“I Would Prefer That They Would Be With Me”: Motivations, Roles, and Financial Realities of Informal Child Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, working parents increasingly relied on informal child care networks as formal programs closed or restricted enrollment and health concerns grew. This study draws on surveys and interviews with 19 Illinois family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers supported by the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to examine caregiving motivations, stressors, and access to supports. Findings show FFN providers often continued care without CCAP due to family obligation and to support parental employment. They frequently provided care beyond the scope of formal child care, including flexible hours, care for older children, and COVID-related assistance. Despite these expanded roles and risks, supports remained limited. Providers more often relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other public assistance rather than provider-specific programs, which they viewed as oriented toward licensed providers or those with greater financial need.