A ribbon cutting to commemorate the opening of the new Wee Warriors Childcare microcenter was held Wednesday, June 4. In the front row from left are Michaela Royer, Wonder School; Sue Ann Mitchell, Kosciusko County Commissioners; Leticia Howell, Wee Warriors owner and director; Rex Howell; Reyna Howell; and Jeannetta Slabaugh, Horizon Bank, S-W Chamber.
In the middle row: Christine Huffman, Calvary UMC; Sherri Seniff, UMC; Annette Jones, FSSA; Tikila Welch, FSSA; and Ella Howell.
In the back row: Gary Green, UMC and Sheryl Colquitt, Eastlund Funeral Home, S-W Chamber. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, May 4 to celebrate the opening of a new childcare microcenter, operated by Wee Warriors. The center is located in Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington St., Syracuse.

Wee Warriors is one of just six childcare providers in the state chosen by the Family and Social Services Administration to receive a $50,000 grant to open a microcenter.

A microcenter is a childcare center that serves between 3 and 30 children and, crucially, is located outside of a residence or other typical childcare space. Indiana’s Micro-Facility Pilot program was established by state legislators in Senate Bill 2 in an effort to meet the state’s burgeoning need for childcare.

“It’s easier to set up, the whole point of a microcenter is it’s opening up in a place that’s not necessarily in a daycare center, so that opens up a bunch of different spaces,” said Wee Warriors Owner and Director Leticia Howell.

Howell has been in childcare for over 10 years, starting out in her home before becoming licensed in 2019. She now oversees five childcare centers in the county, including Wee Warriors Academy and two Wee Warriors home daycare centers. In May, she and her husband, Rex Howell, also acquired the former New Beginnings Preschool building in Milford and will open another Wee Warriors center there.

“I was really excited and honored,” she said of Wee Warriors’ acceptance into the program. “I knew that only six were going to be accepted in the whole state and that’s not a very big number to choose. When I found out, I did cry. It was pretty awesome.”

FSSA Director of Child Care Licensing Tikila Welch, who attended the ribbon cutting, had a hand in selecting Wee Warriors for the grant.

“I think one of the bigger components is they saw the vision of the community partners,” Welch said. “To partner with the church is really embodying what the essence of a microcenter is. There’s a lot of communities that have spaces that are not being utilized, so this is a way to give back to the community as well, is open up childcare centers.”

Howell stated she became a childcare provider to be able to look after her own children, but it became a passion for her when she realized how many parents in her area were also in need.

“Whenever I have started a daycare, I’m full every time,” she said.

In her address to the assembled ribbon cutting attendees, Howell related a story of a mother who called seeking childcare for her infant son.

“When I told her I was full, she started crying. She said she had called everywhere and didn’t know what everyone expected her to do. I felt heartbroken for her and couldn’t stop thinking about that call,” Howell recalled. “As soon as I could, I expanded to take on more children and one of the first I welcomed was that mom’s child. I still care for him today.”

The Wee Warriors microcenter has capacity for 15 preschoolers and 15 school-age kids, and is open for ages 2-and-a-half years to 12 years.

“Kosciusko County is a childcare desert. Any extra seats we can get is a benefit to the community,” Howell added, and pointed out the church’s proximity to nearby factories as another positive.

“I work with Polywood and I’d like to work with other factories to bring childcare to their employees. With this being so close, if parents want to come in at lunch and see their children they can. Or, it’s easy to pick up and drop off right from work. It’s nice to have their kids close.”

Wee Warriors Childcare is open 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

There are currently 23 spots filled out of 30, and Howell stated there will be more open preschool spots after the regular school year begins in August. For more information, call (260) 215-1163.