The Many Faces of FFN

I’m Cesiah

My name is Cesiah Hernandez, I am an immigrant born in Coyoacan Mexico City, I have been proudly an FFN for 19 years. I started providing childcare at 15 years old, the children were 2 and a newborn. I worked for this family until the children no longer needed childcare, now those two boys are teenagers and I am still connected with the family. I already had experience as a FFN from my country since I was the main caregiver for my brother and sometimes for my younger cousins. For as long as I can remember, I have always had that passion for caring for and advocating for our children. It fills me with joy to know that they feel safe, protected, and loved by me.

In 2007 I had my first child, I was 18 years old, I was a single mother and this is where an FFN provider directly began to be part of my life. I remember having to leave my son with my neighbor who charged me $15 a day so I could go to work. There, they paid me $10 an hour and only having to pay $15 a day for childcare was incredibly helpful. I could cover my and my baby’s expenses. Except, I knew that the FFN provider deserved a higher wage for her service since she had my greatest treasure under her care. In 2019 I started working with a family as a child care provider. I had heard about the PASO program a few years before and I was interested but I wondered, “why take it? I feel like I have experience and I have taken care of so many children including my 3”. I thought, “I know what I’m doing.” I had no idea how much I still had to learn.

In 2020 during the pandemic I had time to reflect and realize that this was what I wanted to do, I wanted to dedicate my life working with children in a more professional way and that I wanted to have some type of education in child development and PASO was the the only program that I knew about that offered this great opportunity regardless of my immigration status. I could gain knowledge and earn a child development certificate, the Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA) from the Council of Professional Recognition. I took advantage of the opportunity that changed my life. I was able to graduate from the PASO program in the fall 2020 class and in 2021 I recevied my CDA.

Obtaining my CDA was not the end of my path, on the contrary it was the beginning of a world of connections and alliances that led me to new opportunities and opened paths of teaching in my life, which I did not hesitate to take advantage of and CSPC did not let me go. To my surprise, there were so many other opportunities to engage with the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (CSPC), the organization that teached PASO. I could explore spaces like Conectando, a network of families during the pandemic, and Community Council facilitated by Lorena Garcia, the CEO of the CSPC, where people from the community could express our doubts and ideas to achieve systematic changes. And I can proudly say that my testimony along with many others were part of the change, eliminating barriers and passing  SB21-199 that allows people regardless of their legal status to have access to professional, commercial and occupational licenses.

It was always my focus to get more tools in the hands of FFN providers to be able to achieve their dreams, and for some, that was to become licensed providers. This would allow these hard working providers to have access to all of the support systems that exist for licensed providers, but that FFN providers are often locked out of. After this great achievement it was time to let our community know about the benefits and their rights of the SB21-199. CSPC created a program called Grupos De Lucha (groups in the fight) that I just had to be a part of and do outreach to inform our community.

2021 was a great year for me. CSPC launched a new internship opportunity for its PASO program. This gave those of us who graduated from PASO, and opportunity to learn how to teach PASO by working directly with the program coordinators. After the completion of the internship, we could apply to be a PASO coordinator! I applied, and fortunately, I was one of those chosen to work at CSPC. I signed a contract and became part of the wonderful CSPC team. As a PASO Coordinator, I can impact the lives of many more families.  

By telling my story I want to convey that I am very proud to be a FFN and that the work we do is should not be invisible. It is hard and constant work that never ends, but what motivates me is helping the young children in our care to learn and grow in an environment surrounded by selfless love. FFN care is essential and high-quality for children’s early education, health, and future success.

Trust Families, Trust FFN

Cesiah’s story is a testament to the strength and determination of FFN caregivers who selflessly dedicate their lives to the well-being of children. Her journey from a young caregiver to a professional in the field, making impactful changes in her community, showcases the profound influence FFN providers can have on shaping our children’s futures.

As we continue our Trust Families, Trust FFN campaign, let Cesiah’s story remind us of the incredible individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes. Their love, commitment, and unwavering support are the cornerstones of our childcare ecosystem.

We will be sharing more stories, insights, and resources to shed light on the vital role of FFN caregivers. Together, we can recognize their contributions, advocate for their rights, and ensure that every child receives the high-quality care they deserve.

Stay tuned for more inspiring tales and opportunities to join our cause. Cesiah’s journey is just one chapter in the larger narrative of Trust Families, Trust FFN, where we celebrate and honor those who make a difference in the lives of our children every day.