Family, Friend and Neighbor Caregiver Institute

In Arizona, the lack of accessible childcare is increasing. Many children depend on family, friends, and neighbors as Caregivers instead of traditional childcare settings.

To support these Caregivers, LSS has partnered with First Things First to facilitate a Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregiver Institute (FFN). This program empowers and equips Caregivers with the tools and resources needed to enhance their quality of care and nurture young children's growth and development during their critical early years.

Caregiver Institute Enrollment is free and voluntary, cost is covered by First Things First Northwest Partnership Council and Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust. There are four parts to the FFN Institute, which we have labeled as “components”. They are In-Person/Virtual Trainings, Monthly Social Events, Self-Paced Learning, and Caregiver Cafes

  • We tailored our program to address obstacles many Caregivers face: isolation and burnout. FFN is designed not only to provide childcare from our dedicated educators during classes, but also to encourage Caregivers to engage in enriching social activities. Here, Caregivers can truly find their “village,” a supportive community where they can share experiences, build friendships, and thrive together. We believe that every Caregiver deserves this kind of support, and we’re here to help make that happen.

  • The Institute is made up of four parts, each a puzzle piece to building an empowered Caregiver with a strong sense of fellowship in their community. These components are:

    In-Person/Virtual Learning- Covering subjects ranging from screen time, basic lifesaving skills and healthy eating, to emotional learning.

    Monthly Social Events- Monthly social events are a highlight of the FFN Institute’s curriculum. These events promote fellowship amongst Caregivers to prevent burnout and isolation. Each Caregiver will prepare one activity for the group to participate in at each family fun day and play date. FFN will provide materials needed at Caregiver’s request.

    Weekly Caregiver Cafes ‐ Much like monthly events, Caregiver Cafes are hosted to bring Caregivers together to build friendships and networks for support. Every week, FFN Coaches will conduct cafes with regional cohorts. These sessions aim to keep participants motivated in completing their virtual learning series while fostering an informal network of caregivers. Half of each session will be dedicated to discussing and setting weekly learning goals and topics. The remaining half will be utilized to plan the upcoming Play Date or Family Fun Day.

  • Play Dates Play dates will be a social event that FFN Coaches facilitate utilizing developmentally appropriate learning activities on the topics caregivers have learned in the last month. Caregivers will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge through quality adult‐child interactions. Each session will be at least one hour in length and include 5 to 7 play stations for caregivers and children to engage in hands‐on learning.

    Family Fun Day FFN caregivers will be encouraged to build strong relationships with parents by planning and inviting families every other month to Family Fun Days for the families of the children

    in their care. This will give the caregivers opportunities to:

    • Help parents understand how children learn through play,

    • Help parents understand how play leads to kindergarten readiness,

    • Plan and demonstrate skills they are learning in class through hands‐on learning activities, gather activities from other FFN caregivers.

Register Here

Interested in attending our workshop or know of a Caregiver who could benefit from the program? Are you interested in becoming a community partner or host site? Contact us below:

Northwest Maricopa Region- First Things First

The Northwest Maricopa Region lies entirely in Maricopa County and includes six incorporated cities and towns:

Peoria, El Mirage, Glendale, Surprise, Wickenburg and Youngtown; several unincorporated places — Aguila, Morristown, Sun City, Sun City West, Waddell and Wittmann; as well as small parts of the city of Phoenix.