Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care: Supporting Diverse Families and Thriving Economies

Smiling young girl in a rainbow dress sitting in a pink toy car outdoors.

The most widely used form of child care in America is family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care. It is also the care that gets the fewest resources and support. This publication provides information about FFN care, the families who use this care, and recommendations for supporting FFN care.

Home-based child care providers share feedback and insight on their experiences with legislative visits during the 2025 August recess.
Families and child care providers are being squeezed as pandemic-era supports expire and federal funding stalls. Across the country, home-based providers are struggling to stay open amid lower reimbursements and rising costs. Without stronger federal investment in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), tens of thousands of children could lose access to care.