“Learning about children’s brain development [through Candelen’s Kith and Kin Program] has made me realize what a big role as parents we play in kids lives.”
Serving Arizona
caregivers since 1976
Our mission: Candelen unites with parents, caregivers, and educators, providing support, connection, and learning opportunities as they shape childrenโs lives.
Our vision: A world where all children and communities thrive.
Celebrating 50 YEARS!
Join us throughout our 50th Anniversary year as we celebrate Candelen’s journey, share stories of the parents, caregivers, and educators we’ve served, and look ahead to the future.
Ways to Give
It’s a good day to support caregivers across Arizona
Weโre here to help
Candelen is a nonprofit organization of early childhood experts founded in 1976.
We work hand-in-hand with the adults in a childโs lifeโparents, educators, and informal caregivers.
Our team provides adults with educational programs, supportive services, and helpful tools to guide them through the critical stages of early childhood development.
Together, we help children shine.
Candelen Understands our Communitiesโ Needs
Home-based child care or Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) is one of the largest segments of child care, nationally supporting more than 6.4 million children and their families every year.
In 2023, 1 in 12 babies (8.1% of live births) was born with low birthweight in Arizona.
Findings from Candelenโs 2024 Home-Based Child Care Study revealed that 69% of unlicensed providers expressed interest in becoming licensed but felt lost and unwelcome by the system.
91% of Arizona parents report that the โquality of care providedโ was extremely important in deciding on a child care setting for their infants, toddlers or preschoolers.
Candelenโs Community Impact
Candelen FFN caregivers succeedโ84% of participants in our Kith & Kin Program demonstrated an overall positive change as a result of our innovative strategies to support home-based child care.
Mothers receiving Candelen doula support have significantly better birth outcomes compared to those without doula support when it comes to birth weight, healthy labor and delivery, and breastfeeding initiation.
Candelenโs Licensing and Certification Program is a strategic workforce development initiative designed to support unlicensed providers open their own small child care business.
Candelen, in collaboration with First Things First, has provided 419 child care centers and homes with Quality First coaching enhancing the quality of early education programs.
I am an
EXPECTING PARENT
I am a
FAMILY, FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR (FFN) CAREGIVER
I am interested in
BECOMING A LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDER
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