Resources to help you establish and grow your child care business or find professional early childhood education development services and programs.
The Starting Strong Toolkit
Step-by-step guides for opening and expanding child care programs in the City of LA:
English version Spanish version Korean versionArmenian version Chinese Simplified version One Page Overviews
New 2026 Tax Deductible Opportunity for Early Educators
The Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act was signed into law on September 18, 2026. The law allows early childhood educators to claim the same federal tax deduction as K-12 teachers for out-of-pocket expenses.
Keep this new legislation in mind as you complete your 2026 taxes to avoid missing out on an above-the-line tax deduction (meaning you can claim the deduction whether or not you itemize your tax deductions). For more information about the SEED Act, visit the First Five Years Fund website.
Apply NOW for a $10,000 Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Applications are now open for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant. The Grant selects 10 small businesses to be awarded $10,000.
Who can apply? Owners of for-profit small businesses based in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands who are 18 or older may apply. Owners of multiple businesses may apply for one business only.
How do I apply? To access the application, you must create a free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready account and complete any two eligible, free courses or events on the platform.
When do I apply? Applicants must apply by December 31st to be considered.All applicants will receive a final decision by January 12, 2027.
For more information and to apply, visit the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant website.
Launch Your Career in Early Childhood Education with Paid Training Opportunities
Interested in pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education? Launch your career with paid, hands-on work experience and on-the-job training through the Employment Social Enterprise (ESE) Program. Eligible participants can earn up to $7,400 in incentives while receiving comprehensive career support.
The ESE Program also covers:
- Live Scan
- CPR certification
- Health Screening & immunizations
- College class registration fees
- California Child Development Permit fees
- Transportation assistance
Who Can Apply?
This program is specifically designed to assist individuals who are unemployed, English language learners, older adults, young adults (18-24) who are out of school and unemployed, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Applicants must be 18 or older, have at least 6 college credits in Early Childhood Education, and be available to work at least 30 hours per week.
Complete the survey to learn more and get started. For additional information or questions, check out the program flyer or contact Lusine Ter-Karapetyan @ LTerkarapetyan@pacela.org.
Apply for a Grant to Cover Your Educational Expenses
Do you attend a California Community College? Are you pursuing a career in early childhood or child development? Apply today for an Educational Support Grant!
The Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC)’s Educational Support Grant program covers specific educational expenses such as tuition and textbooks for eligible applicants. To learn more about eligibility criteria or to get technical assistance, visit the CDTC website.
Grant Application Deadlines
- The Grant Application Deadline for the 2027 Winter/ Spring semester is February 26, 2027.
Apply today! Limited funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Enhance Your Inclusive Practices Through This Free Webinar Series
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in collaboration with WestEd, is excited to announce a series of free webinars offered through the CDSS-funded Beginning Together project. Designed to support inclusive practices across early learning settings, this five-part series will take place throughout 2026–27. Following each webinar, participants will have an option to join a 90-minute facilitated virtual small group session to debrief the webinar content with fellow educators.
Webinar Details
- Who Should Attend? Direct service providers, administrators, special educators, trainers, coaches, and anyone supporting inclusion in center-based programs, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, preschool programs, or as family, friend, and neighbor caregivers.
- When: Tuesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., beginning September 15, 2026
- Language Support: Sessions are conducted in English with Spanish interpretation.
Learn more and register today by visiting the Beginning Together Inclusion Webinar Series website.
Join a Community of Support Group for Child Care Providers
The California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network offers free, virtual support groups for child care and early education providers across California. Facilitated by mental health specialists, these Community of Support (CoS) Groups offer a safe, consistent space to share experiences, explore strengths and stressors, and build meaningful connections with fellow educators.
- Interactive Reflection: Explore key topics, share stories, and build community in English or Spanish.
- Incentives: Providers may earn stipends up to $125 and receive an educational kit of materials and resources
- Flexible Offerings: Select a group theme that meets your needs with available offerings tailored for Home-Based Providers (FFN and FCCH) as well as Center-Based Program Staff. Example themes include caregiver well-being, trauma-responsive care, and supporting young boys of color.
Register for a group and learn more today by visiting the IECMHC Network Community of Support Website.
Apply for Funding Opportunities from CDTC
The Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC) provides services and support to students and professionals working with young children, including funding opportunities.
Their Permit Stipend Program covers the child development permit application fee for eligible applicants. Covered fees include those for first-time permits, permit upgrades, and renewals. Applicants can either pay the fee directly to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and apply for reimbursement, or submit their application through CDTC, and CDTC will cover the fee.
Learn more about the program in English or Spanish and find information on upcoming virtual trainings on the CDTC website. Visit here to apply for the Permit Stipend Program.
Get Grants for Helping Your Families Build Wealth
The Early Wealth Partnership has launched the Outreach & Enrollment Mini-Grants Program to support community-based organizations in helping families access wealth-building opportunities for their children. These one-time grants fund local outreach and enrollment events that connect low- and moderate-income families with essential financial accounts such as CalKIDS, HOPE Trust Accounts, CalABLE, ScholarShare 529, local Child Savings Accounts (CSAs), and 530A accounts.
Grant & Funding Details
- Allowable Uses: Funding can cover outreach workshops, enrollment assistance events, translation services, printed materials, technology for portal access, staff stipends, venue rentals, or event refreshments.
- Priority Populations: Projects serving low-income students, foster youth, youth with disabilities, immigrant families, English learners, and housing-insecure youth are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Priority Applications: Higher priority is given to organizations that cross-promote multiple early wealth account programs.
- Timeline: The Mini-Grants Program is ongoing. Applications are reviewed during the first and third week of every month.
Discover the New CDSS Early Learning & Care Platform
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with WestEd, has launched the California Early Learning and Development website, a free, interactive platform created to support educators working with infants and toddlers (birth to 36 months).
Built on research-backed early childhood practices, this new hub offers real-world video footage and evidence-based guidance to help you refine educators’ observation strategies, enhance responsive interactions, and support key developmental milestones in the care settings. Resources are available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
Explore the tools and videos today at californiaearlylearninganddevelopment.org.
Give Your Feedback and Enter to Win $250 Prizes
Over the past three years, First 5 LA and its partners have implemented a county-wide communication campaign in six languages to raise awareness of the benefits of multilingualism. To understand how well the campaign has worked and how they can better support young, multilingual children, First 5 LA is inviting child care providers to complete a 20-minute survey. They are especially seeking feedback from Korean, Khmer, Armenian, and Vietnamese speaking providers and community members.
As a thank you, they will also be holding a drawing for four $250 prizes. Survey completion is not required to enter the drawing. To enter the drawing without completing the survey, contact Sergio Martinez at sergio_martinez@spra.com.
Protect the Children in Your Care
California leaders have taken important steps to protect the health and well-being of all children from recent attacks directed at immigrant communities. Law AB 495 - The Family Preparedness Plan Act - requires certain early care and education (ECE) providers to adopt and enforce policies that protect the rights and safety of children in their care.
All In for Safe Schools and Bringing Up California created a guide and a webinar that walk providers through what AB 495 means for their programs, what the law requires and how they can build safe, welcoming spaces for children and families, regardless of immigration status.
Providers can access the guide in eight languages and watch the recording of the AB 495 webinar for providers English and Spanish.
Support Your Staff Through Paid Family Leave
California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program is currently accepting applications from small businesses for grants up to $2,000 per employee taking paid family leave. The program is intended to help small businesses pay for costs that occur when employees take leave, including hiring and training to cover the employee’s absence. To be eligible, small businesses must have between 1 and 100 employees and at least one employee using PFL on or after June 30, 2026. The grant period will be from June 30, 2026 to May 31, 2028, or until funds run out.
To find more information and apply, visit the Paid Family Leave website.
Accessible Loans for Family Child Care Programs
The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) has partnered with nonprofit lenders Ascendus and Working Solutions to provide accessible loans up to $100,000 to Family Child Care providers looking to:
- Renovate or improve their child care space
- Add furniture, toys, or equipment
- Expand their program with advertising, educational materials, or new staff
- Strengthen their program by offering professional learning opportunities
To learn more, visit LIIF’s website or email ChildCareCapital@liifund.org with any questions.
Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business
Public Counsel, a nonprofit law firm that supports Early Care and Education and other community interests, has developed a new resource for child care providers who may be experiencing or feeling anxious about harassment due to federal immigration efforts or unwarranted claims of fraud. The short brochure explains the legal right to enter and actions you can take to enforce those rights. It also documents additional legal actions that protect yourself, your staff, and the children and families you care for.
Please review the resource brochure and contact Public Counsel’s Early Care and Education Law Unit if you need legal assistance. Fill out an intake form or call 213-385-2977, extension 300.
Apply for a Paid Child Care Internship
Applications are open for the City Pathways to Childcare Internship, a paid childcare internship opportunity with the Department of Recreation and Parks. Interns will work with children aged 2-5 while learning about developmentally appropriate practices, early care and education topics, and classroom management. Interns may be eligible to apply for a part-time position upon program completion.
For details, including eligibility criteria and wage, view the Parks Department informational flyer. Sign up for the Intern Virtual Orientation now. Spots are limited!
Get Informed About Child Care Programs’ Rights
Early childhood programs are considered “protected areas” under U.S. federal policy, which restricts immigration agents from enforcement actions. However, related policies have not always been consistently followed or enforced. Creating “safe space” policies for your program can help to safeguard the children and families in your care. Explore the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)’s resource to develop a “safe space” policy today.
Public Counsel, a nonprofit law firm, is training nonprofit and business owners on their rights when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, which can help programs get prepared. The training recordings and slides are available online: English recording, English slides, Spanish recording, Spanish slides. Public Counsel also has an FAQ document that includes sample policies.
Explore the links below for more helpful resources.
- Guide for Employers
- Red Card Examples – free constitutional rights in multiple languages and portable formats
- National Immigration Help Search
Access Capital through the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund
The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF) helps small business owners who may not qualify for traditional capital to access capital through local community lenders. EOCF supports small business owners of color and small business owners serving communities of color through small business loans and technical support. EOCF’s small business loans range from microloans to commercial real estate acquisition loans and can be used for expenses such as hiring staff, renovations, and acquiring a location.
Visit the EOCF website and read more about getting matched with lenders.
Find Professional Development on Caring for Infants and Toddlers
In partnership with the Los Angeles Education Partnership, the Office for the Advancement for Early Care and Education (OAECE) has released the Caring for Los Angeles County’s Youngest Learners: Infant and Toddler Professional Development Catalog. The Catalog contains professional development resources for infant and toddler child care educators in LA County, including information on training, educational units, and services and incentives available at resource and referral agencies.
Find the catalog in English, Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish on the OAECE website.
Support Dual Language Learners in Your Program
First 5 LA and Quality Start Los Angeles (QSLA) have launched “Two Languages, Twice The Opportunities,” a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of multilingualism for children. Helping children learn their home language supports greater cultural awareness, fosters more meaningful connections with friends and family, and helps them enter kindergarten ready to succeed. Being multilingual can lead to improved academic, social, financial, and career outcomes.
Learn how to create impactful learning opportunities for dual language learners in your early learning program.
You can also point families with dual language learners to resources available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Armenian, Khmer, and Korean.
LA County's Infant and Toddler Toolkit for Child Care Providers
The LA County Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education (OAECE), in collaboration with Public Counsel, has released Child Care for All: Information for Child Care Providers on Expanding Infant and Toddler Care in Los Angeles County. The free toolkit guides family child care homes and community-based child care centers in serving more infants and toddlers. The online resource reviews topics such as staffing ratios, changes to physical space, and business model considerations.
The toolkit is also available in Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Spanish versions. A recorded webinar on expanding child care programs to serve more infants and toddlers is also available online in English and Spanish. These resources, as well as upcoming trainings and free professional development opportunities, can also be found on the OAECE website.
Retirement, Health Care, and Training Benefits for Home-Based Care Providers
Child Care Providers United (CCPU) is a union of over 40,000 home-based child care providers (family child care and family, friend, and neighbor care) in California. Provider benefits include a first-in-the-nation retirement fund, health care fund, and training fund.
To learn more about CCPU’s benefits, check out their benefits flyer, contact the CCPU Provider Resource Center (888-583-2278 or PRC@ccpuca.org) or explore the websites below.
Retirement Fund
CCPU’s Retirement Fund has $80 million annually to provide retirement benefits to licensed family child care providers. Eligible providers are automatically enrolled in the program, and contributions are made by the State and vest immediately. To be eligible for retirement benefits, licensed providers must have been paid for work with a subsidized child for at least 6 months of the previous year. Visit the CCPU website to learn more and access your portal.
Health Care Fund
CCPU’s Health Care Fund has $100 million to help eligible providers access free core benefits (such as dental, vision, life insurance, and mental health support) and enroll in an optional Reimbursement Program that offsets out-of-pocket medical expenses and insurance premiums for providers and their dependents. Eligible providers must be serving at least one child receiving child care subsidies in 3 of the last 12 months. Visit CCPUhealth.org to learn more and apply.
Training Fund
CCPU’s Training Fund provides tuition assistance (up to $5,000 each year) and free, high-quality professional learning courses specifically designed to support home-based child care providers. Eligible providers must serve at least one child receiving child care subsidies. Visit CCPUtrainingfund.org to learn more and register for opportunities and benefits.
Become an Associate Teacher through UCLAExtension
Earn an Early Childhood Education-Associate Teacher Certificate at low or no cost through the UCLAxCareerBridge Initiative! The ECE Associate Teacher Program prepares individuals to become Associate Teachers in preschool or child care settings for children ages 0–5. After completing this 12-month, part-time program, participants will be eligible to apply for an Associate Teacher Child Development Permit through the State of CA. The first cohort will be offered fully in Spanish for Spanish-speaking students.
To qualify for the program, you must:
- Be a resident of the State of California
- Meet the minimum qualifications: High school diploma/GED, eligibility to work in the U.S., and comfort with basic computer functions
- Attend an information session and the student orientation
- Complete the prerequisite course
Those with financial need will be given priority. For more information, visit the UCLAxCareerBridge website. You can also email careerbridge@uclaextension.eduor call 310-206-2560. To learn about other state and local stipends for ECE courses, visit the Early Care and Education Workforce Registry website.
Free Virtual Behavioral Health Services
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has launched the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform, which offers free web- and app-based behavioral health services, including care navigation, moderated peer communities, and crisis and safety resources. The platform has two web- and app-based applications: Brightlife Kids, for parents or caregivers of children ages 0-12, and Soluna, for teens and young adults ages 13-25.
Brightlife Kids offers behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and kids. Learn how to build non-verbal communication skills, navigate milestones, teach toddlers how to share, manage separation anxiety, and more.
Services are cost-free and do not require insurance or referrals. To learn more and download the app, visit CalHOPE.