Connections for Children

What Connections for Children does

Connections for Children (CFC) is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit child care Resource and Referral (R&R) agency founded in 1976 in Los Angeles County, currently operating with an 11-50 employee footprint from its Westchester headquarters. The organization runs a four-pillar service model: (1) free child care referrals via a computerized provider database; (2) financial assistance / subsidy administration, processing over $17.1 million in child care subsidies for eligible families annually and more than $300 million cumulatively since founding; (3) free or low-cost professional development for licensed family child care providers and center staff, including trauma-informed care and Title 22 refresher training; and (4) family engagement programs such as Family Time play groups, Parent Cafés, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for foster families. Its two primary customer segments are families with children aged 0-12 seeking child care and licensed child care providers/educators seeking training and licensing support, with secondary engagement of school districts on Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) implementation.

CFC's operating model is a community-led, partnership-driven distribution network rather than a technology platform. Service delivery is conducted through the Westchester headquarters, a phone-based referral line, an online eligibility tool (apply.mycareconnect.io), the CareConnect provider payment portal, and a multi-site co-location network at Santa Monica College, El Camino College, the LA County Department of Children and Family Services offices in West LA and Torrance, and partner libraries (Santa Monica Public Library, Katy Geissert Civic Center Library). The underlying technology is intentionally light: MyChildCarePlan for referrals, CareRegistry and Bridge Builder/MyAbsorb for training enrollment, JotForm for event registration, and Zoom for virtual sessions.

The business model combines three funding streams: government contracts and pass-through subsidy administration (managed-services style), foundation grants (First 5 LA and other early-childhood funders), and philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations, and events including the Betsy Awards. All services to families are free of charge; professional development workshops are free or nominal-fee. CFC has no parent company, no disclosed external investors, and no M&A activity; expansion has been organic via new co-locations (most recently El Camino College in fall 2025) and an emerging emergency/disaster-relief program line that was activated in response to the January 2025 LA wildfires.

Name

Connections for Children

Legal name

Connections for Children

Website

https://connectionsforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connections for Children is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit child care resource and referral agency founded in 1976, serving Westside and South Bay LA families and providers with free referrals, child care subsidy administration, professional development, and family engagement programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts & Subsidies: Administered over $300 million in child care subsidies since founding, with $17.1 million in financial assistance distributed in the most recent year. Funded through government contracts and public funding programs.
2. Donations & Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Employer matching programs, planned giving, and event-based fundraising (Betsy Awards, Holiday Angels Toy & Book Drive).
3. Grants: Funded by foundations including First 5 LA and other early childhood education funding sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Connections for Children is a non-profit Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) agency that provides families with free child care referrals, administers child care subsidies and financial assistance, offers professional development training to early childhood educators, and delivers family engagement programs including free trauma-informed play groups (Family Time) and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for foster youth. All services are delivered free of charge to families within its Westside and South Bay Los Angeles County service area.

Product overview

Connections for Children is a non-profit Child Care Resource and Referral agency offering a coordinated suite of services organized around four core pillars: Child Care Referrals, Financial Assistance/Subsidies, Professional Development, and Family Engagement. The organization operates as a platform connecting families seeking child care with providers, while simultaneously supporting early childhood educators through training, business resources, and quality improvement programs. Key products include the Child Care Referral database, Child Care Subsidy programs, CareConnect provider payment portal, and Family Time early learning play groups. Additional specialized offerings include the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for foster youth, Quality Start Los Angeles quality improvement initiatives, and the Child Care Initiative Project supporting new provider licensing. All services are delivered through a combination of in-person offices, co-locations at community partners, virtual platforms, and community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Care Referrals Connects families with licensed child care providers through a computerized referral database, helping parents evaluate and select child care options that best meet their child's needs. Provided free of charge to families across CFC's Westside and South Bay Los Angeles County service area.
• Child Care Subsidy / Financial Assistance Helps eligible families obtain child care subsidies for children from birth to 12 years of age, supporting parents in workforce participation, education, and economic self-sufficiency. CFC administers $17.1M+ in financial assistance annually.
• Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators Free or low-cost professional development workshops for early childhood educators covering best practices, early child development, health and safety, trauma-informed care, and business coaching. Delivered 519+ professional development hours annually.
• Family Engagement Programs Family engagement programs including Family Time play groups, parenting workshops, Parent Cafés, and resources supporting child development and family well-being across CFC's service area.
• CareConnect Provider Payment Portal Provider payment portal that enables licensed child care providers to manage and receive child care subsidy payments through CFC.
• Quality Start Los Angeles Quality improvement program supporting licensed child care providers in meeting higher standards of early care and education delivery.
• Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) Program supporting individuals through the process of obtaining child care licenses and starting licensed family child care businesses in LA County.
• Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Youth Bridging program providing emergency child care access support specifically for foster youth (ages 0-21) and families involved with child welfare services in LA County.
• Family Time Play Groups Free trauma-informed early learning and play groups for children ages 0-5 with parents and caregivers, held at multiple locations including Santa Monica, Torrance, and El Camino College.
• Preventive Health & Safety Training Reimbursement Reimbursement program for child care providers completing preventive health, CPR, and first-aid safety training requirements.
• Online Eligibility Tool (MyCareConnect) Online eligibility assessment tool allowing families to determine if they qualify for child care financial assistance within the CFC service area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 268,000 families connected to resources since 1976
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Child Care Alliance Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of the Child Care Alliance Los Angeles, a collaborative network of child care resource and referral agencies serving Los Angeles County.
• First 5 LAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with First 5 LA supporting early childhood education initiatives and programs.
• El Camino CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to co-locate family-centered services at the college's Social Justice Center, providing wraparound services including FAFSA, CalWORKs, and child care resources for students and community members.
• Santa Monica CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location at Santa Monica College Student Services Center offering child care resources and referrals to students and community members.
• Child Care Alliance of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for emergency response efforts following January 2025 wildfires, coordinating relief for families and providers.
• Save the ChildrenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in wildfire relief efforts providing support for affected families and child care providers.
• Baby2BabymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in wildfire relief distributing essential supplies to families and providers impacted by January 2025 wildfires.
• Los Angeles County Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildfire relief and ongoing public health initiatives for child care providers.
• Santa Monica Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Family Time early learning and play groups at the Pico Branch location.
• Katy Geissert Civic Center LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal location for Family Time program hosting early learning and play groups in Torrance.
• PBS SoCalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Family Math Workshop programming providing math education resources for families.
• Cayton Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Family Math Workshops and family drop-in programs at the museum in Santa Monica.
• LA Partnership for Early Childhood InvestmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildfire relief efforts and early childhood investment initiatives.
• Backpacks for DisastersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing care backpacks and supplies for families impacted by wildfires.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crystal Stairs: Los Angeles-based Child Care Resource and Referral agency with a nearly identical mission and service portfolio (child care referrals, subsidies, provider training, parent engagement). The most direct operating peer for CFC, serving a different LA sub-region.
• Parents Action for Children: Family-focused nonprofit providing parent education, child development resources, and family engagement programming. Highly comparable to CFC's family engagement and Parent Café offerings.
• Child Care Resource Center (CCRC): Child Care Resource and Referral agency serving the San Fernando Valley and LA County with subsidies, referrals, and provider training. Operates the same R&R model as CFC in an adjacent LA geography.

Broad incumbents

• Child Development Associates (CDA): National credentialing body for early childhood educators offering professional development. Comparable to CFC's 519 annual professional development hours and workforce training offerings.
• First 5 LA: Major LA County funder and program operator for early childhood (birth-to-five) initiatives. CFC's long-standing partner and funder; comparable mission but operates at county-policy scale rather than direct-service R&R.
• Child Care Aware of America: National umbrella network for Child Care Resource & Referral agencies. CFC is effectively part of this national network via Child Care Alliance LA; comparable mission and federal-policy positioning at scale.
• Save the Children: International nonprofit with major child welfare, family support, and emergency-response programming. CFC partnered with Save the Children on wildfire relief; comparable on family-services mission and disaster response capability.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Large community-services nonprofit operating child care, family programs, and youth services across LA. Overlaps with CFC's family engagement, child care navigation, and community co-location strategy.

Regional players

• Parents And Children Together (PACT): Hawaii-based nonprofit providing child care subsidy administration, family engagement, and early childhood programs. Comparable mission and subsidy administration model to CFC, but operating in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Healthy Child Care (ChildCareHealth): Network supporting health and safety in child care settings. Comparable to CFC's Preventive Health & Safety Training Reimbursement and trauma-informed care professional development offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFCforChildcare
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectionsForChildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connections-for-children
• Instagraminstagram.com/connections4children

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connections for Children