The Family Child Care Workforce Fact Sheet highlights the importance of family child care (FCC) as a vital part of the early childhood care system. FCC professionals provide home-based care, often serving underserved and minority communities, while also facing significant challenges. Nearly 63% of FCC providers hold a college degree or have completed some college, yet they earn low wages, averaging $29,377 per year. Many FCC providers experience financial hardships, with nearly half reporting difficulty affording basic needs and over 21% struggling with student loan debt. Despite their critical role, FCC providers are often excluded from policy discussions and support programs, further marginalizing their contributions to the child care system. This fact sheet underscores the need for better compensation, access to benefits, and inclusion in policy solutions to support FCC professionals.
Family Child Care Workforce Fact Sheet
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the contributions that women have made to every corner of our society and honor their achievements. Among these leaders are the more than 5 million women who form the backbone of home-based child care (HBCC).
For generations, Black home-based child care providers have built systems of care rooted in community, trust, and resilience, often stepping in where formal systems fell short. Of the over 5 million home-based child care providers, including Family Child Care providers and paid and unpaid Family Friend and Neighbor caregivers, roughly a quarter in each subgroup identify as Black Non-Hispanic
This month, to honor the labor, wisdom, and courage of Black caregivers, we spoke with Wanda Chandler-Tillman and Octavia Mclaurin, home-based providers in Charlotte, North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada, who are standing strong for children, families, and child care providers in the face of unprecedented challenges.