Current Opportunities
See below for open or upcoming opportunities for child care providers.
Mentor the Next Generation of Child Care Providers
As part of its Early Childhood Education Student Advancement Program, the Mayor's Office is seeking experienced child care professionals to mentor college students interested in entering the ECE field. The ECE Student Advancement Program works to improve equitable access to child care and support ECE students with financial awards, workshops, internships, and mentorship.
Interested providers should apply to be a mentor for the program’s upcoming cohort by December 31, 2024. Mentors will be asked to attend six meetings over a three month period. Mentors will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Mayor’s Office and be invited to attend an end-of-year ECE Student Advancement Program Culmination Ceremony. For more information, please email ecestudentadvancement@lacity.org.
Start 2025 Strong with DEO’s Holiday Grant Program
LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity has announced its Economic Opportunity Holiday Grant program. Small businesses, microentrepreneurs, and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 can apply for $3,000-$5,000 to strengthen their business in the new year. Businesses operating from a residence are not eligible.
Learn more about eligibility and grant uses on the DEO website and apply before the deadline on December 31, 2024 at 5pm. Grants will be awarded starting in February 2025.
For one-on-one assistance, contact the DEO Office of Small Business at osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov or (844) 432-4900.
Build Your Skills as a Leader in Early Childhood
In partnership with the Atlas Family Foundation and the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, the Rockwood Leadership Institute is now accepting applications for the 2025 Richard Atlas Early Childhood
Leadership Initiative. The initiative brings together early- and mid-career early childhood leaders in Los Angeles County to deepen their leadership skills. The free, in-person program will select 24 participants to attend a leadership program from April 14-18, 2025 in Pacific Grove, California and a 1-day alumni convening in Summer 2025. Up to $1,000 is available to reimburse participants for expenses supporting their attendance, including travel and family care.
The initiative prioritizes applicants who are emerging BIPOC leaders of all organizational levels and those with 5 to 10 years of experience in the early childhood field. Read more about application criteria here.
Explore the initiative and apply today on the Richard Atlas Early Childhood Leadership Initiative webpage. Applications are due by January 27, 2025.
To learn more, RSVP to one of Rockwood’s virtual information sessions on Thursday, January 9 from 12:30-1:30pm or Thursday, January 21 from 3-4pm (sessions will be recorded). Contact cory@rockwoodleadership.org with
questions.
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. 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.
For California Community College students pursuing early childhood or child development careers, CDTC’s Educational Support Grant offers support for tuition and textbook costs. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The next grant application deadline is March 14, 2025. See the program flyer in English or Spanish and find more information, including campus contact information and the application link, on the CDTC website.
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.
Recover from Storm Damage with the SBA Disaster Loan Program
If you or your business were affected by the winter storms from January 31 to February 9, 2024, the Small Business Administration (SBA) can help. Federal SBA disaster loans are available to help businesses and private nonprofits recover from economic impacts from the storms.
Loan applications for economic injury are due February 18, 2025. Businesses do not need to have suffered property damage to apply for economic injury assistance. To learn more and apply, visit SBA’s website. Interested individuals may also contact the SBA at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
December 2024 Update: Due to a lapse in Congressional funding, new loan offers are currently delayed. SBA is still accepting and reviewing disaster loan applications.
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.
Upcoming webinars will be held on:
- Nov 19, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
- Dec 17, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
- Jan 21, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
- Feb 18, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Visit PACE’s website today and register for the webinars 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.