Leadership for Family Child Care: The Promise of Staffed Family Child Care Networks - Summer 2019 Research Notes

Oct 15, 2026

Summer 2019 research notes analyze the alarming decline of family child care (FCC) providers in the U.S. and examine how staffed family child care networks (SFCCNs) can support providers to improve program quality. The National Study of Family Child Care Networks uses surveys, interviews with network directors, and in-depth case studies, summarizing organizational characteristics, staffing and supervision, services, and quality assessment. Findings describe network duration, geographic reach, provider contact patterns, training topics, peer support opportunities, and administrative supports, highlighting differences across program types.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Methodology

National Study design and sampling

Organization types and umbrella housing

Results

Network duration and geographic service patterns

Provider contact frequency and visit approach

Training, peer support, and administrative supports

SUMMER 2019 Research Notes Leadership for Family Child Care: The Promise of Staffed Family Child Care Networks The number of family child care (FCC) providers in the U.S. is declining at an alarming rate. From 2011 to 2017, there was a 35% decrease in FCC homes (National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, 2019) . A handful of advocatesand systems leaders are responding to this trend by focusing their attention to understand the reasons for the decline and conducting research to explore solutions for its reversal (DiMatteo & Nzewi, 2019; Guzman, Hickman, Turner, & Gennetian, 2016; Hurley & Shen, 2016; Orfali & Tout, 2018; Porter & Reiman, 2016). Considering the substantial portion of child care that is represented in home-based child care (HBCC), a heightened level of concern is warranted and more research is needed. One approach for supporting FCC providers is through staffed family child care networks (SFCCNs) . Organizations such as child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&R), Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start and Migrant Head Start), child care organizations, shared services alliances, and social service agencies host SFCCNs. Through the network, paid staff members provide supports and services to improve program quality including technical assistance, training, coaching, and opportunities for peer support. Juliet Bromer and Toni Porter recently published Mapping the Family Child Care Network Landscape: Findings from the National Study of Family Child Care Networks (2019) . Thereport provides findings about the organizational characteristics, services offered to family child care providers, staffing and supervision, and evaluation/quality assessment of SFCCNs. METHODOLOGY The National Study of Family Child Care Networks was a threeyear exploratory study that included surveys, interviews with network directors, and in-depth case studies of two networks. The survey consisted of approximately 50 questions adapted from protocols developed previously by the authors. It was sent to 505 organizations that had potential to meet the study criteria. Of these, 275 responded and 156 were identified as SFCCNs that met the study criteria, located in 38 states and the District of Columbia. While the sample is broad, the authors reported it is not representative of all SFCCNs. Of the types of organizations that sponsored SFCCNs, 42% were CCR&R organizations, 13% were from Early Head Start or Child Care Partnerships, and the remaining 44% were from other organizations. In addition, some SFCCNs were housed in larger umbrella organizations including colleges and universities, childcare centers, public school districts, shared service alliances, and family child care associations. Figure 1 shows the percentage of SFCCNs programs housed within larger umbrella organizations. FIGURE 1 SFCCNs Housed in Umbrella Organizations Higher Education Institution 8% Child Care Center 6% Public School District 5% Shared Services Alliance 3% Family Child Care Assoc. 1% Qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed with 46 SFCCNs and two unions. Eighteen of the 46 SFCCNs are highlighted as examples in the report. Profiles of these SFCCNs describe organizational characteristics, the FCC providers that they served, services offered, organizational staffing, and external evaluations. RESULTS The duration of SFCCNs was noteworthy, with nearly half (48%) reported having served HBCC providers (a broader term that includes FCC providers, but may also include family friend and neighbor care) for 20 or more years. Only 12% of the SFCCNs provided statewide services, while 42% served multiple counties and 46% served local communities. Forty-five percent of SFCCNs served urban providers with 28% serving FCC providers in suburban communities and 27% providing services in rural locations. A majority (57%) of SFCCNs served 100 or less providers. However, these limited number of cases did not r

FAQs

What issue motivates the report on staffed family child care networks?

The notes identify a steep decline in the number of family child care providers and explain that additional research is needed to understand causes and reverse the trend.

How was the National Study of Family Child Care Networks conducted?

The study was a three-year exploratory effort using surveys, interviews with network directors, and in-depth case studies of two networks, with respondents filtered to those meeting study criteria.

What services and training do SFCCNs most commonly provide?

Most SFCCNs provide training on early care and education, managing child care business needs, licensing regulations, stress management, and support for dual language learners, alongside peer support activities and business/administrative assistance like forms and application help.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair