Family, Friend and Neighbor Caregiver Funding Opportunities

Do you provide child care for a family member, friend, or neighbor in Alameda County? You may be eligible for funding and resources from First 5! We believe your work is essential to our community. 

Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers that receive a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency are eligible for a $4,000 grant.  Payments will begin in July 2025, and you do not need to apply to receive the funding.  Caregivers caring for a child 5 years old or younger may also be eligible for health, safety, and educational materials. For more information, please see the FAQs below.

What funding and resources are available?

• $4,000 for all eligible caregivers  
• Vouchers for health, safety, and educational materials such as first aid emergency kits, car seats, baby gates, art supplies, puzzles, and learning toys 

Who is eligible? 

Anyone who cares for a family member, friend, or neighbor and: 

• Receives a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency 
• Is caring for a child 12 years old or younger

*Note: Health, safety, and educational materials are only available to those caring for a child 5 years old or younger. 

What is an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency?

An Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency is an organization that helps families afford child care by administering subsidized child care programs. These agencies process payments to child care providers on behalf of eligible low-income families, ensuring that children receive quality care while parents work, attend school, or participate in job training programs. 

There are four payment agencies in Alameda County:  

• 4Cs of Alameda County: https://4calameda.org/contact-us/  

• BANANAS Inc.: https://bananasbunch.org/contact/  

• Davis Street:  https://davisstreet.org/contact-davis-street/  

• Hively: https://behively.org/contact-us/  

Your Child Care Payment Agency is the agency that pays you for providing subsidized child care. They will handle paying you the $4,000. 

How do I get the money?

If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you will be contacted by your Child Care Payment Agency, and they will issue you a check. No application is needed. 

Who are informal care providers / Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers? 

A Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregiver is someone who offers child care for a family member, friend, or neighbor at home. This type of child care is informal and license-exempt. FFN caregivers are often relatives, close friends, or neighbors, trusted community members who offer child care outside of formal settings like centers or preschools. 

In California, Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers can legally provide child care without a state license under certain conditions: 

• They may care for children from only one other family (excluding their own) at a time without needing a license 
• If they care for children from multiple families who are not related to them, they must be licensed  

Why are these resources available? 

Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are very important to our community. Without child care, people can’t work. Many families rely on people like aunties, cousins, or trusted neighbors to care for their children so they can support their families. First 5 Alameda County exists to ensure that every child —regardless of race or family income—gets a strong start in life. People who provide child care in their own communities are an extremely important part of that vision. These resources will help caregivers better care for children in our community.  

These are voter-approved tax dollars at work. Caregiver stipends are funded by Measure C, the Children’s Health and Child Care Initiative for Alameda County, Measure C is a 0.05% sales tax passed in 2020 that funds access to child care, classroom enrichments, family navigation, facility enhancements, and increased wages for early childhood educators.  

How does this affect my taxes? 

Taxes will not be taken out for you from the $4,000 you receive. You will need to pay taxes on this income. This income could affect your eligibility for services like CalFresh/SNAP (food stamps). You should contact an accountant or tax counselor to help you understand how this payment could change your tax or benefits situation. Contact United Way for free tax filing support and advice.