Areas of Expertise
Informed by our 35-year history, FCF has identified 11 essential elements of a strong, sufficient, and sustainable system of high-quality child care. We provide systems with unique expertise across these areas.
Essential Elements
Building Child Care Supply
We help systems understand their child care supply-demand gaps and strategically address identified community needs, such as increasing access to infant care, care for children with special needs, and care in rural communities.
Examples of Our Work
Strategic Public Financing and Subsidy Policy
FCF works with systems to comply with federal rules, align subsidies with the true cost of care, and establish strategic financing plans that align existing funding and identify new sources to support an adequate supply of sustainable community-based child care.
Examples of Our Work
Growing and Retaining a Well Compensated Workforce
FCF helps systems better understand the composition and needs of their child care workforce and design and implement effective provider startup pipelines, pay scales, and compensation investments.
Featured Work
Coordinating Systems of Business Supports
FCF helps systems design and coordinate business training, consulting, and coaching services that align with provider needs and support access to funding.
Featured Work
Facilities
FCF supports the development and maintenance of safe, high-quality child care facilities, including family child care homes, by researching, designing, and implementing strategic facility investments and financing, and advocating to remove barriers to facility development.
Featured Work
Increasing Access to Capital
FCF helps systems understand the capital available to child care businesses, address barriers and inequities, and design innovative financing to meet local needs.
Examples of Our Work
Tribal Child Care Systems
FCF works with Tribally operated and licensed child care businesses, Tribal communities, and Tribal Nations to increase the supply of culturally and linguistically relevant care.
Examples of Our Work
Additional System Resources
Tribal Nations & Communities
Child care systems in Tribal communities are shaped by unique histories, governance, and community priorities. FCF supports sovereignty-centered, community-driven child care solutions.
Our Programs
Through collaborative programs and strategic initiatives, we help build sustainable solutions that address local challenges, support providers, and create stronger child care systems for families and communities.
Our System Services
First Children’s Finance helps identify solutions to strengthen child care supply and sustainability, informed by the operational and financial realities of child care businesses.
Explore how FCF can support your system
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