activities · 42
what they do
direct service · 37
- Administer child care voucher programs Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsRuns a voucher program that provides financial assistance to income-eligible families to pay for child care at their chosen licensed provider, covering children ages 0–12 and up to age 21 for those with exceptional needs.
- Annual Service and Impact Reporting CACFP Support for Child Care ProvidersServes 9,612 children annually, provides 6,579 free child care referrals, delivers over 3.3 million meals and snacks, and supports child care providers through thousands of annual training events.
- Annual service and impact reporting CACFP Support for Child Care ProvidersServes 9,612 children annually, provides 6,579 free child care referrals each year, and delivers over 3.3 million meals and snacks through centers and contracted home-based providers.
- Center-Based Child Care Services Child Care & Early Learning ProgramsOperates full-day, full-year center-based programs providing free and low-cost child care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. Services are available to lower-income families who are working, in school, or seeking employment, with specialized programs for pregnant women and children with disabilities.
- Center-Based Child Care and Early Learning Programs Child Care & Early Learning ProgramsOperates center-based child care and early learning programs for children ages 0-5 and pregnant mothers, including full-day, full-year infant/toddler and preschool programs. These programs provide free and low-cost options for qualifying low-income families who are working, in school, or seeking employment, and prioritize families at risk or involved with the Department of Children and Family Services. The organization serves 9,612 children annually and provides 3,321,932 meals and snacks annually.
- Center-Based Child Care and Early Learning Programs Child Care & Early Learning ProgramsOperates full-day, full-year center-based programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, offering free and low-cost care to income-eligible families who are working, in school, or in job training. Programs include infant/toddler care (birth to age 3), preschool (ages 3–4, including 2-year-olds in Whittier), and before- and after-school care for grades TK–8 on school sites.
- Center-based early learning and child care services Child Care & Early Learning ProgramsOperates full-day, full-year center-based programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, offering free and low-cost care to lower-income families who are working, in school, or in job training. Programs include infant/toddler care, preschool, and before- and after-school services on school sites for grades TK–8.
- Child Care Resource and Referral Services Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsProvides free child care referrals to connect families of all income levels with quality licensed child care and early learning programs in the community. This includes assisting families in locating licensed child care, assessing eligibility for financial assistance, and providing guidance on checking facility licensing records. The organization provides 6,579 free child care referrals annually.
- Child Care Voucher Program Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsAdministers a voucher program that provides financial assistance to income-eligible families to pay for child care from their chosen licensed provider for children ages 0–12, or up to age 21 for children with exceptional needs.
- Child Care Voucher Program Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsAdministers a voucher program that provides financial assistance to income-eligible families to pay for child care at their chosen licensed provider for children ages 0–12, or up to age 21 for children with exceptional needs.
- Child Care Voucher Program Administration Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsAdministers a voucher program that provides financial assistance to income-eligible families to help pay for child care services from their chosen licensed providers. This program supports children ages 0-12, or up to age 21 for children with exceptional needs.
- Child care resource and referral servicesProvides free, comprehensive resource and referral services to help all families—regardless of income—locate licensed child care providers, assess eligibility for financial assistance, and access licensing records through the California Department of Social Services.
- Child care subsidy and voucher program administration Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsAdministers a voucher program that provides financial assistance to income-eligible families to pay for child care from their chosen licensed provider for children ages 0–12, or up to age 21 for children with exceptional needs.
- Deliver school-age child care and enrichment programs After-School Youth Development ProgramsProvides before- and after-school, full-year programs for students in TK–8 located on school sites, offering free, low-cost, and full-pay options. Also hosts a no-cost enrichment program for school-age children through participating school districts.
- Education and Family Support Services Early Care Provider Training & SupportProvides education advisors to help families understand early learning program options and access resources, including guidance on checking child care facility licensing records via the California Department of Social Services and hosting monthly parent information sessions on pre-K programs.
- Enrichment Programs for School-Age ChildrenHosts a no-cost enrichment program for school-age children through partnerships with participating school districts, available during after-school hours and throughout the year.
- Enrichment Programs for School-Age ChildrenOffers a no-cost enrichment program for school-age children through partnerships with participating school districts, promoting continued learning and development outside regular school hours.
- Host parent information sessions on early learning programs Early Care Provider Training & SupportConducts monthly parent information sessions to educate families about pre-K programs and early learning opportunities.
- Inclusive Care for Children with Disabilities Inclusive Programming for Children with DisabilitiesSupports the enrollment and success of children with disabilities in all programs through collaboration between the Inclusion and Wellness Department, families, school districts, and program staff, ensuring nurturing and accessible environments.
- Inclusive Child Care for Children with Disabilities Inclusive Programming for Children with DisabilitiesEnrolls children with disabilities in all programs and supports their success through collaboration between the Inclusion and Wellness Department, families, school districts, and program staff. The organization provides inclusive care for children of all abilities in a nurturing environment.
- Inclusive Services for Children with Disabilities Inclusive Programming for Children with DisabilitiesEnsures inclusion of children with disabilities in all programs through coordinated support among the Inclusion and Wellness Department, families, school districts, and program staff, fostering success in nurturing environments.
- Inclusive services for children with disabilities Inclusive Programming for Children with DisabilitiesEnsures inclusion of children with disabilities in all programs through coordinated support involving the Inclusion and Wellness Department, families, school districts, and program staff, fostering success in nurturing environments.
- Offer free child care referrals and resource assistance Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsProvides free referrals and resource services to help all families, regardless of income, locate licensed child care providers and assess eligibility for financial assistance, with 6,579 referrals provided annually.
- Parent Education and Support Early Care Provider Training & SupportProvides education advisors to help families understand program options and access resources. The organization also hosts monthly parent information sessions on pre-K programs.
- Parent and Family Support Services Early Care Provider Training & SupportOffers education advisors to help families understand program options and access resources, including monthly parent information sessions on pre-K programs and guidance on child care licensing records.
- Parent education and outreach Early Care Provider Training & SupportHosts monthly parent information sessions on pre-K programs and provides guidance to help families navigate early learning options and child care licensing information.
- Priority Enrollment for At-Risk Families Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsGrants enrollment priority in child care and early learning programs to families who are at risk, in crisis, or involved with the Department of Children and Family Services, ensuring timely access to critical services.
- Priority Enrollment for At-Risk Families Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsGrants enrollment priority in child care programs to families who are at risk, in crisis, or involved with the Department of Children and Family Services to ensure timely access to critical services.
- Provide center-based child care and early learning programs Child Care & Early Learning ProgramsOperates full-day, full-year center-based programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children (birth to age 5), including pregnant women, with free and low-cost options for income-eligible families. Programs are available to families who are working, in school, or participating in job training.
- Provide education advising and family support servicesOffers education advisors to help families understand program options, access resources, and navigate child care licensing records through the California Department of Social Services.
- Resource and Referral Services Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsProvides free child care referrals and assistance to families of all income levels in locating licensed child care providers, checking licensing records, and assessing eligibility for financial assistance.
- Resource and Referral Services Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsProvides free child care referrals and resource support to all families regardless of income, helping them locate licensed child care providers and assess eligibility for financial assistance. Delivers 6,579 referrals annually.
- School-Age Enrichment Programs After-School Youth Development ProgramsOperates free and low-cost enrichment programs for school-age children in grades TK-8, including before- and after-school, full-year programs located on participating school sites. These programs offer free, low-cost, and full-pay options.
- School-age enrichment programsOffers a no-cost enrichment program for school-age children through partnerships with participating school districts, providing supplemental educational and developmental activities.
- Subsidized Early Learning Programs Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsOffers subsidized access to Full-day Preschool, Surround Care, and Empowered Learning programs for families who do not qualify for income-based assistance, expanding access to early education opportunities.
- Support inclusive care for children with disabilities Inclusive Programming for Children with DisabilitiesEnsures inclusion of children with disabilities in all programs through collaboration with families, school districts, and staff, and provides tailored support to promote success in nurturing environments.
- Support services for at-risk families Subsidized Child Care Access ProgramsGrants enrollment priority to families who are at risk, in crisis, or involved with the Department of Children and Family Services, and provides education advisors to help families understand program options and access resources.
capacity building · 5
- Capacity Building for Child Care Providers Early Care Provider Training & SupportOffers annual training and support to child care professionals through 16,642 workshops, home visits, and support calls, enhancing quality and capacity across the early care and education system.
- Capacity building for child care providers Early Care Provider Training & SupportDelivers annual training and support to child care professionals through 16,642 workshops, home visits, and support calls aimed at improving quality and compliance in early care settings.
- Child Care Provider Capacity Building Early Care Provider Training & SupportOffers workshops, visits, and support calls for child care providers, with 16,642 such engagements annually, and provides training and support for child care professionals.
- Provide capacity-building support for child care providers Early Care Provider Training & SupportOffers 16,642 workshops, home visits, and support calls annually to child care professionals to enhance program quality and provider capacity.
- Provider Training and Capacity Building Early Care Provider Training & SupportOffers annual training, workshops, site visits, and support calls for child care professionals to strengthen the quality and capacity of early care and education providers.
strategies · 42
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.
- Family-centered provider selection and assessment family-engaged provider selectionSupports effective child care placement by involving families and children in provider selection and using structured, scenario-based evaluations to assess provider responsiveness and compatibility.
- Family-centered service design family-centered engagementEngages families as experts in shaping services through community focus groups and collaborative input, ensuring programs reflect community needs and lived experience.
- Family-centered service design and engagement family-centered engagementPositions families as experts in shaping services by involving them in focus groups and collaborative planning, ensuring programs reflect community needs and experiences.
- Family-centered service design and engagement family-centered engagementPositions families as experts by involving them in service design through community focus groups and educational supports, such as webinars on navigating pre-K options.
- Family-engaged service design family-centered engagementPositions families as experts by involving them in focus groups and collaborative processes to inform and shape program offerings and services.
- Family-engaged service design family-centered engagementPositions families as experts in shaping services by hosting community focus groups to inform program development and responsiveness.
- Holistic and needs-based eligibility assessment holistic eligibility assessmentAssesses program eligibility by considering the full range of family circumstances—including income, employment, education, housing, and special needs—to ensure support is aligned with real-life challenges and promotes equitable access.
- Holistic and needs-based eligibility assessment holistic eligibility assessmentAssesses program eligibility by considering the full range of family circumstances—including employment, education, income changes, housing, and special needs—to ensure support is aligned with real-life challenges and promotes stability.
- Holistic and needs-based eligibility assessment holistic eligibility assessmentAssesses program eligibility by considering a range of family circumstances—including income, employment, education, housing, and special needs—to ensure support is directed to those with demonstrated need, particularly low-income families engaged in work or education.
- Holistic and needs-based eligibility assessment holistic eligibility assessmentAssesses program eligibility by considering a family’s full circumstances—including income, employment, education, housing, and special needs—to ensure support reaches those with demonstrated need and promotes equitable access.
- Holistic family eligibility assessment holistic eligibility assessmentAssesses program eligibility by considering a broad range of family circumstances—including employment, education, income changes, housing, and special needs—to ensure support is tailored to real-life contexts and barriers.
- Inclusive early education and care for children of all abilities inclusive_early_educationIntegrates children with disabilities into programs through collaborative models that involve families, schools, and staff, ensuring inclusive settings are safe, supportive, and responsive to individual needs.
- Inclusive early education and enrollment inclusive_early_educationIntegrates children of all abilities into educational programs through collaborative models involving families, schools, and staff, ensuring inclusive access regardless of disability status when safe and appropriate.
- Inclusive early education and enrollment inclusive_early_educationIntegrates children of all abilities into programs through collaborative models involving families, schools, and staff, and maintains inclusive enrollment policies when safe and successful participation is possible.
- Inclusive early education for children of all abilities inclusive_early_educationIntegrates children with disabilities into early learning programs through collaborative models that engage families, schools, and staff, ensuring supportive and responsive environments.
- Inclusive early education for children of all abilities inclusive_early_educationIntegrates children with disabilities into early learning programs through collaborative models that involve families, schools, and staff, ensuring equitable participation when safety and support needs can be met.
- Parent education and navigation support parent_educationEquips parents with knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about pre-K and child care through educational webinars and guidance on provider selection.
- Parent education and navigation support parent_educationSupports informed decision-making by offering educational resources such as webinars to help parents understand and navigate pre-K and child care options.
- Parent education and navigation support parent_educationSupports parents in making informed decisions about early education through educational webinars and guidance on pre-K options.
- Parent education and navigation support parent_educationEquips parents with knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about pre-K options through targeted educational webinars and guidance.
- Parental choice and family-centered provider selection parental_choice_voucher_modelEmpowers families to choose child care providers through voucher-based access and supports informed decision-making by involving children in observations and using structured, scenario-based assessments of provider practices.
- Parental choice and family-engaged provider selection parental_choice_voucher_modelEmpowers families to choose child care providers through voucher models and structured selection processes that include parent and child input, scenario-based assessments, and evaluation of provider practices to ensure compatibility and quality.
- Parental choice and family-engaged provider selection parental_choice_voucher_modelEmpowers families by offering vouchers for child care and involving them—and their children—in assessing providers through structured, scenario-based evaluations to ensure compatibility and quality care.
- Parental choice and family-engaged provider selection parental_choice_voucher_modelEmpowers families by offering vouchers for child care and guiding them through a structured, family-centered process to select providers, including involving children in observations and using scenario-based assessments to ensure compatibility.
- Parental choice and voucher-based service delivery parental_choice_voucher_modelIncreases access and family autonomy by providing vouchers that allow income-eligible families to select their preferred licensed child care provider, promoting responsiveness and fit.
- Public contract-funded child care access model publicly_funded_child_careUses government contracts to fund child care services for low-income families, prioritizing those engaged in work, education, or job training, thereby increasing access through publicly funded support.
- Publicly funded child care access for working and learning families publicly_funded_child_careUses government contracts and public funding to provide child care services primarily to low-income families engaged in employment, education, or job training, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent access to early care and education.
- Sliding scale and fee-based access for broader inclusion sliding_scale_or_fee_based_accessExpands access to programs for families above income thresholds by offering fee-based or sliding-scale enrollment, ensuring continuity of services across economic circumstances.
- Sliding scale and fee-based access options sliding scale_or_fee_based_accessExpands access to programs for families above income eligibility thresholds by offering fee-based enrollment, increasing program inclusivity and sustainability.
- Sliding scale and fee-based access options sliding_scale_or_fee_based_accessExpands access to programs for families above income eligibility thresholds by offering fee-based enrollment on a sliding scale, promoting inclusivity across income levels.
- Sliding scale or fee-based access for non-eligible families sliding scale_or_fee_based_accessOffers fee-based enrollment options for families who do not meet income eligibility requirements, expanding access while maintaining program sustainability.
- Sliding scale or fee-based access for non-eligible families sliding scale_or_fee_based_accessOffers fee-based enrollment options for families who do not meet income eligibility criteria, expanding access while maintaining program sustainability.
- Universal access to services universal_accessEnsures inclusive access to prekindergarten and child care referral services regardless of income or immigration status, removing structural barriers to early learning opportunities.
- Universal access to services universal_accessEnsures equitable access to prekindergarten and child care referral services regardless of income or immigration status, removing structural barriers to participation.
- Universal access to services universal_accessProvides access to prekindergarten and child care referral services without regard to income or immigration status, ensuring equitable participation across diverse populations.
- Universal access to services regardless of background universal_accessProvides inclusive access to prekindergarten and child care referral services without regard to income or immigration status, ensuring broad and equitable participation.
- Universal access with inclusive enrollment universal_accessEnsures access to early education and referral services for all children and families regardless of income, immigration status, or ability, promoting equity and inclusion across programs.
- Workforce and education support integration workforce_and_education_support_for_low_income_familiesTargets child care and support services to low-income families engaged in employment or education, aligning with broader goals of economic stability and upward mobility.
- Workforce and education support integration workforce_and_education_support_for_low_income_familiesTargets support to low-income families engaged in work, education, or job training through center-based, government-funded programs that align child care access with economic mobility goals.
- Workforce and education-aligned child care support publicly_funded_child_careProvides government-funded child care services to low-income families engaged in work, education, or job training, using public contracts to enable participation in workforce and educational advancement.
- Workforce and education-linked child care support publicly_funded_child_careProvides publicly funded child care services through government contracts to support low-income families engaged in work, education, or job training, enabling economic mobility and educational attainment.
- Workforce and education-linked child care support publicly_funded_child_careProvides government-funded child care services to low-income families engaged in work, education, or job training, using public contracts to increase access and stability for vulnerable families.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
Center-Based Programs
Offers free or low-cost early learning and school-age programs for income-eligible families who are working, in education, or job training; includes inclusive care for children with disabilities
Child Care Voucher Program
Provides financial assistance for parents to use their choice of child care provider for children ages 0-12 (up to age 21 for children with exceptional needs)
Early Learning: Infant/Toddler Care Program
Full-day, full-year center- and home-based care for children from birth to 3 years and pregnant women; includes family support and is state- and federally funded including Early Head Start
Early Learning: Preschool Programs
Full-day, full-year preschool for children ages 3-4 (and 2-year-olds in Whittier); includes home-based options and is funded through state and federal programs including Head Start
Enrichment Program
Free school-age enrichment program offered through participating school districts regardless of income
Resource and Referral Program
Provides free assistance to families in locating licensed child care regardless of income; also offers training and support for child care professionals
School-Age Programs
Before- and after-school, school-year and full-year programs for grades TK-8 located on school sites; offers free, low-cost, and full-pay options
relationships · 9
who they work with
- California Department of Social Services Government — Directs parents to use the California Department of Social Services website to check child care facility licensing records.
- California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Government — Oversees health, safety, and educational standards for licensed child care centers and family child care homes that Options for Learning refers families to.
- Department of Children and Family Services Government — Provides enrollment priority for families with active cases at the Department of Children and Family Services.
- Early Head Start Network — Participates in the Early Head Start program
- Head Start Network — Participates in the Head Start program
- MyChildCarePlan.org Partner — Partner website for searching child care centers and family child care homes
- Poder Consulting Group Partner — Partner organization hosting community focus groups with Options for Learning
- School Districts Partner — Collaborates with school districts to support children with special needs in early learning programs.
- child care Resource and Referral Government — Designated as the child care Resource and Referral provider for the service area.