United Way for Greater Austin

COVID-19 Impact

Many home-based providers in Austin, Texas are ineligible for other public supports and funding streams. This includes providers likely to be immigrants without documentation serving children of essential workers who are also undocumented and are unable to participate in the child care subsidy system supported by the State.

According to a recent survey in Austin/Travis County, 44% of family child care homes were closed. The biggest concerns among providers were the ability to pay staff and whether families will come back after the pandemic is over.

Emergency Fund

To address these income gaps, the Success By 6 Family Child Care Emergency Fund is supporting providers to sustain the supply of home-based child care in Austin/Travis County. The fund will award 54 providers grants of up to $1,500 with the goal to address both immediate needs and long-term sustainability and quality of the in-home child care ecosystem.

Home Grown is a national collaborative of funders committed to improving the quality of and access to home-based child care with a mission to increase access to and the quality of home-based child care. 

Gunawardena Family Child Care in Altadena, California after the Los Angelos fires.

Up in Flames: It’s a Long, Hard Road to Recovery for Altadena Family Child Care Providers

In January 2025, Home-based child care Francisca Gunawardena provider lost everything in the Los Angeles fires. Today, Francisca is still trying to figure out how to move forward.
Danielle Caldwell and her home-based child care program enjoying the outdoors.

Las mujeres que trabajan en el cuidado infantil en el hogar sufren la peor desigualdad salarial

Junto con las inspiradoras mujeres que son cuidadoras y cuidadoras de niños en el hogar, Home Grown celebró el Mes de la Historia de la Mujer pidiendo salarios adecuados que reflejen el valor de las contribuciones de los proveedores al desarrollo de los niños pequeños, el apoyo familiar y las economías y comunidades locales.
M. Robinson -IMG_4247

Inspiring A Passion for Nature Through Play in Home-based Child Care

Early childhood educators, including home-based child care providers, around the nation are exploring ways to bring the natural world to life as a classroom for children. We spoke with three providers who shared how they incorporate nature-based play in their programs.