Business Details
29 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Child Care Services and Early Education Support
The Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles (CCALA) has been a trusted leader in early childhood care and education since 1997. Our organization is a collaborative network of ten partner agencies delivering critical services to families and child care providers across Los Angeles County. We specialize in connecting parents with quality child care options, administering subsidized voucher programs like CalWORKs and Emergency Child Care Bridge, and providing professional development opportunities for early educators. Our team offers comprehensive training, coaching, and resources to improve child care quality while advocating for systemic improvements in early education.With multilingual support and deep community engagement, we ensure culturally competent services tailored to the unique needs of diverse families. Our expertise in child development, combined with decades of operational experience, positions us as a reliable resource for both caregivers and providers. We maintain strict adherence to ethical standards through transparent operations and partnerships with regulatory bodies like TrustLine. Our commitment to excellence has made us a cornerstone of support for families navigating child care solutions.
Services
Child Care Provider Training
Emergency Child Care Bridge Program
Universal Pre-K Assistance
Family Child Care Licensing
Subsidized Child Care Vouchers
TrustLine Background Checks
Quality Improvement Coaching
Workforce Professional Development
Public Policy Advocacy
Resource and Referral Services
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in child care services since 1997
- Offering subsidized child care vouchers through programs like CalWORKs
- Provide comprehensive training for child care providers
- Multilingual services to support diverse communities
- Advocate for equity and inclusion in early education
Services
Emergency Child Care Bridge Program
This specialized program supports foster families by increasing home-based care placements for children. We help providers meet capacity needs while maximizing funding through our partnership with Los Angeles County DCFS. Services include trauma-informed care training for participating providers.
Universal Pre-Kindergarten Assistance
Our UPK initiative expands free and low-cost pre-school options for 3-4 year olds across Los Angeles County. We connect families with licensed centers, family child care homes, and transitional kindergarten programs while providing payment assistance through alternative payment programs.
Child Care Provider Training
Through our Gateways Pathway Program, we offer comprehensive training aligned with California competencies. Our registry system tracks professional growth while our E-learning platform provides accessible development opportunities for early educators.
Resource and Referral Services
Our local agencies provide personalized referrals to licensed providers and help families understand different care options. We offer support with TrustLine background checks and guidance on identifying quality child care settings.
Subsidized Child Care Vouchers
We administer multiple subsidy programs including CalWORKs Stages 1-3 and Alternative Payment vouchers. Our staff helps eligible families navigate financial assistance options to make child care more accessible and affordable.
People
Cristina Alvarado
Executive Director
With over two decades of experience in social work, Cristina leads CCALA's strategic initiatives to improve early childhood care access. She holds a Master of Social Work degree and oversees policy development and agency partnerships.
Elise Crane
Director, Registry
Elise manages the California Early Care and Education Workforce Registry, focusing on professional development systems. She ensures registry data supports workforce improvements and helps educators document their qualifications.
Zenaida Meza
Director, Quality Start Los Angeles
Zenaida leads quality improvement initiatives across Los Angeles County. Her work focuses on enhancing child care standards through coaching, training, and implementation of best practices for early education providers.
Jessica Herron
Manager, Office
Jessica coordinates day-to-day operations at CCALA headquarters. She ensures smooth administrative functions and serves as a key point of contact for organizational communications and resource distribution.
Amie Caskey
Director II
Amie oversees program implementation and community outreach initiatives. She works closely with member agencies to ensure consistent service delivery and compliance with state child care regulations.
Questions
What services does CCALA offer for families seeking child care?
We provide personalized referrals to licensed providers, payment assistance through subsidy programs, and guidance on identifying quality care options.
How does the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program work?
This program supports foster families with temporary child care vouchers, provider training, and capacity building to serve foster children.
What is Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) in Los Angeles?
UPK expands access to free and low-cost pre-school programs for 3-4 year olds through licensed centers, family homes, and transitional kindergarten.
How do I check if a child care provider is registered with TrustLine?
You can verify TrustLine registration status by calling (800) 822-8490 or visiting the TrustLine website for background check confirmation.
What training opportunities exist for child care providers?
Our Gateways Pathway Program offers comprehensive professional development with aligned training pathways and the California Early Care Registry.
