A Place Where Every Child Belongs

At Milestone Family Solutions, founders Staci and Michael Frazier are rewriting what care and inclusion look like for children and young adults with developmental disabilities in Nevada.

The room hums with energy at Milestone Family Solutions in Las Vegas. A few children are laughing over a music activity; one carefully taps a drum, while another sways to the rhythm. Nearby, a young boy paints with deliberate strokes while a caregiver gently guides his hand. There are no stares, no judgment, just joy, patience, and acceptance. Watching quietly from across the room is Staci Frazier, her expression a mix of pride and determination.

“This is what I dreamed of,” she says softly. “A place where every child, no matter their ability, feels safe, loved, and capable.”

For Staci, Milestone Family Solutions isn’t just a business; it’s a calling. What began as one woman’s mission to fill a void in Nevada’s childcare landscape has grown, with her husband, Michael, by her side, into a lifeline for families who often feel unseen.

From NICU Mom to Advocate

Staci’s journey began long before Milestone’s doors opened. Her passion for supporting children with special needs was born from a deeply personal experience.

“My third child was born four months early,” she recalls. “She weighed one pound, one ounce, and was only eleven inches long.” The baby’s survival was uncertain, and Staci spent months in the NICU, learning to advocate fiercely for her daughter’s care.

When they finally came home, she had to give up her job in childcare to care for her medically fragile child. That experience changed her forever.

Eventually, Staci began working as a Spanish interpreter in early intervention, supporting therapists who worked with children from birth to age three. For nearly 15 years, she sat in living rooms across Illinois, translating and connecting families to resources. It wasn’t just a job, it was a purpose.

When she moved to Nevada in 2016, she assumed she would find similar programs and support. What she found instead shocked her. “I thought my child would have been a vegetable here. The services just weren’t there,” she says. “Back home, my daughter got therapy five times a week. Here, children were lucky to get three sessions a month.”

Outraged, she flew to Carson City to speak directly with state health leaders. She wanted answers and, more importantly, change. When the early intervention company she worked for closed, Staci decided to take matters into her own hands.

That was the beginning of Milestone Family Solutions, a space built not from business ambition but from fierce love and necessity, something she and Michael crafted together from the ground up.

Built on Love, Faith, and Partnership

Behind every dreamer, there’s often a steady hand. For Staci, that hand has always been her husband, Michael Frazier.

“Michael helped me build this from nothing,” she says. “He wrote the business plan, came up with ideas for the name, and believed in this vision even when I doubted myself.”

Their shared belief that every child deserves belonging became the foundation of Milestone. While Staci leads the center’s day-to-day care, Michael remains her steadfast partner, quietly supporting behind the scenes and helping ensure the mission stays strong.

A Home Away from Home

Milestone Family Solutions isn’t your average childcare center. “We’re not a daycare,” Staci emphasizes. “We’re a family enrichment and childcare center that provides programs, workshops, and events for the intellectual and developmental disability community.”

The heart of Milestone’s work lies in its out-of-school-time care program, designed for children who are often turned away elsewhere. Many are nonverbal, require reminders for toileting, or exhibit behaviors that other centers simply can’t accommodate.

“Other places say, ‘We can’t handle that,’” Staci says. “But we say, ‘Yes, you can. We’ll help you. We’ll make it work.’”

Every child at Milestone participates in enriching activities such as cooking, art, and music, no passive screen time here. “Children have different levels of abilities, but we include everyone. Even if it’s hand-over-hand, they’re part of it,” she says.

She’s seen remarkable transformations. “I went to one of my girls’ eighth-grade graduations recently. I’ve had her for six years. She’s nonverbal, but we talk all day long,” she says, smiling. “It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to learn a child’s language.”

Grit and Grace

Running Milestone hasn’t been easy. Staci admits funding has been her biggest challenge. “We’re not recognized by insurance, and I’m not a daycare, so I don’t qualify for daycare grants,” she explains. “Families pay out of pocket, and I work with everyone to make it affordable, but it’s hard.”

At times, she’s come close to closing the doors, but families begged her not to. “They’d say, ‘Please don’t close. This is the only place our kids can go.’ How could I?”

Even in the hardest moments, Staci leads with compassion. “I once got physically attacked by a child during a difficult behavioral episode,” she recalls. “But I never lost empathy. Years later, I hugged him. That’s just who I am.”

That same heart is the soul of Milestone’s culture. “We care for these children as if they are our own,” she says. “Because they deserve it.”

Dreaming Bigger, for the Next Generation

Despite the hurdles, Staci keeps dreaming. Her newest vision is something she calls “The Milestone House,” a space designed like a real home where children and young adults can learn practical life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and communication, while receiving the same love and enrichment that defines Milestone.

“I want to teach kids, from young to adult, what they need to do to be independent,” she says. “And my nonprofit, MFS Nevada, is helping raise funds for that. We’re even hosting our first gala next month.”

Her drive has only deepened since becoming a grandmother. Her two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter is medically fragile, deaf, legally blind, and living with severe epilepsy. “She’s the reason I push harder,” Staci says. “I want her to be the face of Milestone to show the world what’s possible when you believe in a child’s potential.”

Community Roots, Lasting Impact

Today, Milestone Family Solutions operates from the Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada’s building, a partnership that reflects Staci’s belief in collaboration over competition.

“I tell people all the time, we’re not competitors,” she says. “If you can’t handle a child, call me. Maybe I can. And if I can’t, I’ll find someone who can.”

That attitude has earned her the trust of families, social workers, and community organizations across the region. “Most people find us through word of mouth,” she explains. “Families talk about us on Facebook, and partners refer us all the time.”

Even with minimal marketing, the center’s reputation continues to grow. “People walk in and say, ‘Oh my God, what is this place?’” she laughs. “And then they tell everyone they know.”

Recently, Milestone has begun to embrace the digital world. “I’ll be honest, I’m not great with social media,” she admits with a grin. “But recently, our engagement jumped over a thousand percent. We’re getting there.”

The Courage to Keep Going

Staci’s strength isn’t in her business acumen; it’s in her heart. When she speaks about Milestone, her voice catches between determination and emotion. “I don’t give up,” she says firmly. “When I believe in something, I just keep going, no matter how hard it gets.”

She plans to expand Milestone’s reach, partnering with schools and local organizations so more families know that this resource exists. “There are so many children being put in programs that aren’t right for them and then getting kicked out,” she says. “If schools knew about us, they could help connect those families sooner.”

Her next steps are clear. In the coming year, she plans to launch new workshops for preschoolers, tweens, teens, and adults, each designed to build confidence and community. She’s also preparing for Milestone’s annual sensory-friendly Toys for Tots event, a cherished tradition that allows children to meet Santa without the stress of long waits or overwhelming crowds.

Families are scheduled by time slots, greeted warmly, and given space to enjoy the moment. “It’s simple, but it means so much,” Staci says. “Parents cry. Kids light up. That’s what keeps me going.”

A Future Built on Heart

When asked why she keeps pushing through the financial strain, the exhaustion, and the never-ending to-do lists, Staci smiles. “Because I love these kids,” she says. “People ask me, ‘How do you still do this?’ And I tell them it’s hard, but I just love them. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Her dream is not just to grow Milestone, but to change Nevada’s entire approach to supporting children and adults with developmental needs. “There’s so much to be done here,” she says. “I could move back to Illinois, but I won’t. This is where I’m meant to be.”

For the families she serves, Staci is more than a caregiver — she’s hope personified, a living reminder that inclusion isn’t a privilege but a right.

To learn more about Milestone Family Solutions, visit milestonefamilysolutions.com or follow them on Facebook at Milestone Family Solutions and Instagram at Milestone Family Solutions. To support the nonprofit arm, visit MFS Nevada on Facebook.

This feature is part of The Business View Journal’s Local Spotlight Series — your trusted source for discovering the best small businesses in your community.