Family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers are a critical part of Colorado’s early-childhood ecosystem — yet many are locked out of federal nutrition support. This new feasibility study explores how the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) can be made more accessible for these license-exempt caregivers. The study examines legal frameworks, caregiver experiences, and system design, and recommends a streamlined registration pathway that reduces administrative burden. By removing the linkage between CACFP eligibility and state subsidy programs, this model could help FFN providers serve healthier meals and strengthen community-based care.
Report: A Study to Determine the Feasibility of Establishing an Alternative Child and Adult Care Food Program Eligibility Process for Family, Friend and Neighbor Caregivers in Colorado
Mi nombre es Gladys Jones y soy la directora ejecutiva de ECE on the Move. También soy líder en el cuidado infantil, defensora y una persona que vive con una discapacidad.
My name is Gladys Jones, and I'm the Chief Executive Officer of ECE on the Move. I'm also a child care leader, an advocate, and a person living with a disability.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, the field of early childhood education has an opportunity to reflect on the enduring relationship between Black women’s caregiving labor and the American social economy.