In our continuing series getting to know our INA Board of Directors, we will get to know Tatiane [Thaty] Oliveira a little better.
Professionally, Thaty has recently transitioned from being a full-time professional career nanny to becoming a business owner. She launched CARETHATYCS last summer and teaches parenting and caregiver classes. She still works as a nanny part time and works as a Newborn Care Specialist because she realized she couldn’t be away from babies!!
We asked Thaty to tell us about her position on the board, and she said:
“I am the Chair of the Education Committee and co-chair of the Caregiver Mentoring, Governmental Affairs, Exam Development and Conference Nanny Track.”
When we asked Thaty what brought her to the nanny industry she told us:
“I came to the United States in 2003 as an Au Pair. Until then, well, to be honest, a few years after that, I still had no idea that caring for children was actually a profession! I absolutely loved my year as an Au Pair and thought I was crazy to want to do that for a living – again because I honestly didn’t know that was a “thing.” I grew up wanting to be a teacher and after graduating and my first year of teaching, I was desperate to go back and work with children one-on-one (or one-on-three). I realized my job as a nanny was just like my job as a teacher when it comes to educating young children.”
Thaty told us about what brought her to the INA:
“From 2003 until 2010 I was isolated and still hadn’t met any other professional nannies who had made a conscious choice of being one. In 2010 I attended my first Nannypalooza, and my life changed forever. I learned about “Professional Nannies!” As a teacher, I belonged to several teaching associations and the night I came home from Nannypalooza; I went online looking for “professional nannies” and voila, I came across the INA website. Per my teaching mentality, I still believe the first time for one to consider themselves a professional is to join a professional association – which would then provide you with resources to enter and navigate the field.”
What does Thaty find most beneficial in the INA?
“In my first few years a member, just educating parents about the INA was a differential that allowed me to establish myself in the field. I would often direct parents to the website and invite them to learn about best practices for nannies and making sure they were hiring professionals because their children deserve nothing less. As my nanny career took off, I sought INA as a way to connect with other professional nannies as well as for an organization with the power to drive change. In-home childcare is still pretty much an unregulated industry, and if there were anyone who could shine the light at the field, it would have to be the INA. People underestimate the value of belonging to a professional organization! The is so much we can do together!”
Thaty told us what she feels she brings to the INA.
“I think it is important to recognize that I am one of the very few women of color to serve on the INA board adding to another different point of view. May not be a big deal to many but it is when you look at the industry as a whole and realize most of the workers doing this type of work are immigrant women. They may not be well represented in our current membership, but it is a start! As I like to say, one tide lifts all boats. By working together, empowering and educating other nannies on our standards of professionalism and best practices in childcare, a cultural shift from what has been considered “unskilled work” for generations can change the vision that most of us share. We will be recognized and valued as one of the most important professions there is.”
“I have experience in activism, community organizing as well as policy-making. My hope is that I am able to share my experience and knowledge to drive change. While I am fully aware that people get scared and intimidated when they hear the word “change!” I like to remind them it isn’t always a bad thing. We must grow and evolve. My personal and professional vision and core values are still directly related to the INA’s core values and beliefs, and I just want to make all of it accessible to all of those in dire need so that together we can lift the standards of the childcare industry.”
We asked Thaty what she hopes to accomplish during her time on the Board and she told us:
“As a self-proclaimed overachiever, setting a million goals for myself when I joined the Board wasn’t a surprise! I probably have ideas for another ten generations of Board formations!!!! So far, I am proud of the professional development component that adds much value to the membership. We started with simple FB lunchtime chats, but I have several special guests lined up for full webinars specially catered to our industry.”
“One of my biggest goals, however, is to have INA further engaged in advocacy and policy making. I have been involved in activism for a few years and hope INA can use its strengths to join forces with other organizations that are fighting for high standards not only in childcare but also in working conditions for the caregivers.”
“I also want to bring Au Pairs to the organization and offer resources for them. This is controversial because, unfortunately, some only view Au Pairs as inter-exchange students, forgetting the fact they are caring for children for up to 45 hours a week! I was an Au Pair, and I know this. I wish there were resources available to me at that time. Many of these Au Pairs become nannies (again, just like me) and I can see how being there for them before and during this transition would be incredibly helpful and beneficial to the nanny industry as a whole. Au Pairs definitely fall under INA’s umbrella, and I think it’s about time they get some representation.”
Lastly, we asked Thaty if she has a message for the Nanny community at large and she said:
“Absolutely! Engage! Engage in our discussions, engage in our causes, and engage in your community. Find out what we are up to and reach out to lend a hand, or simply spread the word and by doing so, you will be contributing to strengthening our community. Come to our Board meeting at the conference and definitely attend the caucus and make your voice heard! Bring forward your ideas, your concerns, your excitement about the work we do as nannies, and we can all work together to elevate our industry. Finally, I want to invite you – well, urge you really, to think about civic engagement! You can become a volunteer in our committees, become an INA ambassador and join the Board of Directors! I know the sound of this can throw some people off, but I assure you it is not that scary and if you have any questions on how to get started with some real civic engagement, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Tatiane Oliveira, Nanny Thaty to most, is a renowned educator who has received several awards for her work in the nanny community where her engagement is deep and broad. Thaty has been interviewed by The Conversation on BBC, recognized by The City of Cambridge, The Boston Association for the Education of the Young Child and The Brazilian Community Heritage Foundation just to name a few. Thaty is a licensed educator, radio host, board director, community leader, organizer, advocate, and above all, successful, highly sought, career nanny!