Kim Richardson is a Related License Exempt Provider (LEP) in Genesee County, a role that aligns perfectly with her lifelong passion for childcare and her dedication to family. As a self-employed, small business owner, she continually learns new skills and accesses community resources through Michigan’s Great Start to Quality Resource Centers. However, what truly drives Kim is her commitment to caring for her own family members, a tradition carried on by her mother.
“My mother always had other people’s kids in the house, and I started watching my nephew when I was 15,” Kim recalls. Initially, she viewed this as simply babysitting and she took him everywhere she went. Little did she know that this early dedication would eventually blossom into a full-fledged business. Over the years, Kim gained experience working in child care centers and schools while always prioritizing care for her own children and now her grandchildren. Upon discovering that she could become an LEP, enabling her to offer paid care for her family’s children while accessing professional resources, she didn’t hesitate.
In 2016, Kim connected with the Eastern Resource Center, where she completed the Preservice Training and became an LEP. When asked if she would ever consider becoming licensed to care for children outside of her family, she replied, “I do this because I love my family and I want to spend time with them. Being a License Exempt Provider is a perfect fit for me.”
Kim’s caregiving is a tribute to her mother’s legacy. Her mother, who passed away in 2019, always cared for children, and Kim honors her memory by continuing this tradition. Caring for her family’s children in her home allows Kim to provide a safe and nurturing environment, especially for those with parents who work nontraditional hours such as late or midnight shifts. This arrangement ensures the children she loves are always in a secure and familiar setting.
Kim encourages anyone interested in providing quality child care to explore the LEP supports available. She speaks highly of Colette Masty and the Sharicka Bogan at the Eastern Resource Center, who have been invaluable in providing the resources needed to offer the best possible care. In following her mother’s footsteps, Kim not only supports her family but also perpetuates a legacy of love and dedication to the Visit GreatStartToQuality.org to learn more about becoming an LEP.