Early Childhood Fellowship Spotlight: Carrie Taylor

As the Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator at the Greene County Educational Service Center, Carrie supports the adults who care for Ohio’s youngest children every day. In this Fellow spotlight, she shares why child care and mental health supports matter, how policy impacts families, and what she’s most excited to learn through the Groundwork Ohio Leadership Fellowship.

Q. Tell us about yourself and your current professional role. What kind of work do you do, and who do you serve?

A. My name is Carrie Taylor and I am the Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator at the Greene County Educational Service Center. Our team works with the adults who work with children including parents, educators, school and child care staff, Early Intervention and Help Me Grow programs, Head Start as well as others. We provide consultation, mental health awareness and professional development.

Q. What made you want to apply for the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship?

A. I applied for the Groundwork Leadership Fellowship because in my work I see the how policies affect families both in positive and negative ways. I want to learn more about how to advocate for families and policies that affect them.

Q. What are you most excited to learn, gain, or take away from the Fellowship experience?

A. I am most excited to learn about the best ways to advocate for the families in my community.

Q. How did you first hear about or get involved with Groundwork Ohio?

A. I first heard about Groundwork from a colleague of mine. I attended the Momentum Institute last year as well as advocacy day and decided I wanted to get more involved.

Q. What’s one issue or challenge in the early childhood system that you’re passionate about addressing?

A. I am passionate about improving child care for Ohio families. Teachers are stressed as well as parents. Parents need safe, reliable child care. Teachers and staff need support and education to adequately provide for the children in their care.

Q. How does your lived experience shape the way you lead or advocate for young children and families?

A. I have four children and safe child care and schools matters to me. I want my children, as well as all children to be cared for in a loving and safe environment where the adults in their lives feel supported.

Q. What do you think is important to help make Ohio the best place to be a young child?

A. I’m a proud Ohioan who was born and raised here. I think Ohio has a lot to offer families. We have good public schools, many communities in Ohio have a good variety of programs for children, we have lovely parks and recreation activities.  I feel invested in my community and state to make all children get what they need to learn and grow. 

Q. How do you hope to use your voice as a leader in this space—now and in the future?

A. I use my voice in professional community groups as well as one on one with staff and parents. I think it’s important to collaborate on how to make children and parents feel supported.