Additional Resources:

    Supporting Care Providers through Personal Visits

    Home Visiting Programs Support Care Providers Too

    Issue Brief: How PAT Supports Family, Friend and Neighbor Care

    Jobs

     

    Our Mission

    To support Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers to create safe, stimulating environments that foster children’s development and school readiness.

    History

    In 2006, the Kansas City Area Parents as Teachers Consortium embarked on a mission to empower child care providers by implementing the Parents as Teachers Supporting Care Providers Through Personal Visits curriculum, delivering personalized home visits to support early childhood development. For two decades, this initiative fostered strong provider-child relationships and provided vital resources to the community. However, in the spring of 2025, the program entered a new chapter, transitioning under the guidance of a new fiscal sponsor, marking a significant step in its ongoing commitment to serving FFN child care providers in the Kansas City area.

    What is Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care?

    Child care provided by individuals with an existing relationship to the child, outside of traditional, licensed settings. This vital support often comes from family members like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or older siblings, as well as close friends and trusted neighbors. Characterized by its informal, relationship-based nature, FFN care offers families flexibility and often incorporates culturally relevant practices and language. Whether paid or unpaid, this form of care plays a crucial role in supporting families, especially those facing limited access to formal child care options.

    What We Do at Supporting Care Providers of Kansas:

    • Free Support: Voluntary program for family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care providers in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties caring for children who are birth to five years of age. **Eligibility requirements apply. Contact Maria Rios at [email protected] or call/text 913-731-4834 for further information.
    • Personalized Visits: Monthly home visits using the Parents as Teachers Supporting Care Providers Through Personal Visits curriculum (English/Spanish).
    • Child Development: Learn about development and milestones, developmentally appropriate learning activities, strategies for discipline and setting limits, health, safety, and nutrition.
    • Resources: Receive children’s books, activity materials, and developmental screenings (ASQ-3/ASQ-SE:2) training.
    • Individualized Support: Tailored assistance based on provider and child needs.
    • Enhanced Care: Improves care quality, promotes equity, and connects to early intervention and community resources.

     

    Staff

    Rebecca Stewart – Supporting Care Providers of Kanas Program Director, [email protected]

    Rebecca serves as Program Director for Supporting Care Providers of Kansas, and has over 35 years of experience in Early Care and Education. Her expertise spans program management, grant compliance, home visiting, and family child care. Rebecca holds a bachelor’s in child development education and is passionate about quality child care for all families in Kansas. Outside of work, she cherishes time with family, attends her grandchildren’s sporting events, enjoys camping at the lake, and finds peace in bird watching from her back porch.
     

    Maria Rios – Supporting Care Provider of Kansas Outreach-Recruitment Specialist/Provider Educator, [email protected]


    Maria Rios is currently a Supporting Care Provider Educator for the Kansas City Area. Maria has been a bilingual Supporting Care Provider Educator for the past 8 years. She has more than 20 years in education. Maria is very passionate about helping families in the community. She enjoys spending time with her family. 

    Testimonials

    “I am doing more than just babysitting. I am helping to make sure my granddaughter will be ready for school.”

    “The resources we have received have been very helpful and the kids love learning new things during our visits.”

    “I cannot say enough good things about this program. The toys are spot on. My grands love the program and have their go to program toys. Plus, the care provider just knows exactly what we need when we need it. I am so grateful for this program. I wish all care takers would take advantage.”