A closer look at kith and kin care: Exploring variability of quality within family, friend and neighbor care

This exploratory study focused on the interactional dimensions of kith and kin care, and involved childcare providers living in low-income urban communities in Los Angeles (80% African American; 20% Latina). The focus of the present study was to examine: 1) The range and variability of each index of quality — providers' professional development background, provider–child engagement, provider sensitivity and environmental quality; 2) ethnic differences for each of these constructs; and 3) whether these various dimensions of quality were interrelated. Results indicated that there are distinct patterns of provider–child engagement practices, and providers' professional education experiences were related to those practices. Provider–child relationship quality was associated with providers' ethnicity and professional background. Environmental quality was also associated with professional education and provider sensitivity. Findings from this study add to a growing base of evidence that it is important to examine the variability in the quality of care by informal kith and kin childcare providers.