Business Details
42 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Child Care Services
At Child Lane, we are dedicated to nurturing the holistic development of children through comprehensive care, education, nutrition, and family support services. Established in 1984, our organization has grown from a single location to serving nearly 6,000 children daily across Long Beach, Wilmington, San Pedro, and Gardena. Our mission centers on creating environments where play is valued, and every child is empowered to reach their full potential. We prioritize safety, dignity, and respect in all interactions, treating families and communities as integral partners in fostering childhood development. With decades of experience, our team combines expertise in early childhood education, USDA-approved nutrition programs, and family counseling to address both immediate needs and long-term growth.Our commitment to equity, choice, and community-driven solutions has positively impacted over 160,000 children and families since our founding. Through licensed centers, family child care homes, and tailored support services, we ensure accessible, high-quality care that adapts to diverse family needs. Our leadership team brings decades of collective experience in child development and social services, reinforcing our authority in early care and education. Transparency, ethical practices, and collaboration with local partners underpin our approach, ensuring trust and reliability. By focusing on individualized support and evidence-based programming, we remain a respected leader in early childhood services for the communities we serve.
Services
Early Care
Education Programs
Nutrition Program
Family Support
Child Care Homes
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience in early childhood education and care.
- Our programs combine licensed centers with a network of 525 family child care providers.
- We provide USDA-approved nutrition programs for children in our care.
- Our team includes certified child and family counselors for holistic support.
- We serve over 6,000 children daily across Long Beach and surrounding communities.
Associations and certifications
- USDA
- CACFP
What people say
Dedicated staff
Comprehensive programs
Strong community impact
Services
Early Care
Child Lane provides licensed early care services for infants through teenagers in both center-based and family home settings. Our nurturing environments feature age-appropriate educational activities, flexible scheduling, and small group sizes. Experienced staff create developmentally supportive spaces where children build social skills and explore learning through play-based curricula.
Nutrition Program
Our USDA-funded nutrition program ensures healthy meals and snacks for children in our care. We partner with 525 licensed providers to deliver fresh, balanced USDA-approved meals across Southern California. The program includes recipe resources, provider training, and compliance monitoring to maintain nutritional standards for growing children.
Family Support
Comprehensive family support services include confidential counseling, community resource navigation, and parenting education. Our child and family counselors provide one-on-one guidance while connecting families with essential community services. This holistic approach helps parents become effective advocates for their children's developmental needs.
Child Care Homes
We support a network of licensed family child care homes offering personalized care in home environments. These programs provide flexible hours, small group sizes, and USDA meals while maintaining strict licensing standards. Our monitoring ensures quality care across 525 homes throughout Long Beach and surrounding communities.
Education Programs
Our early education programs combine structured learning with play-based exploration for children aged 4 months to 13 years. Licensed centers and trained providers implement developmentally appropriate curricula focusing on school readiness skills. Programs emphasize individualized attention within safe, nurturing environments that celebrate childhood development.
People
Dora Jacildo
Executive Director
Dora Jacildo leads Child Lane's strategic vision with decades of experience in early childhood education and nonprofit leadership. She oversees program development and organizational growth while maintaining community partnerships.
Connie A. Wilder
Finance and Administration Director
Connie A. Wilder manages financial operations and administrative systems with expertise in nonprofit fiscal management. She ensures compliance with funding requirements while supporting organizational sustainability through effective resource allocation.
Diane Payton
Program Director
Diane Payton directs program implementation with specialized knowledge in early childhood curriculum development. She supervises service delivery across centers and family child care homes, ensuring quality standards and staff training compliance.
Anna Topolewski
Board Chair
Anna Topolewski chairs the Board of Directors with extensive governance experience in nonprofit organizations. She provides strategic oversight while advocating for community-based child care solutions through policy engagement.
Alyssa Gutierrez
Vice Chair
Alyssa Gutierrez serves as Vice Chair with a background in community outreach and family services. She focuses on expanding access to early care programs while supporting board initiatives that align with organizational values.
Questions
What age groups does Child Lane serve?
We serve children from zero months to thirteen years of age through our centers and family child care homes.
How can I check eligibility for your programs?
Complete our online Eligibility Application to determine qualification for services at our licensed centers or family child care homes.
Do you provide meals for enrolled children?
Yes, our USDA-approved Nutrition Program provides healthy meals and snacks through 525 licensed family child care providers.
What family support services are available?
We offer confidential counseling, community resource referrals, parenting education, and advocacy support for enrolled families.
How many locations do you operate?
We operate five licensed child development centers and support a network of 525 family child care homes.
Can child care providers partner with Child Lane?
Yes, we recruit and train licensed family child care providers through our Nutrition Program partnership opportunities.
