Karla Houghtalin is the program manager in early childhood business management at Southwest Human Development in Phoenix. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education, curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University. 

In this podcast, she shares what’s happening with shared services, a topic that is incredibly relevant in the child care industry today.

Karla describes the genesis of the business initiative that began her organization's work in shared services, including  the early pieces of putting it together. 

She talks about "the four pillars" of how child care providers can create a strong foundation to be a sustainable program. 

She says providers must know their worth, which includes making sure they're being paid promptly and fairly by parents.

Karla says that automating child care businesses saves providers time and money, and has tips for how to help beyond automation. She also describes the role of business coaching in running a successful program, and shares advice for providers who live in places where a shared-services option isn't available.