Understanding ‘Post-Pandemic’ Family Child Care Providers: Why New Providers Entered the Field and Why Others Left

• In Event: Building a Sustainable Workforce: Strategies for Improving Compensation and Working Conditions for Early Childhood Educators

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire early childhood education (child care) sector nationwide faced a massive loss of skilled early educator talent. For family child care providers (FCCs), this crisis pre-dates the onset of the pandemic. Massachusetts has fared no better than the rest of the country. This attrition rate has been a double edged sword, both raising to national consciousness how the lack of attention to system-building has produced a child care sector in deep need of reform–and also raising to consciousness the low pay, few benefits, and lack of recognition that most early educators receive.

Despite the onslaught of attrition and widespread coverage of the simultaneous low compensation and high price of child care, there has been a slight silver lining: a small number of new entrants into the field as family child care providers were licensed in both 2021 and 2022. These new entrants, who have decided to enter the field at one of the most difficult times to enter the field, may offer insight into the field’s value–what makes it worthwhile to enter the field? In addition, learning from those who have left the field in recent years can offer insights to help alleviate, address, or prevent these reasons for attrition–what, if it had been in place, would have made it worthwhile to stay in the field?

Through collaboration among Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (data), the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (funding), and researchers (Northeastern University and Wellesley Centers for Women (research), this project employed mixed methods: a statewide survey of new family child care entrants as well as a series of statewide focus groups with family child care providers who left the field. Findings highlight not only the interests and motivations of new family child care entrants, but also challenges that they experience, including the licensing process, compensation, business support, and balancing work with well-being. Former family child care providers confirm that they also experienced these challenges and further underscore the importance and necessity of developing strong relationships when working in a highly relational field.

Our paper presentation will highlight the findings and next steps from this project in greater detail, including how this research has begun to support further policy work supporting family child care providers throughout the Commonwealth.

Authors

• Kimberly Lucas, Northeastern University
  Presenting Author

• Wendy Wagner Robeson, Wellesley College
  Presenting Author