We conduct research on the supply, use, and availability of HBCC in communities designed to support and strengthen the HBCC sector.
Who We Are:
The Center for Home-Based Child Care (HBCC) Research supports research about HBCC in states, territories, and/ or local community contexts throughout the United States. We focus on the broad spectrum of HBCC settings that includes licensed, license-exempt, and unlicensed family child care (FCC) and family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers. The Center is led by Erikson Institute in partnership with University of Delaware, Indigo Cultural Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
What We Do:
The Center conducts research and engages in activities designed to support and strengthen the HBCC sector across the country. The Center has three main aims: 1.) Conducting rigorous research about the HBCC sector, 2.) Building research capacity which includes fostering research-practice partnerships and mentoring of emerging scholars, and 3.) Communicating research to a wide range of audiences.
We conduct research on the supply, use, and availability of HBCC in communities designed to support and strengthen the HBCC sector. Our research primarily focuses on three core areas: provider experiences, families’ use of HBCC, and public policies and programs. The Center is also focused on building research capacity and infrastructure in the field by facilitating research practice partnerships, mentoring emerging scholars including provider scholars, and providing tools for the field to utilize. The Center is also focused on communicating research to a wide range of audiences utilizing traditional and innovative methods.
HBCC Research Essentials Toolkit
The toolkit provides high-quality, evidence-based tools and resources that centers the strengths of the HBCC sector. The tools and resources are intended to inform understanding of the HBCC sector and guide high quality research practices.
Click here to access a repository of research and evaluation protocols focused on HBCC supply and use.
Home-Based Child Care: A Critical Support for America’s Working Families and Their Children
Home-Based Child Care Terminology Guide for Research and Policy
Conceptual Framework for Understanding Supply of High-Quality Home-Based Child Care
Research on Home-Based Child Care Provider Experiences
The Center conducts research on understanding the experiences of HBCC providers in order to inform efforts to build the supply of HBCC.
- Provider Experiences
- Post
Newly Licensed Family Child Care Providers’ Challenges Navigating the Licensing Process: A Research-to-Policy Brief
Research on Public Policies and Programs for Home-Based Child Care
This research examines early childhood regulatory, payment, and quality polices, programs, and supports for HBCC availability and sustainability.
State and Local Strategies to Improve the Financial Well-Being of Home-Based Child Care Providers
Research on Families’ Use of Home-Based Child Care
This research examines the options families consider for child care, their needs, and use of HBCC for their children. Publications coming soon.
Building Capacity for Research on Home-Based Child Care
The Center will develop resources, tools, and opportunities for local communities, scholars, and others interested in research and data on home-based child care. Publications coming soon.
Provider Scholars Program
This program supports current and former HBCC providers who are building their careers as researchers. Goals include supporting research agenda development as well as increasing capacity to design, implement, and develop collaborative research partnerships with agencies and programs that support HBCC providers. Publications coming soon.