Family Child Care  Business

PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Cassia Simms
(808) 235-7363
cassias@hawaii.edu
mother carrying child

Overview

Have you ever considered becoming a child care provider in your own home?
Join us for the Family Child Care Essentials Certificate
  • Open to anyone interested in becoming a family child care business.  
  • Learn new skills with other FCCE participants who share similar concerns, challenges and love of keiki and ohana.
  • One-on-one  support.
  • Complimentary course materials included.
  • Access to Tom Copeland FCC business books from the resource library.

Why open a family child care business?

High quality family child care businesses are essential, caring for keiki in a safe and supportive environment in order for their ‘ohana to go to work or school. Family child care businesses have many unique qualities that sets it apart from other early care and education settings. Benefits include a neighborhood-based home environment, smaller groups of children, mixed-age groups that allow siblings to stay together, a consistent caregiver, and greater flexibility in hours of operation. 

Why participate in the Family Child Care Essentials Certificate?

  • The Family Child Care Essentials Certificate Program is designed to help family child care businesses start out with the support, knowledge and skills needed to be successful in such an important and rewarding business.
  • Receive up to $900 in stipends for sessions completed.
  • $1000 completion grants available to students who meet funding requirements.

Creating a Community for Keiki Support

The Family Child Care Essentials Certificate Program creates a three component opportunity to learn the essentials of running a successful licensed family child care business. Training includes, time with and learning from others on a specific topic and the opportunity for one-on-one support. Participants will learn about running a family child care business in addition to best practices to meet the unique needs of the children and families they serve.
person on laptop computer

Program Dates and Cost:

Open enrollment with classes starting periodically.

All tuition and course materials are currently covered by Hawaii Resilience Fund and Omidyar `Ohana Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation.
Tuition: $1,100
REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY:
  • Active email address
  • Computer: desktop or laptop (laptop loaners available upon request)
  • Mobile Hotspot (may be available upon request)
  • Access to high speed internet (min. 512k), video and audio capabilities
  • Most recent updated browsers
child coloring

PATCH Training

PATCH offers in-person and online training sessions.
Online on demand: Select up to 8 sessions from the current list.
Live online with PATCH trainers: Select up to 7 sessions from the current list.
In-Person: Check your island for location.

Topic Series

Online on-demand training:  8 topics are offered through the UH system’s Laulima management system.

Meet Ups

Face-to-face: 5 group meetings and 4 individually scheduled one-on-one meetings are held via zoom.

Curriculum Schedule

Week1   |   Meets  via Zoom  |  1st Group meeting  - 6:30–8:00 pm
Week 2   |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: Planning for Your Business  
Week 3   |    Schedule individually  |  #1 One-on-one meeting   
Week 4  |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: Unique FCC Needs  
Week 5   |    Meets  via Zoom   |   2nd Group meeting  - 6:30–8:00 pm
Week 6   |  On demand opens   |   Laulima: What Makes Your FCC Business Unique?  
Week 7   |    Schedule individually  |  #2 One-on-one meeting   
Week 8  |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: What Makes Your FCC Business Unique? 
Week 9   |    Meets via Zoom   |   3rd Group meeting  - 6:30–8:00 pm
Week 10  |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: Record Keeping Part I  
Week 11   |    Schedule individually  |  #3 One-on-one meeting   
Week 12  |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: Record Keeping Part II  
Week 13   |    Meets via Zoom   |   4th Group meeting  - 6:30–8:00 pm
Week 14  |  On demand opens  |  Laulima: Managing Your Money 
Week 15   |   Schedule individually  |  #4 One-on-one meeting   
Week 16  |   On demand opens  |  Laulima: Professional and FCC Business Growth 
Week 17   |    Meets  via Zoom   |    Final Group meeting  - 6:30–8:00 pm
Partners Learning to Grow and Patch, funded by Hawaii Resilience Fund and Omidyar ohana fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation stipends and completion grants funded by Kamehameha Schools

Incentives

  • No cost to attend
  • Receive annual training credits
  • The Essentials: Providing High-Quality FCC book
  • Family Child Care Homes: Creative Spaces for Children to Learn Illustrated Edition
  • Learning to Grow Materials:
    • Basic Health and Safety Practices: Child Care Providers Guide
    • Learning to Grow Developmental Guidelines and Early Learning Activities for Infant and Toddlers
    • Learning to Grow Developmental Guidelines and Learning Activities for Preschoolers
  • Resource Materials from Tom Copeland’s Training Series
  • The access to books from the resource library:
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Marketing Guide
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Legal and Insurance Guide
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Money Management & Retirement Guide
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Business Planning Guide
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Contracts and Policies
    • Tom Copeland FCC: Record Keeping Guide

Free Resources:
Essentials Providing High Quality Family Child Care book
business planning guide
Creative Spaces book
Resources from Learning to Grow:
Raising a School-Ready Child
Learning to Grow Developmental Guidelines
Basic Health and Safety Practices
Resource Library books by Tom Copeland:
Contracts and Policies
Money Management and Retirement Guide
Marketing Guide
Legal and Insurance Guide
Record keeping guide

Family Child Care Programs Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of FCC business best practice methods.
  • hoʻomaopopo (Identify) action steps for implementing FCC business best practices in their FCC business setting.
  • Create a draft FCC business plan.
two toddler boys playing

Get help starting child care services through Windward CC

UH News | Academic News
Published January 9, 2023
As Hawaiʻi faces a desperate shortage of child care options, Windward Community College is helping those interested in providing these critical services.
two boys playing

New Pilot Program Aims to Address Child Care Provider Shortage

Hawaii Public Radio | By Casey Harlow
Published September 13, 2021 at 9:34 AM HST

Child care providers are important for families of infants, toddlers and young children.

Registered homes and licensed centers not only give working parents peace of mind that their child being taken care of during the day, but it also helps with a child's development.
black baby and white baby
Midweek, Windward O'ahu VOICE
February 2, 2022
Midweek, Windward O'ahu VOICE
July 27, 2022