‘Our work is to be there’: understanding Latinx immigrant family, friend, and neighbour childcare providers’ motivations, needs, and experiences

Abstract

ABSTRACT Family, Friend, and Neighbour care is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of childcare used by families, yet there is far less research on this type of childcare compared to others. This study focused on Latinx immigrant FFN providers to learn about their motivations, needs, and facilitators and barriers to accessing services. Qualitative data come from a subsample of a larger study and include 5 focus groups with 41 Latinx immigrant FFN providers; these data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis [Braun & Clarke, 2020. One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 1–25]. The themes, ‘They Need Us’; ‘We’re Not Babysitters, We’re Providers’; and ‘To Face the Job at 100%’ along with their subthemes capture Latinx immigrant FFN providers’ strong commitment and sense of duty to the families that they serve. Research and practice implications are discussed.