The First Children First Nations (FCFN) Child Care Collaborative represents a strategic partnership between All Nations Rise (ANR) and First Children’s Finance (FCF). This initiative aims to enhance tribal child care services through the application of FCF’s Rural Child Care Innovation process, which has been thoughtfully adapted to meet the specific needs of tribal nations with guidance from All Nations Rise.

The process initiates with FCFN partners collaborating with Tribal Leaders and their communities to form a local Indigenous Core Team (ICT). Tribal Leaders designate an ICT Lead who serves as the liaison with the FCFN. The duration of this process may vary among different tribes. As the FCFN Team facilitates the ICT through the outlined process, the ICT and the Tribe engage in data collection to identify their needs, which subsequently informs both the discovery and implementation phases. Central to the FCFN process is the emphasis on community input and engagement. Upon completion, the Tribe will have established a tribal child care system and a comprehensive “Tribal Child Care Community Solution Action Plan.”

Furthermore, the FCFN team provides vital technical assistance, implementation support, and coaching to foster ongoing capacity building and to offer innovative child care resources essential for the execution of the Tribal Child Care Community Action Plan. This Action Plan is developed by the community to serve the community's specific needs.

Participating tribal communities are also integrated into FCF’s national Learning Network of Tribal Communities, where they are encouraged to share their findings and insights. Members of the Indigenous Core Team are granted access to quarterly webinars and specialized events that highlight innovative solutions, thus enriching the shared knowledge within the network. Throughout the community engagement process, FCF disseminates case studies of successful business models, financial data, and other pertinent resources through its websites, community events, Learning Network webinars, and convening events.

In addition to the services provided by FCF, ANR brings over 30 years of experience as a Tribal Administrator of the federal Child Care Development Block Grant, commonly known as the Child Care Development Fund. ANR has collaborated extensively with tribes on their child care plans, budgets, construction projects, and the development of tribal child care systems.