50 for 50: Mary Abbate

"When I first came to Queens Community House in 1986, childcare wasn’t on my radar. I was a social work intern, focused on housing. But when I graduated in 1987, my supervisor, Irma Rodriguez, encouraged me to stay and help develop a network for family daycare providers. Many families were desperate for safe, affordable childcare so they could work and support their households. At the same time, there were women in Queens already caring for children – informally – in their homes. The idea was to meet two needs: train and license providers so they could run safe, professional programs, while giving families access to quality care. It was the settlement house philosophy in action—neighbors helping neighbors, while strengthening communities. 

From the start, we made it clear: family childcare is not babysitting. Providers needed training, technical support, and access to the Child and Adult Care Food Program—not just for healthy meals, but as a way to ensure safety and help them grow as professionals. For families, it meant peace of mind that their children were safe, well-fed, and being emotionally and psychologically nurtured. From the start, we knew parents had to be part of the model. It wasn’t enough to just place a child in a provider’s care; families needed to feel connected, informed, and reassured.

For nearly 20 years, the network stayed small. We had limited funding, but we kept it alive because we believed in the providers and the families who depended on them. Then, in 2018, everything changed: the Department of Education expanded early childhood programs, and our network grew exponentially almost overnight. Today, the Queens Childcare Network supports 800+ children and close to 100 providers, many of them women of color and immigrants, who have built thriving businesses while providing a great service to their neighbors. 

When I see the network today—strong, vibrant, and woven into the fabric of Queens—I feel like I’ve watched a child grow up. It started small, took its first steps, struggled at times, and then grew into something strong and lasting. It’s a privilege to know I was part of that journey."

—Mary Abbate