Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregiver Support Network

Transcript

in California 80 of children ages zero through two and forty percent of children ages zero through five are cared for by family friends and neighbors also known as ffns yet FSN caregivers are historically unacknowledged as early Educators and unsupported as child care providers during the pandemic caregivers felt even more isolated and lacked individualized support the pandemic hit and everything stopped that's when we're able to get a diagnosis and he was on a spectrum um I was told that the therapy that they normally provide in-house would not be an option for the pandemic and all then my son was left alone in the house just me and I had this fear that I wasn't going to be able to provide what he needed the FFN caregiver support network was created in response to the overwhelming need in San Jose for more caregiver resources the FFN Network provides access to resources professional and development opportunities and individualized support to better serve under resource caregivers like ffns now in its third year the FFN caregiver support network has created nearly 300 highly qualified caregivers and has provided stable care and high quality learning experiences for more than 800 children in San Jose the experience that I received you know as a mother is that it really boosts my confidence because prior to this program I felt like I couldn't be the best mother I could be I felt like there was so much knowledge out there in the world but I did not know how to receive it Family Friends Network provides workshops weekly workshops where they're able to provide these complex conversations this philosophies that can apply to my child and those that I care for and they're able to deliver it in a way that I'm able to understand it not only that they provide a platform so we can discuss it and we can share our experiences and through the experience of others I've been able to take that knowledge and I can apply it to myself which has helped me be a better Mudder a better caretaker you know a better friend financial support for this program is provided by the San Jose Public Library Foundation which seeks to ensure that ffns continue to have free access to the latest technology information supplies and professional networks that will support them in caring for children to support the FFN Network or learn more visit sjplf.org forward slash FFN