Connections for Children is a non-profit organization that serves as a Child Care Resource and Referral agency in the Westside and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County. Our mission is to build a stronger future for children, families, and the early care and education community by connecting them to resources, education, and economic support.
We envision a future where all children have the opportunity to attain their full potential through equitable access to high-quality early care and education. With our dedication and expertise, Connections for Children (CFC) provides services for up to 12% of the Los Angeles population.
At CFC, we offer a range of core services designed to support families and childcare providers in our serve area. One of our core services is Child Care Referrals. We welcome every parent in our service area, regardless of their income level, and guide them towards safe, experienced, and quality licensed child care options that align with their family’s individual needs and values. We understand that finding the right childcare provider can be challenging, and our team is here to support parents throughout the process. Strengthening Families is a key aspect of our work. We create innovative enrichment programs based on cognitive and developmental research to optimize outcomes for every family. These programs address various areas such as playgroups, early literacy, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being. By offering these unique programs, we empower families and provide them with the tools they need to thrive.
Financial Assistance is a vital service we provide to eligible low-income parents. We help them obtain affordable quality child care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children up to 12 years old. By providing financial assistance, we enable parents to stay in the workforce and pursue better earning opportunities through continued education.
This year, we are especially proud to have taken significant steps to enroll more families than ever before! In the last few months, CFC staff have contacted over 2,000 families who expressed interest in our subsidized childcare programs. With the dedicated efforts of our expanded enrollment team, we are actively working to enroll as many families into our programs as possible.
Professional development for the early care and education field is another important aspect of our work. We provide free educational training, resources, and expertise to childcare providers of all experience levels. Our goal is to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to provide the best possible care to children. We also provide individual coaching and guidance on maintaining quality standards and strengthening their childcare businesses.
At Connections for Children, we believe that by providing comprehensive support, we can create a positive and nurturing environment for children to thrive and families to flourish. Together, we can build a stronger future for children, families, and the early care and education community.
Kimberly Jimenez is the outreach coordinator at Connections for Children. Learn more at connectionsforchildren.org.
