| Title: |
Supporting Family Child Care Homes in Colorado: Implementation Findings from the Family Child Care Home Benefits Pilot Program. OPRE Report #2025-145 |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Alexandra Bernardi; Sydney Roach; Cynthia Miller; Administration for Children and Families (ACF) (DHHS), Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE); MDRC; Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; MEF Associates |
| Source: |
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. 2025. |
| Availability: |
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. Administration for Children & Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201. Web site: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
21 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Contract Number: |
HHSP233201500059I |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Evaluative |
| Descriptors: |
Child Care; State Programs; Pilot Projects; Financial Support; Child Caregivers; Fringe Benefits; Program Implementation; Program Effectiveness |
| Geographic Terms: |
Colorado |
| Abstract: |
Child care and early education (CCEE) workers have one of the lowest paid occupations nationwide. Although they represent a minority (about 10 percent) of paid, home-based child care settings, there are over 90,000 licensed Family Child Care (FCC) homes in the United States, serving nearly 800,000 children under age 13. The number of licensed FCC homes has fallen over the past 20 years, and these providers represent an important part of the child care sector, particularly for families with low incomes, irregular or unpredictable work schedules, and those living in rural areas that typically do not have many child care options. To better support FCC homes in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) launched a pilot program (the Family Child Care Home Benefits Pilot, or "the pilot program") that offered selected providers additional funding to support their access to benefits. The pilot was targeted to FCC homes in Colorado that serve children from birth through age 5. A study of the pilot was conducted as part of the Building and Sustaining the Child Care and Early Education Workforce (BASE) project. This brief discusses findings from the study of the pilot program, which started in July 2023 and lasted for two years. It presents the characteristics of participating FCC homes, providers, and assistants, as well as providers' and assistants' experiences with the pilot program. |
| Abstractor: |
ERIC |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED678138 |
| Database: |
ERIC |