Season 3 of the Love Connection podcast focuses on the way forward for FFN, the changes that need to happen to show the value of and bring visibility to FFN care.
Episode 1: A History of How Policy Shaped Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
In the Season 3 premiere of The Love Connection, we explore how decades of policy have shaped and often overlooked Family, Friend, and Neighbor care.
Longtime research consultant Fran Kipnis joins host Rowena Kamo to uncover the systemic biases baked into legislation, funding structures, and quality measures in early childhood education.
Fran challenges us to rethink what quality and equity truly mean in childcare. This episode sets the stage for a season focused on amplifying FFN voices.
Episode 2: Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care Across California
In this powerful episode, Anna Powell of the Center for the Study of Childcare Employment and Kim Nall of the Tribal Childcare Association of California explore the vital role of Family, Friend, and Neighbor care in California’s early childhood learning landscape. Anna shares groundbreaking research that challenges myths about FFN care. Kim brings a deep, culturally grounded perspective on why FFN care is the foundation for raising Native children with love, language, and belonging. Together, they reflect on what our child care systems could look like if we truly centered the FFN’s already doing the work.
Episode 3: National insights and strengthening FFN child care
Veteran researcher Toni Porter shares decades of national research on the essential role FFN’s provide, while Soyla Madrigal, FFN training coordinator, opens up about what it means to be an FFN provider for her own grandbaby. They shed light on the systemic gaps and strengths behind FFN care.
Episode 4: Creating a Supportive Culture for FFNs
In this episode, we go behind the scenes to explore how Resource and Referral agencies help Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers. Sandy Pablik is a former FFN herself, who now uses that experience to help support other FFN’s through training, licensing guidance, and community engagement efforts. This conversation highlights what’s possible when FFNs are truly supported and met where they are.
Episode 5: Looking ahead
In the final episode of Season 3 of The Love Connection, we go into the future.
Lifelong advocate Domenica Marquez shares her deeply personal and professional journey through early care systems, highlighting the urgency for transformative change. Then, we hear from Zonia Sánchez, an FFN provider whose powerful story is shared in Spanish. Zonia’s story is a call for dignity, fair pay, and FFN unity.
Listen to the podcast now on Spotify.
Read more about why we started this FFN Bias project here.
The Love Connection: Season 3
- Episode 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7H6B5xT2YXZ7ACNNQi3RSR?si=jN1Y-bLpTuO0geZb6HGMGg
- Episode 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pmMYqcg8J2bHG3bAYQ9Mr?si=pbpE1FhYTVCP4q0kvBwBsw
- Episode 3: https://open.spotify.com/episo...
- Episode 4: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ldVUsSWlX6IzF1d0XTZVC?si=xc88_d6_Rr6TEfKa9yr04g
- Episode 5: https://open.spotify.com/episo...