​Tarsha Jordan, a dedicated family child care provider in our community, shared with OSSS an email she sent recently to fellow Family Child Care (FCC) Program leader, Nancy Harvey. Nancy is also a part of the bargaining committee for Child Care Providers United. As Tarsha eloquently describes, California family child care providers are now seeing the results of their historic victory to establish the nation’s first retirement fund for FCC providers, a critical step towards their financial security and recognition of their vital work.

High quality early learning and care opportunities lay the foundation for school readiness. Therefore, connections between school districts and early childhood programs are critical to successful community partnerships that support positive child and family outcomes. 

Family child care (FCC) providers are business owners, educators, and community leaders, who support working parents and families with home-based holistic care and school readiness for young children. The Oakland / Alameda County Family Child Care (FCC) Policy Program is a group of FCC providers and parents interested in learning about early childhood policy, advocating for FCC providers and their businesses, and strengthening the whole field through connecting with elected officials and early childhood systems partners. OSSS, along with BANANAS and First 5 Alameda County, supports the FCC Policy Program.​