5 min read
Raising a family in the United States has perhaps never been more challenging than it is today, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. Child care has become more expensive and more difficult for working parents to secure. The costs for food, housing, clothing, school supplies, and utilities have skyrocketed as the economy shifts and … Continued
Elsa Esparza
7 min read
Every day, families across the nation rely on extended family members, friends, and neighbors (often referred to as FFN caregivers) to provide care for their children. These individuals play a vital role in nurturing the well-being of a vast majority of children in home-based, informal settings and are an essential part of today’s childcare system. While … Continued
4 min read
The following post, written by Packard Foundation’s Katherine Beckmann, first appeared on June 16, 2021 in The Hill. When I found out I was pregnant with my eldest son, my husband and I celebrated with family and friends — and immediately put our name on waiting lists for child care. Despite our planning, we couldn’t … Continued
Jeff Sunshine
4 min read
In 2014, the Packard Foundation launched Starting Smart and Strong, a ten-year place-based early learning initiative in Oakland, Fresno, and East San Jose, California. The goal of the initiative is to significantly improve the quality of adult‐child interactions across all settings to ensure children grow up confident, ready to learn, and ready for kindergarten. Now … Continued
Mimi DiBartolomeo
Laasya Bhagavatula
6 min read
Supporting the Leaders Who Care for Children in California Our partners at Rockwood Leadership Institute prioritize relationships. Deep connection is a part of their organization’s ethos. Every meeting begins with smiling faces and weekend updates. Rockwood colleagues then ground attendees with breath work or a stretching exercise to create space for everyone to arrive, be … Continued
5 min read
Behind the scenes of everyday life and activity, there is a network of family members, friends, and neighbors (FFN) who are caring for our nation’s youngest children. Often unnoticed, these individuals provide critical care to the vast majority of children in home-based, informal settings and are an essential part of the fabric of today’s childcare … Continued
4 min read
While children are the beating heart of our communities, our nation’s youngest are not being kept safe from disease and affliction. Years of progress in reducing the number of uninsured children are being reversed. As we watch the devastating impact of COVID-19 take its toll on our communities and public health system, we are also … Continued
A sustainable, comprehensive, paid family leave policy is important to ensure that adults can take the time they need to nurture young children so that they grow up healthy, confident, and ready to learn. With shelter-in-place, social distancing, and quarantine orders in effect across the country as a result of COVID-19, families have had to adjust to new realities, including the complexities of providing care to children and … Continued
Diana Garcia
8 min read
Learn how Visión y Compromiso is providing trainings for family, friend, and neighbor caregivers of young children, and teaching us what quality care looks like.
5 min read
Learn more about the lessons we have learned about the strategies and practices to effectively connect with family, friends, and neighbors caregivers to foster nurturing early learning experiences.
