Family, Friend and Neighbor Care: An Opportunity Ruth W. Mayden The Annie E. Casey Foundation December 2,

2 Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care: is home-based regulated and unregulated care outside the child’s own home is an often underrecognized component in a comprehensive system of care represents unique opportunities to address critical challenges to the well-being of children and families

3 OPPORTUNITIES Improve the school success of a large number of children Increase the reach and effectiveness of preschool programs Contribute to the reduction of racial and other disparities Build a neighborhood-based system of services and supports

4 OPPORTUNITIES (Continued) Build social networks and collaborations Address local, state and federal policies and practices that affect FFN providers and the families they serve Work in partnership with other public and private funders

5 Identifying and disseminating information about effective models for enhancing the social and emotional development of young children; Identifying and disseminating information about building hubs of learning and networking among early care and education providers and settings; FFN Investment Strategies

6 Investment Strategies Using policy and practice reform to address racial disparities; and Identifying local and state policies that promote quality FFN care.

7 Lessons: Social and Emotional Development States recognize the value of addressing infant/ young children’s mental health issues States need assistance in maximizing the use of federal funding streams: Title C, Maternal Child Health, EPSDT, Medicaid, SCHIP, States believe that the best strategy is to link their infant/young children mental health efforts to existing early care and education systems and programs Researchers express a pressing need for more useful studies on the impact of culture on the social and emotional development of young children Communities have created programs to assist parents in supporting their children’s social and emotional development and some of these programs have national training capacity.

8 Lessons: Building Hubs of Learning and Networking Setting up Play and Learn Groups has been a useful strategy for engaging community resources in supporting parents and care givers and providing developmentally sound activities for young children in Atlanta, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Oakland Providence, and White Center (Seattle, WA) The Competency Based Military Child Care Training Model proved to be an engaging and successful approach for low- income, Latina FFN providers, including pursuing the Child Development Associate certification Making Connections Children are Healthy And Prepared to Succeed in School (CHAPPS) specialists and their teams learned from the Sparking Connections Family, Friend and Neighbor Care Institute and want opportunities to engage outside resources in their planning

9 Lessons: Using Policy and Practice to Address Racial Disparities States and communities are interested in providing culturally appropriate early care and education services to their residents Communities of color can be reached and engaged effectively Examples of successful models must be disseminated more widely with TA to insure effective implementation

10 Lessons: Using Policy and Practice to Address Racial Disparities States and communities are interested in providing culturally appropriate early care and education services to their residents Communities of color can be reached and engaged effectively Examples of successful models must be disseminated more widely with TA to insure effective implementation

11 Lessons: Identifying state and local policies that promote quality family, friend and neighbor care Advocacy organizations that do not have CHAPSS as their central focus can provide technical assistance and prepare advocates for quality improvement in family, friend and neighbor care FFN care can be included in state efforts to improve the quality of early care and education

Conclusions Improving the quality of FFN care is a long and complex process that is essential to school readiness Collaborative partnerships among private and public funders and administrators are essential to reaching FFN caregivers and mounting a sustained effort to provide the support they want and need We know something about successful quality improvement but still have a lot to learn 12

Conclusions Information about what works, policy and research issues, successful advocacy, etc should be more accessible This is an opportune time to take advantage of the growing interest in family, friend and neighbor care 13