ABSTRACT
Family child care (FCC) programs are a vital, yet vulnerable resource. Data from an online, statewide survey of 161 FCC owners in a rural state highlight the effects of COVID-19 on providers. Capacity decreased, with over 1000 slots or half of the state’s FCC capacity lost. One-third of providers who closed were unsure or did not think they would reopen. Almost 40% reported the pandemic made them reconsider working in family child care. Increased caregiving challenges due to child stress and behavioral problems were also reported. They also experienced a loss of control over many aspects of their work including financial challenges in accessing supplies, compensation rates, and whether they could scale back their operations. Local or family child care–specific supports were more likely to be accessed, highlighting the value of communities of practice. Strengths, challenges, and ways providers remained resilient in the face of COVID-19 are discussed as well as ways to strengthen states’ family child care system after the pandemic are considered. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.