Family Friend and Neighbor care gets attention

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has announced the recipients of a grant program for Family Friend and Neighbor (FFN) providers. DHS recieved $750,000 from the legislature in 2007 after Ready 4 K and our allies worked to show legislators the important role this type of care is to families. Minnesota is the first state in the US to put resources into FFN care and it has caused quite a buzz in the early childhood community.

One of the grant recipients, the Northland Foundation (based in Duluth) had this news feature in the local media.

The majority of children in Minnesota spend part of their time in FFN care during the day: whether it is a grandparent, next door neighbor, or nanny. FFN care is especially important in greater Minnesota where there are few programs and child care centers available for young families. It is exciting to see more attention and resources devoted to this area.