More Than a Meeting: What Really Happens at a Regional Family Huddle?
What if your experiences as a parent could help shape the future of childcare in your community? That’s exactly the kind of opportunity Regional Family Huddles are designed to create.
Hosted through Ready Region West, an initiative of United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, these monthly gatherings bring together parents, caregivers, childcare providers, and community partners to share experiences, exchange information, and help strengthen early childhood education across our region. But what actually happens during a Family Huddle? And why should you consider attending? We joined the October 13 meeting to find out.
Real Conversations About Real Challenges
The October Family Huddle welcomed participants into a conversation about something many working families know all too well: finding affordable, reliable childcare. This month’s discussion centered on Ready Together VA, a new Virginia initiative designed to help working families afford childcare by sharing costs among employers, the state, and participating families.
While the program is still being developed, Family Huddle participants had an opportunity to learn about the proposal, ask questions, and provide feedback that can be shared with those helping shape its implementation. And the questions came quickly.
Would the program help parents who work part-time? What about families whose jobs require early mornings, evenings, or weekend shifts? Would parents have a choice in where their children receive care? And how could employers, particularly smaller businesses, afford to participate?
These weren’t hypothetical concerns. They came from people drawing on their own experiences as parents, business owners, childcare providers, and community members.
One participant pointed out that employees working 25 or 30 hours a week may still need significant childcare assistance, even if they aren’t considered full-time. Another raised concerns about manufacturing employees who begin work before most childcare centers open.
Each question offered a perspective that might otherwise be overlooked when programs are developed. That’s the value of bringing different voices to the same table.
Your Feedback Doesn’t Just Stay in the Meeting
Perhaps one of the most encouraging moments came when Laura O’Neil-Camp, United Way’s Coordinated Enrollment Specialist, shared updates on how previous Family Huddle feedback is already being put to use.
Participants had offered input on Virginia’s childcare search resources, and that feedback was shared with the coordinated enrollment action team and providers. Their suggestions are also helping inform updates to the Smart2Start website.
And now, a Family Huddle representative participates in coordinated enrollment meetings, creating another connection between family perspectives and the people working to improve services.
In other words, the conversation doesn’t end when everyone logs off Zoom. The feedback participants share can travel beyond the meeting, reaching teams and organizations working directly on early childhood initiatives.
A Place to Learn, Connect, and Be Heard
Family Huddles aren’t exclusively about policy discussions, either.
During October’s meeting, participants shared updates on local programs, community events, early childhood resources, and opportunities for families to get involved. There was encouraging news from United Way’s Mixed Delivery program, which recently received additional funded childcare slots to help serve more families in the region.
Participants also learned about opportunities to advocate for childcare issues at the state level and discussed ways to make future Family Huddles more accessible. That included exploring evening meeting options, language support, and opportunities for parents to suggest discussion topics.
For Salina Vance, United Way’s new Family Engagement Specialist, making sure families feel welcome and represented is a priority. She emphasized the importance of reaching communities throughout the region and hearing from families whose perspectives may not yet be part of the conversation. “This is your time. This is your voice, and it matters,” Salina told participants.
It’s a simple message, but one that captures what these gatherings are meant to accomplish.
You Don’t Have to Be an Expert to Participate
You don’t need to understand education policy, know how state funding works, or have experience serving on a committee to join a Family Huddle. You just need a perspective you’re willing to share.
Maybe you’ve struggled to find childcare that fits your work schedule. Maybe you’re a grandparent helping raise young children, a foster parent navigating resources, or a childcare provider who sees families facing challenges every day. Or perhaps you’d simply like to learn more about the programs and opportunities available in your community.
Your experiences can help identify needs, inspire new ideas, and strengthen the systems that support children and families. And sometimes, the most valuable contribution is asking a question nobody else has thought to ask.
Join the Next Regional Family Huddle
The next Regional Family Huddle takes place Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Parents, grandparents, foster parents, guardians, caregivers, and community partners throughout Ready Region West are welcome to participate. Come to listen, learn, ask questions, share your experiences, or simply see what a Family Huddle is all about. Because when families have a seat at the table, we can build an early childhood system that better reflects the people it serves.
Interested in joining? Contact Salina Vance, Family Engagement Specialist, at svance@uwvbr.org or 540-283-2773 to learn more about getting involved.
