San José Public Library
Status Report
Presenters:
City Librarian, Jill Bourne
Deputy Director of Public Services, Ann Grabowski
Neighborhood Services & Education Committee
FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR
(FFN) CAREGIVER SUPPORT
NETWORK PROGRAM
San José Public Library
Launched in January 2021 by the San José Public Library to address childcare access gaps and strengthen the quality of informal caregiving, supporting children’s readiness for kindergarten.
Developed in partnership with:
• FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
• Santa Clara County Office of Education
• Program for Infant/Toddler Care
• San José Public Library Foundation
Resources:
• Staffed by 3 full-time Library staff
• Annual program cost: $633,158, with non-personnel costs partially offset through philanthropic funding
Budget status: The Adopted 2025-2026 budget eliminates all FFN program staffing effective July 1, 2026.
B A C K G R O U N D
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P R O G R A M S C O P E
• Monthly Training
• Child development, CPR/First Aid, emergency preparedness, emergency kits
• College & Career Pathway
• Access to free college classes through Mission College and UCSC Extension • Quality learning materials
• Curriculum, home libraries, early learning supplies
• High-touch navigation support • Access to devices and digital skills training, support to navigate State and local permit pathways
• Peer & Community support • Regular Community of Practice meetings 641
Caregivers Served
in 5 years
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• Advance the College & Career Pathways – Meaningful & Sustaining Jobs framework by considering ECE credit access in college programming
• Preserve Institutional Knowledge and Relationships by maintaining program curricula and materials
• Shift from a cohort-based program to drop-in workshops, toolkits, and multilingual online resources
• Integrate FFN-focused content into story times, family workshops, and play-based programming
• Leverage community partnerships, with the Library as a convener, connector, and trusted resource.
P R E S E R V I N G C O R E S U P P O R T S : T R A N S I T I O N S T R A T E G Y 4 San José Public Library
QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION