activities · 9
what they do
direct service · 7
- Administer subsidized child care programs for low-income families Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsOperates a voucher-based child care assistance program and administers the CalWORKs Child Care Program as an Alternative Payment Program in Los Angeles County, providing eligible families with access to free or low-cost child care services and facilitating direct subsidy payments to over 10,000 providers annually. Serves over 50,000 children and families each year through these programs.
- Conduct quality assurance and provider feedback collection Early Care Provider Training & SupportOperates a Quality Assurance Team to systematically collect feedback from child care providers about program operations and staff performance to inform service improvements.
- Deliver Early Head Start and school readiness services through Early Learning Centers Head Start and Early Childhood Development ServicesOperates 16 Early Learning Centers in Compton and South Los Angeles, providing comprehensive early childhood development services including active learning, nutritional meals, social services, and support for children with disabilities. Delivers school readiness services to over 16,000 children annually through the Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership program.
- Enroll families in health care and coaching services Family Support and Resource ConnectionEnrolls over 3,000 families annually in health care coverage and provides comprehensive coaching services as part of integrated family support programming.
- Facilitate provider-family matching and payment administration Child Care Referral ServicesMaintains a provider database to match and refer families to appropriate child care providers based on needs and services offered. Operates a Claims Unit to resolve payment issues, process reimbursement inquiries, and support providers with enrollment in direct deposit or debit card payment options.
- Provide program forms and enrollment support to families Life Skills and Parenting EducationOffers online and printable program forms in English and Spanish for parents participating in CDSS-funded programs, supporting accessibility and ease of enrollment. Ongoing enrollment is available, including during Summer 2024.
- Support foster care resource families and parenting youth with child care access Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsProvides time-limited child care vouchers and navigator services to foster care resource families and parenting youth in the foster care system, supporting access to subsidized care for foster children from birth to age 5 (and up to age 21 for those with exceptional needs) to enable participation in work or school.
advocacy · 1
- Support child care provider advocacy and public engagement Early Childhood Education AdvocacyEmpowers child care providers to advocate for policy change through the Community Voices program, which facilitates legislative visits and public speaking opportunities on issues related to child care and poverty.
capacity building · 1
- Deliver trauma-informed care training and coaching to child care providers Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesProvides trauma-informed care training to all child care providers and offers targeted coaching to those caring for children in the Bridge Program to support effective implementation of trauma-informed practices in child care settings.
strategies · 11
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Bridge Model for Foster Care Stabilization bridge_modelUses time-limited child care support to stabilize foster care placements by addressing immediate child care needs while connecting caregivers to long-term solutions, enabling them to manage work and caregiving responsibilities.
- Community-Based Collective Child Rearing Approach community_support_modelFosters a community-supported model of child rearing that encourages families to engage with broader networks for mutual support in child care and development.
- Comprehensive Services for School Readiness school_readiness_through_comprehensive_servicesAdvances school readiness by integrating early education with health, mental health, and social services to holistically support children’s cognitive and social development.
- Culturally Centered Early Care and Education culturally_centered_early_careDelivers high-quality, culturally responsive early care and education that reflects families’ backgrounds and supports long-term economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
- Eligibility Maintenance through Parent Reporting eligibility_verification_through_parent_reportingEnsures accurate and equitable service delivery by requiring parents to report timely changes in income, family size, and care needs to maintain eligibility for child care assistance.
- Family Childcare Provider Support Model family_childcare_partnership_modelEnhances the quality of early childhood care by providing family childcare providers with professional development, financial stipends, coaching, materials, and access to health and mental health consultants.
- Parent-Led Advocacy for Systemic Change parent_led_advocacyBuilds parent leadership and civic engagement to drive advocacy efforts that transform child care systems and policies at structural levels.
- Parental Choice Subsidy Model parental_choice_subsidyEmpowers families to select their own eligible child care providers, with subsidies paid directly to those providers, ensuring flexibility and family autonomy in accessing care.
- Provider-Parent Matching System provider-parent_matchingUses a needs-based matching process to connect parents with child care providers whose services align with their specific requirements, improving fit and continuity of care.
- Subsidized Child Care for Self-Sufficiency and Development subsidized_child_care_for_self_sufficiencyProvides subsidized child care to low-income families to promote children’s cognitive, social, and educational development while supporting parents’ efforts toward economic self-sufficiency.
- Trauma-Informed Child Care trauma-informed_careEquips child care providers with trauma-informed care training and coaching to create safe, nurturing environments for children in foster care who may have experienced adversity.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
African American Provider Network
Engages, empowers, and advances the African American early care and education workforce through targeted resources and support.
Child Care Subsidy Programs
Assists low-income families in paying for child care and managing work and family obstacles as they transition from welfare to work.
Community Voices
Strengthens parent leadership, civic engagement, and capacity for systemic change in child care through advocacy efforts.
Head Start, State Preschool and Early Head Start Programs
Provides quality early learning and preschool along with family services that support overall family development, including health, mental health, nutrition, disabilities, and family support services for children ages 0–5.
Health Outreach Program
Provides enrollment into free or low-cost health care systems and connects families with community resources to improve health and well-being.
Parent Support Services Program
Provides resources and enhanced support services to help parents strengthen families, improve parenting skills, and achieve greater self-sufficiency.
Resource & Referral Program
Provides information to parents and the community about available child care; offers direct services to providers including licensing assistance, professional training, and reimbursement facilitation.
relationships · 8
who they work with
- California Department of Education Partner — Administers Stages Two and Three of the CalWORKs Child Care Program in partnership with Crystal Stairs.
- Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles (CCALA) Partner — Collaborated with Crystal Stairs and DCFS to launch the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children.
- Community Voices program Coalition — Program that engages child care providers in advocacy and legislative engagement.
- Head Start Network — Member of the national Head Start program network
- Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Partner — Partnered with Crystal Stairs to launch the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services Partner — Administers Stage One of the CalWORKs Child Care Program, with Crystal Stairs managing subsequent stages.
- Maria Lupe Navarro Partner — EHS/HS CCP Manager at Crystal Stairs
- Synthia Saint James Partner — Commissioned artist who created artwork reflecting the organization's vision and community