Description:
This project sought to identify and connect with, then survey the professional development needs of a sample of family, friend, and neighbor caregivers (FFN) serving four selected minority/disadvantaged communities in Minnesota. A focus group of caregivers was drawn from each of 1) an inner city neighborhood, 2) an urban Somali neighborhood, 3) a suburban Somali community, and 4) a Native American reservation. Recruitment efforts revealed that most FFN providers willing to participate had an existing connection to a formal support system for their caregiver role. Agency lists of unlicensed providers and the use of print-based community outreach materials did not always provide a path to caregivers, while word-of-mouth was relatively successful. Data were collected in the form of questionnaires, focus groups, home visits, and personal interactions with the caregivers. Issues regarding food, culture, and language were discovered to be of concern to the caregivers. The project's focus on infant and toddler care and management of infant temperaments was of particular interest to caregivers with experience caring for older children, but this finding was not universal. The authors found no single support need common to each group of caregivers (e.g. some providers were open to licensure training, while others had no interest in formalizing their role).
Resource Type:
Reports & Papers
Country:
United States
State(s)/Territories/Tribal Nation(s):
Minnesota