Promising Practices in Policy for Home-Based Child Care

Toddler kneeling by a blue play tunnel with a blue and white soccer ball in front.

The document provides an overview of policies related to state definitions and regulations, licensing and subsidy, external systems, quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), and funding. We also highlight changes to policies related to HBCC enacted as a result of COVID-19. At the end of each section, we include key takeaways and states that may be of interest for each topic. The goal of the document is to highlight states that may be strong candidates for case studies to be conducted as part of this project to further explore supportive policies in depth.

Although we celebrate Provider Appreciation Day one day a year, the home-based child care providers who care for our children earn our gratitude and support every single day, every single moment of the year.
Hayley Village, a home-based child care provider in San Mateo County, California, shares her experience with unaffordable housing and what it means to have to relocate her family and her business.
Women’s contributions and experiences are not well represented in the record books, but it is just as rich and worth celebrating. Ours is a tale of community, resilience, and connection to one another, and it is inextricably linked with care work.