Family, Friend and Neighbor Appreciation Week

Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Appreciation Week

Sept. 7-12, 2025

Family, Friend and Neighbor Appreciation Week is an opportunity to celebrate the over 5 million FFN caregivers who look after 11.5 million children each year. The celebration of FFN Appreciation Week intentionally  begins with National Grandparents’ Day to recognize the millions of grandparents who support our communities and care for young children. We invite you to help us raise awareness and show gratitude for the invaluable contributions of FFN care and caregivers to our communities and society. 

What Is Family, Friend and Neighbor Care?

Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) care is a broad term encompassing home-based child care provided by caregivers who typically have a previous relationship with the children for whom they care. They are the grandmothers, nanas, aunties, abuelitas, family, friends and neighbors who care for children. Family, friend and neighbor care makes up the majority of home-based child care in the U.S. with one in four children in the U.S. under the age of 5 being cared for by a grandparent some or all of the time their parent is at work.

2025 FFN Appreciation Week Schedule

Sunday, Sept. 07: It’s National Grandparents’ Day! Celebrating Grandparents Who Are FFN Caregivers!

Were you cared for by a grandparent? Share your favorite memory of you and your grandparent with the hashtag #ThanksGrandparent

MONDAY, SEPT. 08: Faces of FFN Care: A Look at the FFN Caregivers All Around Us

There are over 5 million FFN caregivers in the U.S., many of whom don’t identify as FFN caregivers. Can you identify the FFN caregivers all around you?

TUESDAY, SEPT. 09: Policies to Support the Diversity of FFN Care

FFN care and caregivers often face external threats such as changing immigration policy, low wages, and a lack of stable and affordable housing options. This day focuses on how we can individually and collectively stand against some of these persistent threats.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10: Webinar: Supporting FFN Care in Uncertain Times at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT

Join us during FFN Appreciation Week for a webinar where we explore how to support FFN care and caregivers during this uncertain time. The session will include a productive panel discussion with partners who will share their work supporting FFN caregivers.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 11: All Grown Up With FFN Care

Many of the people you know were fortunate enough to have spent their formative years under the care of an FFN caregiver.

Were you in FFN care as a child? Share a positive memory and hashtag #AllGrownUpFFN!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12: FFN Care Is the Heart of Communities

FFN caregivers are pillars in their community. Share why you choose FFN care for your little ones, or why you support FFN care using the hashtags #FFNCareIsAlwaysThere.

#ICYMI: 2024 Webinar Recording: Building Policy Momentum for FFN Care

Policies that support family, friend and neighbor care are gaining momentum on the state and federal level. Hear from FFN caregivers, policymakers, and advocates about how you can help build the momentum.

Digital Toolkit

Each day of FFN Appreciation Week has been assigned a theme to shine light on different aspects and issues regarding FFN care. The digital toolkit contains social media posts, graphics, and templates to help you create more awareness and increase visibility of family, friend and neighbor caregivers during FFN Appreciation Week. 

VIDEO SERIES

Our new video series spotlights FFN care and caregivers.

Who Are FFN Caregivers?

Family, friend and neighbor caregivers are all around us! Meet a few of the remarkable FFN caregivers and hear their stories.

FFN Caregivers Provide Loving Care

FFN care meets the developmental needs of children due to the nurturing and responsive relationships.

Supporting FFN Caregivers with Policies

FFN caregivers share the challenges they face around low wages and how they need policies that better support them.

2025 Cosponsors

All Our Kin logo with a stylized green plant and orange center above the text.
CCRR logo with colored blocks and text reading "Child Care Resource & Referral" in black and gray.
A rocket shaped like a banana launches into space above the word "BANANAS" with colored stripes below.
Brightspark early learning services logo with colorful dots on a white background.
CCIP logo with colored hexagons and text: California Child Care Initiative Project, care. connect. grow.
CACFP Roundtable logo with carrot, beet, and onion, and text "Since 1977" in a circular colorful border.
C-shaped colorful swirl logo next to the word "Candelen" in teal font on a white background.
Gold "C&C Candor & Co" logo on a white background with a vertical line separating the initials and name.
Blue and white circular logo with a stylized child figure and the text "Child Action, Inc." at the bottom.
Child Care Aware of Washington logo with red and blue check mark and text.
Child Care Choices logo with a colorful icon and the words: Educate. Advocate. Collaborate.
Logo with three stylized figures in blue, pink, and green above the text "Child Care Resource Center.
Children’s Council San Francisco logo with colorful ribbon design on the left.
CISC logo with the tagline: Bridging Cultures, Communities & Generations, in maroon text on a white background.
Circular CSPC logo with overlapping yellow and blue circles, and text: Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition.
DK Donnell-Kay Foundation logo in bold, brown text with "DK" in a circle to the left.
Logo for Early Care & Education Projects at the University of Arkansas College of Education & Health Professions.
Early Edge California logo with a stylized figure and graduation cap inside a yellow circle.
Logo for Early Childhood Investment Corporation with a blue figure holding a yellow star and blue-green text.
A globe-shaped balloon with the text: For the Care of Children, Empowering Communities Globally.
Families First logo with colorful dots and the phrase "Success Starts Early" in a green box.
Logo for Families First of Minnesota, with a green leaf above the "i" in "Families.
White text reads "Family Values @ Work" on a blue background, with a green gear symbol around the "@" sign.
Two simple childlike faces above the text: "GROWING UP New Mexico THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIP.
Illinois Action for Children logo with stylized figures forming a heart and the text “Building Strong Families.”.
Logo with blue hands holding an orange heart, and text: Imprints Cares. Nurturing children. Strengthening families.
Indigo Cultural Center logo with geometric design on a watercolor indigo circle background.
Cartoon children playing around a treehouse with the text "Kids Cabin Family Child Care Home.
Logo with three diverse hands reaching for vegetables, surrounded by "La Plata Food Equity Coalition" text.
Logo with colorful figures in a circle above the text "La Red Latina de Educación Temprana" in Spanish.
Four colorful hands forming a circle with the text "Latinos Educando Juntos" in the center.
Mani Miracles Infant & Toddler Care logo with stars and a crescent moon.
United Way logo with a hand holding a person, above text reading "Mile High United Way.
Text "Nabila's Home Daycare" in bold purple letters on a light blue background.
NAFCC logo with colorful house graphic and text: National Association for Family Child Care.
NBCDI logo with silhouettes of children's faces in profile, in shades of brown, and institute name in text.
Logo of The National Workforce Registry Alliance with a tree graphic and supporting text for early childhood workforce.
Logo with a figure reaching a star by a ladder, and the text "SEIU Education & Support Fund.
Sesame Workshop logo with yellow and green lines above and below the gray text.
SNCS logo with stylized baby face; text reads "sierra nevada children's services.
Smart Start logo with colorful overlapping squares and the tagline "Each Child. Every Community.
Logo with mountains, sun, trees, two children, and the text "Southwestern Child Development Commission.
Logo with children progressing from crawling to standing on stacked books, encircled by "Study to Show Learning Academy.
Colorful cartoon castle with "The Tot Spot Fun Factory" written below in playful, multicolored letters.
Purple "TG" toy blocks above the words "Training Grounds" and tagline about moving families and communities forward.
Text in rounded orange and blue letters reads "Trying Together" on a light background.
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania logo with a hand and a person inside a circle.
WHEDco logo with three green tree icons and text: "Building A Greater Bronx.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is FFN Appreciation Week?

Family, Friend and Neighbor Appreciation Week was created to build awareness, increase the visibility and show gratitude for the invaluable contributions of FFN care and caregivers to our communities and society. 

2. When is FFN Appreciation Week?

FFN Appreciation Week is intentionally celebrated during the second week of September with National Grandparents’ Day to recognize the millions of grandparents who support our communities and care for young children.

3. Who are FFN caregivers?

Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) is a broad term encompassing many types of caregivers, typically those who have a previous relationship with the children for whom they care. They are the grandmothers, nanas, aunties, abuelitas, family, friends and neighbors who care for children. These caregivers may be paid or unpaid and may not view themselves as providers.

4. How do children benefit from FFN care?

Nurturing relationships are the biggest need for the development of young kids’ brains. Early experiences affect the quality of brain development by establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for all of the learning, health and behavior that follow. Home-based settings, inclusive of FFN care, are the ideal settings to develop, support and nurture these relationships.

5. Why do families choose FFN care?

Parents choose FFN care as a first choice for a variety of reasons. FFN care is preferred by immigrant and Dual Language Learner (DLL) families. FFN care is also more flexible and accessible for rural families, who are less likely to use child care centers than families living in urban and suburban areas.

6. Why is it important to increase awareness around FFN care?

Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) providers are the mainstay of the American child care sector. Over 5 million FFN caregivers look after 11.5 million children including 5.8 million children ages 0-5.

If you have any additional questions or would like any additional information on how to get involved, please email us at venette@homegrownchildcare.org.