Amplifying Provider Voices
Home Grown believes provider, caregiver, and family-driven narratives hold power. Providers, caregivers, and families’ voices lead our messaging and storytelling. This page contains a snapshot of those voices. We hope you watch, read, listen, share and commit to joining us in amplifying provider voices.
Provider Spotlights
"Home-based child care providers are here and it's important to help provide resources to us. We want to be taken seriously. If we don't get support, the children ultimately suffer."
“At the end of the day, I am both the CEO and the janitor for my business. I’m also the cook, the curriculum specialist, and the tax preparer. I have a master’s degree and run a five-star program, but after all the expenses I average about $14 an hour.”
"Child care is needed. It was needed before this [pandemic] and it is needed now. But what is going to be done for us? I have talked to many providers. We [home-based providers] don't have any benefits as other jobs do. We don't have any health benefits and what we do is one of the most essential jobs."
"Families deserve to have options, and many families, especially those with infants, do prefer a smaller setting. It's important that we respect the decisions and what they want and what's best for their family. Family child care is definitely at the core of that, supporting families in their most critical moments where they have to make decisions that really impact their lives."
"First and foremost, I wish more people knew about FFN caregivers and knew about the power that FFN caregivers have. They are so important. They saved so many families during the pandemic when child care centers weren’t open. Without FFN care some families can’t go to work or school. FFN caregivers are very important to keeping communities going."
"As an FFN caregiver, we care for the children with love and respect. We help the children be ready for school, and we are open 24 hours 7 days sometimes."
"I would love to be more respected as a home-based child care provider. We need financial resources. We have been on the front lines. We have been there for the essential families and for the children."
"After I lost my job, I began caring for children full-time. It is an amazing feeling to know that I am supporting parents with child care so that they can work. The children help make my house feel vibrant and alive. They bring me great joy."
"Family, friend and neighbor providers provide the same quality of care to children but receive no support with materials, funds or resources. FFNs should be included in support systems and recognized for their work."
Read provider and caregiver stories and quotes around their experiences, strengths, challenges and solutions.
Learn from the Providers
Provider Perspectives in the Media
Ensuring that home-based provider and caregiver voices are included in local and national media is essential to increasing awareness around the strengths and challenges they experience. Home Grown has worked with journalists and publications to lift provider and caregiver voices and include their perspective in the media over the past four years through sharing provider quotes, provider features, and providing background information and resources for editorial content. Click on the topics below for a snapshot of provider perspectives in the media.
FINANCES & COMPENSATION
Low wages, income insecurity, limited access to financial resources and debt repayment support.
