local
Nashville woman helps others navigate childcare licensing process
By Sarah Allen at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 18, 2026
· 3 min read
What This Story Is AboutA Nashville woman who spent thousands of dollars and more than a year getting licensed as a childcare provider in Tennessee has launched a statewide initiative — The Bridge Network — to help others navigate the same process.Why It MattersThousands of Tennessee families are...
Key takeaway Why It MattersThousands of Tennessee families are on waitlists for daycare openings, and the complex, costly certification process is a barrier that keeps potential providers from entering the field.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The launch of The Bridge Network is a crucial development for Nashville's childcare landscape, where thousands of families are struggling to find available daycare openings. By guiding aspiring providers through the complex and costly licensing process, Shetika Davis and her team are addressing a key barrier to entry for new childcare providers. This initiative has the potential to increase the number of licensed providers in the city, ultimately benefiting families who are currently on waitlists. The fact that Davis and her co-founder, Kristina Hale, have firsthand experience navigating the certification process and have already successfully opened Bridging the Gap Daycare on Sylvan Street lends credibility to their mission. As The Bridge Network grows, it will be important to monitor its impact on the availability of childcare options in Nashville and whether it can help alleviate the shortage of daycare openings that has plagued the city for so long.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? What This Story Is AboutA Nashville woman who spent thousands of dollars and more than a year getting licensed as a childcare provider in Tennessee has launched a statewide initiative — The Bridge Network — to help others navigate the same process.Why It MattersThousands of Tennessee families are...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Sarah Allen at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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