EEC outlines plan to study and support family, friend and neighbor caregivers while weighing regulatory trade-offs

The Board of Early Education and Care heard a presentation on family, friend and neighbor care Wednesday as staff laid out findings from a legislative feasibility review and a set of next steps for the agency.

The agency’s Associate Commissioner of Family Community Supports, Hujjat Shahir, and Deputy Commissioner for Family Access and Engagement, Tyrese Nicholas, told the board EEC distinguishes broadly-used FFN care (care provided by relatives, friends or neighbors) from its internal informal child care (ICC) pathway tied to child care financial assistance (CCFA). "FFN care is care that's provided by someone that's a family, that's a that's a family, a friend, or neighbor," Shahir said, noting that many families prefer or rely on these trusted caregivers.

Why it matters: EEC staff said ICC providers who participate in CCFA must complete an approval process and meet baseline health and safety requirements, but ICC reimbursement rates are "significantly lower than rates paid for our licensed child care providers," Nicholas warned. Presenters estimated ICC comprises roughly $2 million of CCFA spending, is paid at standardized daily rates that do not vary by region or child age, and a large share of ICC placements occur in children's homes and for school-age children.

What EEC proposes: Officials recommended several near-term actions to improve support and integration without undermining the informal nature of FFN care. Those steps include creating a single, unified application and orientation in partnership with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) networks; expanding consumer education so families know FFN is an option; conducting focus groups with families and caregivers; reviewing CCFA reimbursement rate structures; and standing up an FFN advisory committee with diverse stakeholders, including the Care That Works Coalition.

Board reaction and debate: Board members welcomed the proposals but repeatedly raised the core tension the agency flagged: formalizing supports for FFN caregivers can improve safety and access but may alter the informal relationships families value. Several board members pointed to research estimating a substantial share of young children receive informal care and urged that any policy balance supports family choice and equity. One topic flagged repeatedly was whether increased outreach and higher ICC rates would alter demand across the broader child care market.

Next steps: EEC said it will continue engagement with FFN caregivers and stakeholders, develop the unified application and orientation, run additional focus groups, and convene the proposed advisory committee to refine recommendations, including whether and how to change reimbursement structures. The board will monitor future recommendations and potential legislative changes.