Candelen

FFN caregivers support children in every community. These children grow up to be teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists, executives, and whatever else they put their minds to!

Are you All Grown Up With FFN Care? Share your experiences and tag Home Grown

🏠 New Resource for Arizona’s Home-Based Child Care Providers!

We’re excited to share the new 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁, a FREE resource designed to help home-based child care providers navigate licensing, strengthen their business operations, save time and money, and continue providing high-quality care for Arizona’s children.

Candelen was proud to partner with AZAEYC and fellow Bright Futures partners to help bring this toolkit to life. By putting practical tools, resources, and guidance in one place, we’re making it easier for home-based providers to access the support they need to build strong, sustainable child care businesses.

This work is part of 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, an important investment in expanding access to quality child care and strengthening the early childhood workforce across our state.

A special thank you to 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗖 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅, the 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗦), and 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘀 for their leadership and support of the Bright Futures Initiative and for investing in solutions that strengthen Arizona’s child care system.

💚 Home-based child care providers: this resource was created for YOU! Explore the toolkit and discover hundreds of resources to support your licensing and business journey.




Katie Hobbs

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 💛

Keeping babies and young children safe starts with making sure parents and caregivers have the knowledge, resources, and support they need to feel prepared.

Through 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗵 & 𝗞𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 and 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹 & 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, we support families and caregivers with education and resources focused on safety, health, and well-being, from pregnancy through a child’s earliest years.

That support includes;
• CPR & First Aid training
• Maternal & infant health education
• Home safety for babies & toddlers
• Car seat safety education
• Safe sleep practices
• Parent & caregiver education and support

This Baby Safety Month, we’re proud to support the people who help Arizona’s youngest children stay safe, healthy, and thriving.

Learn more at 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻.𝗼𝗿𝗴

As students head back to the classroom, literacy remains the foundation for learning, confidence, and lifelong success. But strong readers aren't built in schools alone. Parents, caregivers, and educators all play a vital role in nurturing a child's love of reading and helping them develop the skills they need to thrive.

At Candelen, we are committed to supporting the adults who make literacy possible every day, providing caregivers, parents, and educators with the tools, resources, and encouragement to create meaningful learning experiences both at home and in the classroom.

Together, we can help every child start the school year ready to learn, grow, and succeed. One story, one page, and one reader at a time.

What can happen in 50 years? A child grows up, becomes a parent, and raises the next generation. A neighborhood becomes a community. A vision becomes a legacy.

This National Nonprofit Day, we're celebrating five decades of Candelen showing up for caregivers, educators, parents, & families; believing in potential, and creating opportunities that ripple across generations.

Because nonprofit work isn't measured in years.
It's measured in lives.

And after 50 years, we're just getting started.

Big thank you to the Helios Education Foundation for generously providing their beautiful space for our annual two-day Better Together event!

We are excited to share that Candelen will be presenting at the upcoming 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 () on 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵.

Join us for 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱, a session focused on navigating organizational change while maintaining mission, culture, and impact.

Presented by Kavita Bernstein, Ruth Ray, and Angela Tapia, this session will explore practical strategies for leading through change, engaging teams, and staying connected to the work that matters most.

This World Breastfeeding Week, we celebrate the strength of parents and the importance of support during pregnancy and the postpartum journey.

Breastfeeding can provide important health benefits for both babies and parents, including supporting infant nutrition, strengthening immune systems, and promoting parent child bonding. World Breastfeeding Week highlights the importance of ensuring families have access to education, resources, and support throughout their feeding journey.

At Candelen, we know that breastfeeding is a personal choice and every family's journey looks different. Through our Prenatal & Postpartum Program, we provide education, resources, and compassionate support to help families make informed decisions that work best for them and their babies.

Together, we can create a community where every parent feels informed, supported, and empowered.

👶 Early intervention changes lives.

In Arizona, the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) serves more than infants and
toddlers each year. But gaps remain: only 21% of children with possible delays receive
screenings, many children with mild delays do not qualify for services, and provider
shortages make access harder.

The FY2027 budget proposal changes funding for early intervention programs and
removes critical training supports. Families need more support — not less.

👉 Speak up for Arizona babies: tr.ee/speakupforazbabies

Some of life's most meaningful lessons begin with bedtime stories, conversations around the dinner table, walks through the neighborhood, and the everyday moments filled with curiosity, love, and connection.

This National Parents' Day, we celebrate the parents and caregivers whose encouragement, patience, and unwavering love help children build confidence, discover where they belong, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

At Candelen, we're honored to walk alongside families as they nurture strong foundations that help children thrive today and for years to come.

Happy National Parents' Day! 💙