LA County’s Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education (OAECE) is maintaining an ongoing list of resources for families with children and child care providers affected by the 2025 wildfires.
Current Opportunities
See below for open or upcoming opportunities for child care providers.
Need a Center Location? Join RAP’s Virtual Meet and Greet to Learn More
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) is in the
process of releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Management and
Operation of Licensed Preschool Centers located on park property.
You are invited to a virtual Meet & Greet on Wednesday, May 14th at
11:00 am. Topics to be discussed include:
- The 8 proposed sites
- RFP timeline
- Compliance related requirements
Click on the Zoom link here to join; no RSVP necessary. Reach out to rap-contracts@lacity.org for questions.
Earn Your PK-3 Early Childhood Education Credential
California State University, Long Beach will launch their PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instructional Credential Program (PK3CP) in Fall 2025. The PK3CP prepares candidates to earn their PK-3 credential from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the State of California. Students develop the skills to pass the state-mandated Teacher Performance Assessment and successfully teach in preschool, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, first, second, and third grade classrooms.
Interested candidates must apply to the university AND the PK3CP program. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the program.
- University applications are due June 1, 2025
- PK3CP Program Applications are due July 1, 2025
To learn more visit CSULB's PK3CP website or contact the program advisor, Georgina Ramirez (Georgina.Ogaz@csulb.edu). To apply, visit https://www.csulb.edu .
Be 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, this and 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.
Additionally, Public Counsel’s training on nonprofit and business owners’ rights when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel can help programs get prepared. Public Counsel is a nonprofit law firm that supports ECE and other community interests. Find the training recording and slides here (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
- Guide for Nonprofits
- Red Card Examples - Info cards in multiple languages to help people assert rights
- National Immigration Help Search
Apply for the Permit Stipend Program 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. 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.
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 works to support 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 like hiring staff, renovations, and acquiring a location.
Find the EOCF homepage here and read more about getting matched with lenders.
Apply for a Paid Child Care Internship with Recreation and Parks
Applications are open for the City Pathways to Childcare Internship, a paid child care internship opportunity with the Department of Recreation and Parks. Interns will work with children ages 2-5 while learning about developmentally appropriate practices, topics in early care and education, and classroom management. Interns will be eligible to apply for a part-time position upon program completion.
For details, including eligibility criteria and wage, see the flyer here. Register as soon as possible by clicking here. Spots are limited!
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 English Catalog here. Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish versions will be posted soon on the OAECE website.
Grow Your Child Care Business’s Online Presence With Digital50
Digital Skills LA is now accepting applications for the first cohort of the Digital50 program, where 50 small and microbusinesses will be chosen to receive one-on-one coaching on strengthening their digital presence. Digital50 will support businesses to improve their website, online marketing, and social media strategy. The coaching may cover topics like search engine optimization, setting up accounts on key platforms, and tailored strategies to improve digital presence.
Find out how you can improve your child care program’s website and social media posts to increase enrollment and awareness of your program. Learn more and apply on LA County’s Shop Local website.
Begin Your Child Care Career through Ready2Teach
Are you interested in becoming a child care professional? The Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) has announced an upcoming cohort for its Ready2Teach program, which provides the coursework and training to help
jumpstart a career in child care. Ready2Teach is a 12-month program that offers paid internships, free college coursework, and professional development training. Apprenticeship sites are based in Hawthorne, Inglewood, and South Los Angeles.
At the end of this program, participants will earn a California Child Development Associate Teacher permit. Visit the Ready2Teach website to learn more and submit an interest form. Interested individuals may also contact Laura Ramirez at (213) 582-8963 or lramirez@laep.org for more information.
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 1, 2024. The grant period will be from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2026, or until funds run out.
To find more information and apply, visit the Paid Family Leave website.
Equip Your Child Care Business to Succeed with LApreneur
The Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the Economic and Workforce Development Department have partnered to launch LApreneur, a free, 14-week program for aspiring and current business owners to access entrepreneurship education, one-on-one assistance, networking, and more. LApreneur is open to City of Los Angeles residents and individuals with businesses in the City. Learn more on the EWDD website and submit your interest for the 2024-2025 cohort here.
Get Free Support for Your Child Care Business
The City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department’s BusinessSource Centers offer free services to Angeleno business owners and entrepreneurs to help small businesses succeed. Services and programs include one-on-one consultations, trainings, and information on accessing capital. Services are available in Spanish, Armenian, French, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese, depending on the location. Find a BusinessSource Center near you on the EWDD website.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) includes the Office of Small Business, which also offers programs and services to help small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed. Check out DEO’s newly launched Economic Mobility Initiative, a hub offering free individualized support for LA County small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. The hub features over a dozen community-based organizations to connect visitors to services and resources including technical assistance, training, and access to capital. Learn more about the Economic Mobility Initiative here.
Explore the World of Business Grants with PACE
The Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) offers a monthly workshop for business owners to learn about upcoming business grants. The workshops, which focus on opportunities for businesses owned by women and people of color, cover topics like grant types, current opportunities, and qualities of successful applications.
Visit PACE’s website today and register for upcoming webinars in 2025 here. Email CEspiritu@pacela.org for more information.
Get Business Support through the Legacy Business Program
The City of Los Angeles is proud to launch the Legacy Business Program, an ongoing initiative to support the visibility and sustainability of long-standing Legacy Businesses with tangible benefits such as technical assistance, promotional support, and access to grants and loans. A “Legacy Business” is defined as a business open to the public that has been in operation in the same community for 20 or more years.
To register as a City of LA Legacy Business and get notified of new opportunities, visit the LA Legacy Business Program website. To find more information, including eligibility criteria and informational webinars, visit the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) website.
The Legacy Business Program is brought to you by the Los Angeles City Council, Mayor Karen Bass, and the EWDD.
Support Young Dual Language Learners through Free QSLA Resources
First 5 LA and Quality Start Los Angeles (QSLA) have launched “Two Languages, Twice The Opportunities,” a campaign to increase awareness about the importance of multilingualism in children. Helping children learn their home language supports greater awareness of their culture, creates 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 here.
You can also point families to resources that support their dual language learner on the QSLA website in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Armenian, Khmer, and Korean. QSLA also has online bilingual brochures on the “Two Languages” campaign for sharing with families. Each brochure is available in English and one of six additional languages. Check them out here: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Armenian, Korean, Khmer.
LA County Releases New Infant/Toddler Toolkit for Child Care Providers
The Los Angeles 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 on how to serve more infants and toddlers. The online resource reviews topics including staffing ratios, making changes to physical space, and business model considerations.
The toolkit is available in English, Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Spanish. 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.
Health Care and Training Benefits for Providers
Child Care Providers United (CCPU) is a union of over 40,000 home-based (family child care and family, friend, and neighbor care) child care providers in California working in partnership with parents, early childhood education advocates and state legislators to fix the state’s child care crisis and improve the profession and the quality of care. Their 2023 contract with the State includes a first-in-the-nation retirement fund, health care reimbursement fund and professional development opportunities for providers.
Health Care Reimbursement
CCPU’s Health Care Reimbursement Fund has $100 million to help home-based child care providers pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses including prescription drugs, co-pays, deductibles and monthly premiums. Eligible providers must be enrolled in a qualifying health insurance plan and be serving at least one child receiving child care subsidies. Click here to apply and find contact information or review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn more.
Development Opportunities
CCPU’s Training Fund provides tuition assistance (up to $5,000 each year) and high-quality workshops that support home-based child care providers in pursuing ongoing education and professional development. Opportunities also include a paid peer-to-peer mentorship program. Eligible providers must serve at least one child receiving child care subsidies. Click here to learn more about the Training Fund and register for learning opportunities.
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 an Associate Teacher in a preschool
or child care setting 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, including about financial assistance, visit here. You can also email careerbridge@uclaextension.edu or call (310) 206-2560. To learn about other state and local stipends for ECE courses, visit here.
Get Free Virtual Behavioral Health Services Today!
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.
Get Free Business Support Through the Open Air Economy Collaborative!
The Open Air Economy Collaborative provides holistic business supports such as micro-loans, business coaching, legal assistance, and financial education to Black and Latina women micro-entrepreneurs working to formalize and sustain their small businesses in Los Angeles. These integrated services support micro-entrepreneurs, like family child care providers, to build and grow strong businesses.
To learn more about the Open Air Collaborative, visit their website.
Complete the Survey
To apply for services, fill out a confidential, 10-15 minute survey.