This implementation guide is intended to be used by public leaders at the state level responsible for child care and food program administration and by community organizations and advocates working on behalf of vulnerable children and families. The guide offers a pathway toward realizing the goal of family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregiver participation in
The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is designed to reimburse child care programs for healthy meals and snacks served. But eligibility for participation and successful documentation of compliance with program requirements has been a challenge for the estimated 5 million family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregivers who look after 11.5 million children.
Employers are increasingly aware of the relationship between child care and employment: Without reliable, affordable, accessible child care, parents simply cannot participate in the workforce. There are opportunities for employers to become more engaged in supporting their teams and communities in accessing high-quality child care. This Home Grown resource, Opportunities and Approaches for Employers to
Licensing is critical infrastructure in the child care system: Through licensing, family child care providers are publicly recognized as child care professionals. In recognition of the important impact of state licensing policy and practice on family child care, Home Grown brought together its first-ever Family Child Care Licensing Work Group. The Work Group consisted of
In many states, family, friend and neighbor caregivers are exempt from licensing regulations and operate outside of publicly funded payment systems. The recommendations presented here emerged from focus groups conducted to learn how networks are responsive to the strengths and needs of the FFN sector.
This report explores the unique role and challenges faced by immigrant Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers in Colorado, who provide essential child care for over half of the state’s children under age five. Despite their importance, these caregivers face significant obstacles in accessing federal support through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which reimburses child care providers for nutritious meals served to children. Many immigrant FFN caregivers, who are often license-exempt and care for children informally, face barriers to CACFP access, including fears of deportation, bureaucratic complexity, and language barriers.
The Family Child Care Workforce Fact Sheet highlights the importance of family child care (FCC) as a vital part of the early childhood care system.
Family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers represent the largest non-parental child care sector in the United States, with the numbers of providers and children in these care settings far outnumbering licensed family child care (FCC) or center-based settings. Yet despite the prevalence, little is known about the types of supports and resources that FFN providers
Home Grown convened a group of FCC providers to gain a deeper understanding of state licensing for family child care and develop recommendations for these systems. This report represents their work.
Home-based child care is the most common child care arrangement for babies. This care type supports their development and sets them up for futures where they thrive. Home Grown has created this resource to share how home-based child care helps babies thrive.