AUTHORS: Juliet Bromer, Rena Hallam, and Marisa Schlieber
September 2025
HBCC Research Essentials Toolkit: Conceptual Framework
Home-based child care (HBCC) providers, ranging from grandparents to small-business owners, make up an essential part of the child care and early education landscape. HBCC occurs in a residential setting, either in the home of the provider or child, and is commonly referred to as family child care (FCC) or family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care. These settings may be licensed, license-exempt, or unlicensed, based on local or state requirements. HBCC providers may or may not participate in a child care subsidy program. Communities with HBCC settings expand parent choice by offering child care that meets the needs of many families, such as care during nontraditional hours.