Employee_Child_Development

Early Care & Education

Resources for Families and Communities

The County of Los Angeles is committed to helping its employees balance their work and family obligations. Recognizing the importance of quality early care and education services, this information is intended to help County employees find appropriate early care and education services and evaluate different options.

Wildfire 2025

Rebuilding Center

A one-stop shop for Los Angeles City residents impacted by the fire to go for anything they need from the City when rebuilding their homes or businesses under the expedited and streamlined process created under Mayor Bass’ emergency executive order No 4.

Hours: Open Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 8 PM; Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM – 4 PM

Location: 1828 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Coping with Stress from Natural Disasters

The California Department of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (CDPH/IVPB) and the California Department of Social Service, Office of Child Abuse Prevention (CDSS/OCAP)’s, Essentials for Childhood (EfC) Initiative, and All Children Thrive, California (ACT) have released “Coping with Stress from Natural Disasters.”

This new resource is intended to support parents and caregivers as they navigate potential challenges after experiencing a natural disaster. The resource includes actionable steps that parents and caregivers can take to care for themselves, their children, and their community. Below are copies in English, Spanish, Armenian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

LAC ECE Response Team Community Call

The L.A. County Early Childhood Education (LAC ECE) Response Team is holding Community Calls regarding the Los Angeles wildfire emergency. As we move forward together to serve our youngest children, early care and education providers and community members are invited to learn about the latest guidance for child care environments, updates to early care and education policies, the availability of supplies to operate safely, and how to access additional resources. 

Previous Webinars:

February 20, 2025

February 6, 2025

Thursday, Jan 30, 2025

Thursday, Jan 23, 2025

Thursday, January 16, 2025

LA County Recovers: For essential information and LA County resources to support families impacted by wildfires

  • Los Angeles County Emergency Incident Response consists of real-time evacuation, shelter, and other information
  • Department of Public Health: Fire, Safety and Health Information: The Department of Public Health has resources on  Fire Safety and Health Information.  The information is in English and Spanish and focuses on safe clean-up after fires, food safety tips, power outages, and mental health support.
  • Los Angeles County Smoke Advisory:  The LA County Health Officer issued a Smoke Advisory press release due to the unhealthy air quality.  The advisory includes helpful guidance for schools from the California Department of Education.
  • Los Angeles Department of Public Health:  Essential information and resources to support families impacted by wildfires.
Pacific Oaks College Distribution Flyer
Click her for flyer in English
Trauma-Informed Self-Regulation & Mindfulness Workshop

Click here for flyer in English

Información en español aquí

 

 

Returning to a Child Care Facility After a Wildfire
  • Ash Clean-up and Safety in Child Care Sites Without Fire Damage
  • How to determine if it is safe for children to play outside?
  • Indoor & Outdoor Cleaning

Información en español aquí

Get Smart about Wildfire Smoke – Clear Guidelines for Schools and Wildfire Smoke

 

 

 

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE – Deadline to Apply For FEMA and SBA is March 31, 2025

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

Two FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will open tomorrow in Los Angeles County to assist Californians who experienced damage to their primary home, personal property loss or have disaster-caused emergency needs related to the wildfires. At the center, people can get help applying for federal assistance, speak to representatives from state and federal agencies, receive updates on their FEMA application for assistance and learn about the appeals process. Hours and locations are as follows:

  • UCLA Research Park West
    10850 West Pico Blvd.
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
    Hours of operation – Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Altadena Disaster Recovery Center
    540 W. Woodbury Road
    Altadena, CA 91001
    Hours of operation – Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More information linked HERE.

Individual assistance is available through FEMA, register through:

What is individual assistance?

  • Individual assistance consists of multiple federal programs to help disaster survivors start to recover. These programs include, but are not limited to advanced financial assistance, housing and rental assistance, funds for repair/replacement of damaged homes, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance and other needs assistance.

Support for Small Business:

  • Assistance for small businesses is available through the federal Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity:
    • Submitting insurance claims, signing up for no-cost legal aid, accessing capital and other resources, including grants and loans as well as local, state, and federal contracting opportunities. The DEO Office of Small Business hosts a Small Business Concierge and helps with information and technical assistance, financial resources, and referrals to partner organizations for programs and services.
    • Office of Small Business: (844) 432-4900 ● Monday – Friday ● 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Small Business Recovery Fund to support small businesses impacted by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Applications are now open for eligible businesses located in the affected zip codes to receive grants up to $25,000 based on annual income.
    • The Chamber has partnered with Lendistry, a trusted Los Angeles-based small business lender specializing in community-focused recovery, to administer the grants and provide capital solutions to aid rebuilding efforts. Applications are reviewed first-come, first-served and are open through June 6 or until funds are exhausted.

How do I file an insurance claim?

California Department of Social Services
Talking to Children about the Fires
  • 11 ways parents can help children cope with fires (Children’s Hospital of Orange County):  Click here
  • Zero to Three – Coping with Trauma and Stress in the Face of Wildfires:  Read the article
  • “Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire Book:  Your child may feel more comfortable opening up about their feelings over the fire by reading a book where the characters experience a fire as well. “Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire” is available for download in English and also available for download in Spanish from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Mental Health
  • Trauma-Informed Care Disaster Relief Support  – Drew CDC can connect you to trauma-informed supports, disaster relief, and community support networks that can help with both mental and physical challenges (such as food and housing).
OTHER RESOURCES

For questions or more information contact ECE_Response@ph.lacounty.gov

Reports

ECE Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment 2022 – Reports and Supplemental Reference Materials
Needs Assessment 2016 – Reports and Supplemental Reference Materials

The State of Early Care and Education in Los Angeles County – Los Angeles County: Child Care Planning Committee 2017 Needs Assessment Executive Summary

Los Angeles County 2017 Needs Assessment – Technical Report

Elevating the Voices of Children: The State of Early Care and Education in Los Angeles County

Whitebook, M., McLean, C., and Austin, L.J.E. (2016). Early Childhood Workforce Index – 2016, Executive Summary. Berkeley, CA: Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley

Whitebook, M. & McLean, C. (2017). Educator Expectations, Qualifications, and Earnings: Shared Challenges and Divergent Systems in ECE and K-12. Berkeley, CA: Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley

Whitebook, M., Phillips, D., & Howes, C. (2014). Worthy work, STILL unlivable wages:The early childhood workforce 25 years after the National Child Care Staffing Study, Executive Summary. Berkeley, CA: Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley.

Needs Assessment 2016 Backup Data

Capacity and Demand – Family Child Care Homes and Centers for Infants and Toddlers in Working Families of All Income Levels – 2016

Capacity and Demand – Family Child Care Homes and Centers for Preschool Children in Working Families of All Income Levels – 2016

Capacity and Demand – Family Child Care Homes and Centers for School Age Children in Working Families of All Income Levels – 2016

Subsidized Early Care and Education Capacity for Low-Income Working Families – Birth to 5 Years Old – 2016

Subsidized Early Care and Education Capacity for Low-Income Working Families – Infants & Toddlers (Birth to 36 Months) – 2016

Subsidized Early Care and Education Capacity for Low-Income Working Families – Preschool (Ages 3 to 5) – 2016

Subsidized Early Care and Education Capacity for Low-Income Working Families – School Age (Ages 5 to 12) – 2016

LPC Local Funding Priorities

LPC Local Funding Priorities – FY 2020-21

LPC Local Funding Priorities – FY 2020-21 Slide Deck
  • Tableau Public – an interactive map that reflects the data collected and analyzed for the LPC Local Funding Priorities

Strategic Planning

County of Los Angeles – A Unified Strategic Plan for Early Care and Education 2020-2025

Enhancing Quality

Child Care and Your City: How Cities Can Increase Access to Child Care Toolkit –  is a best practices and resource toolkit for city staff providing important legal updates and best practices on how cities and planning departments can reduce barriers to developing, renovating, and operating much-needed child care facilities in their communities.

Out-of-School-Time Standards for Program Quality

How Much Does Quality Child Care and Development Cost? STEP (September 2007)

Cost of Quality Budget Framework for STEP (July 2007)

Quality Budgets for Child Care and Development Centers (June 2008)

Advancing the Early Care and Education Workforce

Workforce Pathways LA

Career and College Advisement Tool

Learning from Today, Preparing for Tomorrow: An Early Care and Education Professional Development Analysis for Los Angeles County (June 2021)

Learning from Today, Preparing for Tomorrow Forum Packet – June 28, 2021

Learning from Today, Preparing for Tomorrow Forum Recording – June 28, 2021

Early Care and Education Career Lattices in Los Angeles (January 2008)

California Early Care and Education Workforce Study in Los Angeles County 2006

Highlights

Licensed Child Care Centers

Licensed Family Child Care Homes

County of Los Angeles Model Compensation Scale for Child Care Workers Study (March 2005)

Full Report

Model Compensation Scale for Child Care and Development Personnel – Health Coverage Provided by Employer

Model Compensation Scale for Child Care and Development Personnel – Health Care Allowance Included

How the Model Compensation Scale Works

Director’s Salary Scale (June 2010)

Final Report for the “Investing in Early Educators” Stipend Program (January 2006)

County of Los Angeles Workforce Survey (December 2013)

A Profile of the Family Child Care Home Workforce in the County of Los Angeles (2003)

A Profile of the Child Care Center Workforce in the County of Los Angeles (2002)

Transitions: Child Care and Development to Kindergarten

Time for School: Transitioning from Child Development to Kindergarten (Document)

Time for School: Transitioning from Child Development to Kindergarten (PowerPoint Presentation)

Children with Special Needs

Special Needs Advisory Project (SNAP): Evaluation of Child Care Capacity Building for Children with Disabilities or with Other Special Needs in Los Angeles County (June 2005)

Funding for Early Care and Education

A Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis

Funding Streams – Public Investments for Early Care and Education for FY 2016-17

Allocation and Use of State Child Care and Development Funds in Los Angeles County (February 2008)

Recommended Revisions to CDE Child Development Funding and Regulations for Los Angeles County (April 2008)

Education Coordinating Council

The Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council (ECC) was created by the Board of Supervisors in November 2004, and charged with raising the educational achievement of foster and probation youth throughout Los Angeles County. The ECC brings together, for the first time, the major stakeholders responsible for the educational performance of foster and probation youth. Its 24 members include the leadership of school districts (with significant numbers of system youth), County departments, the juvenile court, city and County children’s commissions, advocacy and planning groups, community agencies, and youth and their caregivers.

The purpose of the ECC is to coordinate efforts across organizations and jurisdictions, encouraging networks of people to work together to expand the best practices and fill the gaps in communities where little help or support for families is available, so that none of our children are left behind.

Since its creation, the ECC has reached out to hundreds of organizations, agencies, constituent groups and communities throughout Los Angeles County, helping to overcome existing barriers to effectively work together, and building solid relationships with those who share responsibility for or have an interest in the education of system youth.  In 2005, the ECC developed a comprehensive blueprint for raising the achievement of DCFS and Probation youth.  The Blueprint “Expecting More,” lays out the challenge for raising the educational achievement of foster and probation youth, the outcomes we want for these children and youth, and a plan for achieving them, based on current research and identified best practices.

Download ``Expecting More`` Blueprint
Visit Education Coordinating Council Website
Visit Education Coordinating Council Website
Supporting the development of cross-agency information technology solutions

Information Technology Infrastructure Development

The Information Technology Infrastructure Development (ITID) Unit is responsible for supporting the development of cross-agency information technology solutions. The Unit facilitates the identification of user needs and business processes; maps functional and technical requirements to appropriate technology solutions; and coordinates the development and implementation of agreed-upon information technology solutions. The Unit also identifies linkages for data sharing opportunities between County departments and agencies. Some key projects the Unit supports include Los Angeles County Helps! (LACountyHelps).

CONTACT ITID

LACountyHelps! Website

LACountyHelps is an Internet-accessible application designed to help Los Angeles County residents, staff, and public/private organizations access information regarding health and human services. Based on answering a series of questions concerning the resident’s unique circumstances, LACountyHelps identifies which health and human services the resident may be eligible to receive and where to go to apply for the services.

The program and/or service identification information may include: 1) a comprehensive description of the programs or services for which the client may be eligible;  2) street addresses, maps, and driving directions to the specific location where the client may apply for the identified services;  3) a list of required documentation and forms needed to apply for the services;  4) relevant telephone numbers and contact persons; and  5) direct links to other websites that offer related types of information.

LACountyHelps was launched on June 1, 2006 and is currently available in English, Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.