Home-Based Child Care Support in Philadelphia and Southeastern PA
Running a home-based child care program requires balancing the daily joys of caring for children with the complex demands of operating a sustainable business. First Up has training programs and more specifically designed for the home-based child care sector.
Right From Home!
First Up’s Right from Home! Initiative helps educators grow their professional goals, sustain their businesses, and continue providing high-quality, culturally affirming care. Training and personalized supports include:
- A comprehensive Family Child Care business training series, using the All Our Kin Curriculum to increase the business acumen of Home-Based Child Care Educators.
- A customized one on one approach to creating sustainable businesses through First Up’s Business coaching program, which provides comprehensive and personalized business coaching and support.
- A supportive professional learning series for educators pursuing or maintaining Accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), with an emphasis on culturally responsive, high-quality practice.
- Coaching and training designed explicitly to meet the unique interests and needs of HBCC Educators, Network leaders, and Administrators interested in creating or growing Home-Based Child Care Networks.
- Professional Development with the Business Administration Scale (BAS): Learning opportunities that help educators deepen their understanding of business practices, using BAS as a reflective and growth-oriented tool.
- Leading for Change — an Advanced Course for Home-Based Child Care. A leadership pathway that empowers HBCC educators to lead with confidence, advocate for their profession, and shape the future of early childhood education from within their communities.
For more information, email Kendra Thomas
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All Our Kin
All Our Kin is a national leader in the movement to transform our country’s child care system. First Up offers a comprehensive family child care business training series that uses “All our Kin” curriculum to increase the business acumen of home-based child care educators.
Families Have Voices Too!
To improve the state of early childhood education and family child care programs, advocacy by parents of young children is crucial. Members of the Family Child Care Advisory Council have plans to engage parents to actively participate by building a community of parents, influencing decision makers, and raising awareness, with the aim of highlighting challenges and improving affordability, accessibility, and fair compensation for ECE workers.
Goals of the program are:
- To engage in advocacy to build a community of parents who support each other and work together toward common goals, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual aid.
- To advocate for policymakers to create and implement laws and regulations that benefit Family Child Care programs.
- To raise awareness by educating the public about the importance of early childhood education and the specific role of Family Child Care Programs.
Interested in Advocacy?
See all the ways you can help early childhood education and early childhood educators.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Home-Based Child Care Support
What Support Does First Up Offer for Home-Based Child Care Providers?
First Up provides personalized support for home-based child care providers in Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania. Services are designed to help educators strengthen professional skills, improve program quality, sustain their businesses, and continue providing high-quality, culturally responsive care for young children and families.
Who Can Use First Up’s Home-Based Child Care Services?
First Up’s home-based child care support is designed for educators and providers who operate early learning programs from their homes. Available services and eligibility may vary by initiative, but support can address both professional development and the business needs of home-based programs.
Does First Up Provide Business Coaching for Home-Based Child Care Providers?
Yes. First Up recognizes that home-based child care programs are both early learning environments and small businesses. Providers can receive support related to business practices, operations, planning, technology, and long-term sustainability.
Providers looking for additional operational support can also explore First Up’s Technology Services.
Can First Up Help Home-Based Providers Improve Program Quality?
Yes. First Up works with providers to strengthen early learning environments, teaching practices, leadership, program administration, and other areas that contribute to high-quality child care.
Providers interested in more structured quality improvement support can also explore First Up’s Quality Improvement Programs.
Does First Up Offer Coaching for Home-Based Child Care Educators?
Yes. Coaching can provide individualized, ongoing support as home-based educators work toward professional and program goals. First Up coaches help providers reflect on current practices, build on existing strengths, and apply practical strategies within their own early learning environments.
Learn more about First Up’s early childhood program coaching.
Does First Up Provide Professional Development for Home-Based Child Care Providers?
Yes. Home-based providers can access professional learning opportunities that help strengthen knowledge, teaching practices, leadership skills, and professional growth.
Educators can also explore First Up’s Professional Learning opportunities for additional early childhood educator training and professional development.
Why Is Supporting Home-Based Child Care Important?
Home-based child care programs provide important early learning opportunities for children and families while often reflecting the culture, language, and needs of their communities. Supporting these providers helps strengthen the broader child care system and gives educators tools to maintain sustainable, high-quality programs.
Where Does First Up Provide Home-Based Child Care Support?
First Up is based in Philadelphia and supports home-based child care providers throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. Individual programs may have specific eligibility requirements, service areas, or funding guidelines.