Each Child. Every Community.

This brief is shared by the North Carolina Partnership for Children on behalf of Smart Start of Transylvania County. It highlights findings from a regional research project focused on Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care in Western North Carolina, conducted in 2025 with support from community partners.

The summary below outlines key insights into why families choose FFN care, how providers define and experience high-quality caregiving, and where gaps in support and infrastructure remain across the region. The findings are intended to inform local partnerships, policymakers, and early childhood organizations as they work to strengthen systems that better support families and caregivers.

In 2025, Smart Start of Transylvania County (SSTC) conducted a regional Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) research project, facilitated by the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness (NCCHW) Culture of Results team at UNC Asheville, with funding from Dogwood Health Trust. This project aligned with SSTC’s mission to increase the visibility of FFN providers and advance understanding of the needs and perspectives of home-based caregivers.

NCCHW has prepared a final report summarizing the findings of this research, which is available on SSTC’s website.

FFN care refers to license-exempt, home-based care provided by relatives, friends, or neighbors. SSTC has long supported FFN providers in recognition of the critical role they play in the early childhood sector, particularly in rural areas. FFN care is often accessible to families who live far from licensed child care centers or experience transportation barriers. It offers flexible hours for families who work or attend school outside traditional business hours and is frequently a more affordable option for low-income families.

Perhaps most importantly, because the number of children ages 0–5 far exceeds the number of available slots in licensed child care centers, home-based care arrangements are essential to thousands of North Carolina families who need child care in order to work.

In the spirit of meeting families where they are and uplifting both children and providers, SSTC launched a local FFN Care Network in 2022. The network offers educational resources, peer connection, and financial support to home-based child care providers in Transylvania County. Since its launch, the network has grown to include more than 70 FFN caregivers serving approximately 180 children ages 0–5.

SSTC has continually sought feedback from providers within the Transylvania FFN Network, using their perspectives to advocate more effectively for resources and support for home-based caregivers. When Dogwood Health Trust awarded SSTC a grant to expand critical focus areas, the organization recognized an opportunity to better understand FFN care needs across the entire Western North Carolina region in order to strengthen family leadership and engagement.

From July to September 2025, regional data were collected through provider and parent surveys and caregiver focus groups. All surveys and focus groups were offered in both English and Spanish. A Spanish-language focus group was conducted with members of the El Telar FFN Network in Buncombe County, with interpretation provided by the Cenzontle Language Justice Cooperative.

FFN care is frequently chosen by immigrant and Spanish-speaking families because it offers cultural connection, trusted caregiving relationships, and opportunities for children to learn in their first language or a dual-language environment. SSTC intentionally sought out these perspectives to ensure the research reflected the experiences of families most likely to rely on FFN care.

Although FFN care is the only child care option available to many families in North Carolina, data show that families do not view it as a “last resort.” While 37.5% of surveyed Western North Carolina providers reported offering care to meet parents’ financial needs and 17.9% cited a lack of other child care options, nearly 93% of surveyed parents reported that home-based child care would be their first choice.

Trust emerged as a defining factor in families’ preference for FFN care. One parent shared, “I cannot fathom trusting someone else with my children.”

Focus group data also showed that FFN providers are deeply committed to delivering high-quality early education and derive a strong sense of fulfillment from their work. Providers described high-quality care as nurturing, attentive, and developmentally supportive, with an emphasis on academics and life skills. More than 91% of FFN providers reported feeling valued for their role. One provider shared:

“The parents I work for greet me every morning with genuine appreciation, and they’ve built a ‘gratitude board’ in the kitchen where the kids stick Post-it notes saying, ‘thank you for helping me tie my shoes’ or ‘thank you for reading the dragon book.’ That little ritual makes my role visible and celebrated.”

While the project yielded valuable insights, the research team encountered recruitment challenges. Participants were spread across 13 counties—Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey—with data heavily concentrated in Transylvania and Buncombe counties due to existing FFN infrastructure. Many Western North Carolina counties currently lack formal FFN networks, making it difficult to identify and reach caregivers.

Several factors contribute to why FFN providers may not self-identify, including limited trust in community organizations and a lack of recognition of FFN caregiving as professional work. Smart Start local partnerships and early childhood organizations can help bridge this gap by engaging FFN providers in conversations about child care needs and ensuring they feel seen, valued, and supported.

Those interested in learning more about FFN care challenges and support opportunities are encouraged to read the full report on FFN Care in Western North Carolina. Local partnerships seeking guidance on engaging FFN families and providers are invited to contact SSTC.

For more information, please contact:
Aiyanna Lollis, Director of Communications and Advocacy
aiyanna@smartstarttransylvania.org