Stepping Stones Early Learning Center in Knoxville is recognizing Childcare Provider Appreciation Day.

On Provider Appreciation Day, Stepping Stones Early Learning Center joins families, advocates, and communities nationwide in recognizing the dedication of child care providers and the crucial role they play in supporting working families and early childhood development. Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organizations, which are instrumental in supporting a skilled provider work force, continue to serve as the backbone of child care infrastructure, ensuring access to high-quality, affordable child care year-round.

Each year, Provider Appreciation Day, observed on the second Friday in May, serves as a moment to thank childcare professionals for their hard work and dedication. On Monday a Provider Appreciation Day proclamation was read at the Knoxville City Council meeting and on Wednesday, Knoxville Mayor Brian Hatch came to Stepping Stones to deliver the proclamation.