Early Care and Education Program

The Early Care and Education Program offers low or no cost childcare to disadvantaged families in West Los Angeles. The program utilizes specially trained teachers and providers, age-appropriate curricula, and focuses on healthy development, school readiness, and early literacy. In addition, the program offers nutritious meals, health and development assessments, and parental support. The Early Care and Education Program provides these services through a full-day Early Care and Education Center and network of licensed family childcare and day care homes.

The Early Care and Education Program is operated by Westside Children's Center, a not-for-profit agency devoted to serving vulnerable children and families in West Los Angeles. Westside Children's Center also offers foster care and adoption, family support, and early intervention services.

This program is supported through government grants, program income, parent fees, special events, contributions, and other revenues.

The Early Care and Education Program's goal is to provide the highest quality childcare and early education services to children from disadvantaged families.

From July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009, the Early Care and Education Program served 151 children through the Early Care and Education Center and 342 children through the Family Child Care Home Education Network. During this time period, the Program provided school readiness services to 407 children, and developmental screenings to 204 families.