Blog by Project Director Emily Landes and Project Manager Sowmya Ramanathan

Licensed early care and learning spots in Colorado are hard to find and hard to afford. Infant care at a center averages $21,000 a year, and nearly 14,000 children are on waitlists. So where do children go when there’s no spot for them? Often, they go to a grandparent, an aunt, a friend, or a neighbor.

These Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers are license-exempt caregivers who look after four or fewer children. About half of Colorado children under 6 receive FFN care, including more than 80,000 children under 5 with working parents. FFN providers make it possible for parents to work, yet they often go unrecognized and underpaid.

Since 2021, Early Milestones Colorado has studied how to support these caregivers, who often fall through the cracks of our systems. Here’s what we’ve learned.

2021. Elevating FFN Provider Voices.

In 2021, Milestones staff conducted 20 interviews with FFN providers across the state and 20 more with support organizations to better understand the unique experiences of FFN providers in Colorado, as well as how early childhood systems can engage with and support them.

We learned that FFN caregivers are essential providers who serve a larger share of families of color and families with low incomes. Many don’t see themselves as providers at first, because they think of themselves as grandparents, friends, or neighbors. FFN caregivers are often disconnected from state and local supports: only 20 percent of the caregivers we interviewed knew about their local early childhood council (p. 6). And discrimination or negative experiences with systems can push caregivers away (p. 9).

The Rural Care Network

Our 2021 research inspired the Rural Care Network, which Early Milestones launched in October 2025. The network brought together more than 50 FFN providers, who met up to twice a month to learn and build community. We first asked providers which topics they wanted to learn about and built a curriculum around their answers. Partners then led trainings on early childhood development, state supports, food and nutrition, and more. Providers who attended one training per month for six months during the grant period could earn a materials grant to buy supplies for the children they care for.

By the end of the grant period, participants said they felt more connected to other caregivers and more supported by local and state organizations. They also said they knew more about early childhood topics and had an easier time finding resources. One participant wrote in the final survey: “La experiencia estuvo excelente, de mucha utilidad, y espero que haya más entrenamientos como este.” / “The experience was excellent and very useful, and I hope there are more trainings like this one.” (-Rural Care Network Final Survey Respondent). The results suggest that efforts designed with caregivers, and rooted in their own communities, can reduce isolation and open doors to resources.

Care Worker Tax Credit Trainings

Early Milestones staff also led trainings to help participants apply for Colorado’s new Care Worker Tax Credit. The $1,200 credit can be claimed by caregivers in Colorado who provide at least 720 hours of care a year. Our trainings aimed to remove the technology and process barriers that keep many FFN providers from claiming the credit.

The work also showed us what still gets in the way, even when systems try to include FFN providers. First, the credit was new, so many paid tax preparers didn’t know about it. This led to the spread of confusion and misinformation. Second, to apply, providers had to create a Professional Development Information System (PDIS) account and get an attestation number. That meant they needed a computer or smartphone and some comfort with technology.

Early Milestones, Mile High United Way, and other partners worked together to offer hands-on help and share accurate information about the credit. By the April 15, 2026, deadline, 1,796 FFN providers had completed the attestation thanks to these statewide efforts.

Accessing the Colorado Food Program

After years of advocacy and planning, FFNs will be eligible to apply for the Colorado Food Program starting November 15th. Many FFNs already provide healthy meals and snacks to the children they care for, oftentimes out of their own funds. The Colorado Food Program will provide reimbursement for two meals and one snack per child per day. The program also offers nutrition education, professional development, and support for FFN providers.

The Colorado Food Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). There are many benefits to participating in the program for both children and providers. For children, they gain exposure to new, healthy foods and receive support for social and language development while eating meals. Providers are supported both financially through reimbursement and with education and resources to provide healthy meals to the children in their care.

You can use this tool to see how much money you might receive for participating in the program: Cost Benefit Tool.

Be sure to visit the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s FFN website on November 2nd to apply!

Conclusion

Making systems more equitable and inclusive takes a variety of intentional, coordinated efforts. Our work began in 2021 by listening to 20 FFN providers. What they shared continues to shape how Early Milestones builds community connections and advances policy solutions. At the heart of this work is one goal. We are working to make sure that every provider has support for one of the most important jobs there is: raising Colorado’s kids.