Supporting Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care: A North Star Vision for Colorado
Our North Star
When Family, Friend, and Neighbor providers are respected, supported, and compensated, Colorado’s children, families, and communities thrive.
We are FFN caregivers, advocates, and partners working together to build a stronger future for children, families, and communities across Colorado.
This vision is grounded in the lived experiences and leadership of FFN providers themselves — caregivers from diverse communities across the state whose voices have too often been overlooked in early childhood systems and decision-making.
Together, we believe children and families thrive when FFN caregivers are respected, supported, and compensated. This vision is rooted in the values of language justice, immigrant empowerment, quality care for children, and equitable, sustainable resources for caregivers and support organizations.
Fair & Equitable Compensation
FFN providers are compensated fairly and equitably for the work they do, and their compensation is sufficient to support themselves and their families.
Parents should be empowered to choose child care that fits their needs, including FFN care. The value of caring for children should not change based on the setting. All FFN providers must have access to sufficient compensation to meet their own needs so they can provide high-quality care for children.
Compensation includes reimbursement for the cost of food, funding through child care subsidy programs, direct cash payments, funding from local government, grants for training or materials, private pay from families and any other form of financial support that FFN providers receive.
Strong Support Networks
FFN providers have access to a robust network of culturally appropriate training and support organizations and programs regardless of where they live.
Organizations that support FFN providers are critical in Colorado. They provide economic support, training on child development and quality, tools for provider wellness, and opportunities to build social networks. They are most often community-based organizations that take a culturally- and linguistically-responsive approach to building trust and connection with FFN providers.
FFN-support organizations need to be sufficiently funded. There needs to be support organizations in all areas of the state that can meet the full range of provider needs. The organizations need to be connected and coordinated with one another to fully support providers’ needs.
Easy Access to Resources
FFN providers easily access resources without barriers.
The resources available to providers are only useful to the extent that they can be easily accessed. Resources held by public and community-based organizations (for example early childhood organizations, nonprofit resources, and state and local government) span a wide range of supports that FFN providers may need.
These resources should be accessible through systems that are intentionally co-designed with FFN providers to affirm the trust, respect, and value for these caregivers. Resources must also be culturally and linguistically responsive and account for the range of needs providers have, such as access to technology and off-hours scheduling.
Provider Leadership
FFN providers are recognized as leaders and agents of change.
FFN providers must be engaged in shaping policies and programs that impact them. FFN providers are part of a continuum of various types of child care and parent choice, not separate from it, and they should be included as equal partners in decision-making that affects the early childhood system. FFN providers have the power to be agents of change for children and families. Their skills and opportunities for leadership must be fostered and embraced.
Leaders in Colorado should bring them to the table anywhere that decisions about early childhood are being made. Committees, legislation, programs, and policies that impact early childhood should include representation of FFN provider leadership.
Supported Across Colorado
This North Star Vision is supported by a growing network of organizations, caregivers, advocates, and community leaders committed to strengthening Family, Friend, and Neighbor care across Colorado.
Join the Growing Coalition of Supporters
This vision belongs to all of us who believe Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers deserve recognition, support, fair compensation, and a meaningful voice in shaping Colorado’s early childhood system.
When FFN providers are respected, supported, and compensated, Colorado’s children, families, and communities thrive.
North Star Signup
If your organization, community, or work aligns with this vision — or if you’d like to learn more — we invite you to connect with us and join this growing coalition of supporters for FFN care across Colorado.