Investing in FFN Childcare: An Economic Paradox 

The affordability of childcare is dependent on low wages and more often than not, no wages. This exists with center-based providers, home-based childcare providers and Friend Family and Neighbor care providers. 

Let’s level set to make sure we all start on the same page. Here are the basic facts I believe we can all agree on: 

1. Families need childcare in order to be able to work or go to school to advance their career goals, earn a living, pay their mortgage or rent, and  purchase food and clothes for their family. 
2. Our current child care industry is based on a model that is dependent on supply and demand, increasing barriers for low-income families from accessing care in licensed centers or licensed family child care homes. 
3. FFN care is an often chosen source of care for families for many reasons including a trusted adult, continuity of care, cultural relevance, language spoken and affordability.
4. Rural, Black and Brown communities lack access to licensed care and rely on FFN care at a higher rate than their urban and suburban white peers. 

In order for families to be able to work, earn a living, save money, and build a future for their children, they rely on an underpaid, highly skilled workforce. As a state, and as a country, we must support these families by also supporting the providers, those who work in licensed facilities and those who are FFN. This current model of the child care system allows some to succeed while holding others, those who we trust and rely on to care for those who are most precious to us, back. FFN providers, who are motivated by love for the family and children earn an average of less than $8,000 per year.

This economic paradox is even more prevalent in rural communities where access to licensed care options is even more limited. Families rely on their family, friends and neighbors. 

We must rethink the child care model. We can no longer pretend that our next generation of workforce in STEM industries, in hospitality and tourism, in the legal fields, medicine, and teachers, will simply show up. They must be developed and it must start at age zero. We must be willing to transform our early childhood system from a privatized model with minimal margins to a public good that supports the essential shield care providing workforce with thriving wages and benefits. We must incest in our future by supporting our childcare providers today, especially our FFN providers.