The Home-Based Child Care Research Initiative at Erikson Institute, with support from Home Grown, developed the Provider Voice in Home-Based Child Care Networks Scale (PV-HBCCN). This scale measures providers’ perceptions of how

Home Grown partnered with the Home-Based Child Care Research Initiative at Erikson Institute to create Getting to Impact in Home-Based Child Care: Evaluating Implementation, Outcomes, and Long-Term Effects. This paper presents a

In 2022, the Home-Based Child Care Research Initiative at Erikson Institute and Home Grown developed the Home-Based Child Care Network (HBCCN) Benchmarks, an evidence-based framework for high-quality home-based child care networks. The

Home Grown Study To better support the essential work of Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, a recent study by Home Grown, commissioned by the State of Colorado, explored the feasibility of

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

Home-based child care providers share feedback and insight on their experiences with legislative visits during the 2025 August recess.

Families and child care providers are being squeezed as pandemic-era supports expire and federal funding stalls. Across the country, home-based providers are struggling to stay open amid lower reimbursements and rising costs.

Carmela is a family, friend and neighbor caregiver who is proud of her Hispanic heritage. Learn more about how her Hispanic heritage shapes her work as a HBCC caregiver in this blog.

Grandparents are unsung heroes of home-based child care. Millions of grandparents are stepping up all across the U.S. to provide primary care for their grandchildren. Stories like Tracy Owen, Natalie Whitesides, and

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

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

Despite a small 2.23% increase in CACFP reimbursement rates for 2025–26, HBCC providers are still struggling to cover rising food and operational costs. The updated rates add just a few cents per