglas.”

Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant: Cochise 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.