In quotes: family child care is on the decline, but not in Massachusetts

“When working parents search for child care, one popular option is to send little ones to a center with educators and classrooms.

“An alternative is family child care, which caters to a small group of children based in a provider’s home. This type of care can often be more affordable, flexible and culturally competent for families, especially in rural areas. But more of these businesses have been shutting down over the last decade due to a web of financial complexities. Now, researchers say 11 states are bucking the declining trend — including Massachusetts.”

“ ‘I have a waiting list and right now, it’s like 70 people waiting for a spot in my program,’ [Paula] Echeverri Durango says, ‘so I never saw the need to belong to an agency.’

“Echeverri Durango and her assistant/husband Harold Blanco care for 10 children under 5 years old in Springfield, Massachusetts. She says many of their families are first responders who need early morning, night and weekend flexibility.

“When Echeverri Durango is not caring for children, she helps mentor Spanish-speaking family child care providers through the group ECCHO-Latino.

“She and other providers gathered recently to discuss policy priorities with the nonprofit Strategies for Children.

“The group’s executive director, Amy O’Leary, says family child care providers in Massachusetts are doing well, even though federal COVID relief funding expired last year. That’s because the state is now providing some money.

“ ‘It was originally meant to help people keep their doors open. Now, we are seeing things that they’re able to support their staff, they’re not raising parent tuition, they are really using it for operating purposes,’ O’ Leary says. ‘And this is the first time we have seen money go beyond the subsidy system to all programs. It’s going to over 90% of programs in Massachusetts.’

“The state has earmarked $475 million for child care providers for the 2024 fiscal year — including for those working at home or at a center.”

— “Family child care is vital, but declining. Massachusetts is reversing the trend,” by Ashley Locke, WBUR,
June 24, 2024