Child Development Associates

What Child Development Associates does

Child Development Associates, Inc. (CDA) is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Charlene Tressler in Otay Mesa and headquartered at 180 Otay Lakes Road, Bonita, CA. The organization operates as a government-contract program administrator, delivering two core service lines: the Alternative Payment (Child Care Payment) Program, which subsidizes child care costs for income-eligible families so parents can work or attend school, and the USDA Child Nutrition Program, which reimburses licensed family child care providers for nutritious meals served to children in their care. CDA is the largest sponsor of the USDA Federal Nutrition Program in California and the fourth largest Alternative Payment Program in the state, administering more than $80M in contracted funds and serving 26,000+ children annually, including 11,000+ through the Alternative Payment Program specifically.

CDA's delivery relies on a hybrid of community-based and digital infrastructure. Eligibility screening, enrollment, case management, and provider payments are handled through three regional service centers in Bonita, Kearny Mesa, and National City, supported by in-person workshops and community partnerships including Live Well San Diego. A digital layer — the CareConnect platform with separate Family and Provider portals plus the MyCareConnect sub-brand — provides resource access, videos, and program information. Complementary programs include CARE San Diego, the Let's Play Together! initiative, and the Supplemental Rate Payment Program, which extends stipend support to eligible child care providers across California.

The organization's revenue model is government contract administration: funding flows from the California Department of Social Services, county welfare departments, and USDA into CDA as a designated program sponsor, which is then disbursed to providers and families according to state-defined Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC) schedules. CDA retains the administrative fees and operates direct child development programs. Ownership and control sit with the Board of Directors and a long-tenured executive team led by President and CEO Rick Richardson (retired U.S. Army Colonel), CFO Jorge Hernandez (with the organization since 1983), VP of Operations Norma Hernandez (since 1991), and VP of Family and Provider Programs Jolie Buberl (since 1989).

Name

Child Development Associates

Legal name

Child Development Associates, Inc.

Website

https://cdasd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Child Development Associates is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers subsidized child care payment programs and USDA nutrition reimbursements for eligible families and licensed family child care providers, operating as the largest USDA nutrition program sponsor in California and the fourth largest Alternative Payment Program in the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Subsidized Child Care Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Community Food Services (62421), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Child Benefits Administration (Child Allowance, Parental Leave) (BPAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs) (EDACAMAA), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG), School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD), Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)

Keywords

• Subsidized child care
• Child nutrition programs
• Alternative payment programs
• Family child care support
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contract Administration: CDA administers government-funded child care payment programs and nutrition reimbursement programs, operating as a nonprofit agency that manages subsidized child care services for eligible families in California. The organization receives contracted funds to process payments to child care providers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Child Development Associates administers government-funded subsidized child care payment programs for income-eligible families and reimburses licensed family child care providers for nutritious meals under the USDA Child Nutrition Program. The agency processes more than $80 million in contracted funds, supports over 26,000 children annually in California, and runs supplemental rate payments, community workshops, and the CareConnect digital platform to connect families and providers with resources.

Product overview

Child Development Associates (CDA) is a community-based nonprofit agency providing a coordinated suite of social services centered on child care assistance and nutrition support. The organization operates two core programs: the Alternative Payment (Child Care Payment) Program that subsidizes child care costs for eligible families, and the USDA Child Nutrition Program that reimburses family child care providers for nutritious meals. These core services are supported by the CareConnect digital platform for resource access and eligibility management, the Supplemental Rate Payment Program providing stipends to California providers, and various community initiatives including the CARE San Diego and Let's Play Together! Programs. CDA serves as the fourth largest Alternative Payment program in California, supporting over 26,000 children through a network of reimbursed providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARE San Diego: A program providing support services for child care providers and families in San Diego.
• Let's Play Together!
• MyCareConnect
• CareConnect

Products and services

• Child Care Payment Program Subsidized child care payment program that reimburses eligible families for child care services, helping parents who cannot afford child care costs access quality care while they work or attend school.
• Nutrition Program Nutrition education and reimbursement program for licensed family child care providers, ensuring children receive nutritious meals while in care.
• Supplemental Rate Payment Program Stipend program providing supplemental payments to eligible child care providers throughout California to support business stability and growth.
• CareConnect (Family & Provider Portal) Online portal connecting families and child care providers with resources, program information, eligibility screening, and support services through the MyCareConnect platform.
• CARE San Diego Community support initiative providing resources and assistance to families and child care providers in the San Diego area.
• Let's Play Together! Program Program supporting child care providers and families with interactive activities and resources.
• CDA Workshops Educational workshops and events providing training, community resources, and skill-building opportunities for families and providers.
• Family Support Services Eligibility determination, case management, and ongoing support services for families seeking child care assistance.
• Provider Support Services Enrollment, monitoring, payment processing, and quality assurance services for licensed child care providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,000+ children supported annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Live Well San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDA partners with Live Well San Diego initiative to promote community health and wellness, supporting families and child care providers in the San Diego region.
• California Department of Social ServicescoreOthersCDA operates under state regulations and shares information necessary for administration of subsidized child care services with the California Department of Social Services, child care development agencies, county welfare departments, and local child care planning councils.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreOthersCDA is the largest sponsor of the USDA Federal Nutrition Program in California, administering nutrition reimbursements to licensed family child care providers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Options for Learning: California-based nonprofit administering subsidized child care payments, provider reimbursements, and early learning support across multiple counties — operates an Alternative Payment Program comparable to CDA's.
• Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF): Large California nonprofit administering Head Start, Alternative Payment Programs, and child nutrition programs across Southern California — directly overlaps CDA's Alternative Payment and USDA nutrition program administration.
• Wu Yee Children's Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit administering child care subsidies and family support programs in Northern California; comparable in mission, structure, and program mix (Alternative Payment Program plus family services) to CDA.
• Crystal Stairs: California nonprofit administering child care subsidy payments and provider support services in Los Angeles County; one of the largest Alternative Payment Programs in the state and a direct comparable to CDA's core program administration model.
• Child Care Resource Center (CCRC): One of California's largest Alternative Payment Programs and child care resource & referral agencies, administering subsidized child care payments and provider support services across Los Angeles and surrounding counties — directly comparable to CDA's Alternative Payment Program and provider services.

Broad incumbents

• First 5 LA: Large county-level child-focused funding and program administration organization that funds and shapes the early childhood ecosystem in LA County, including Alternative Payment Program contracts — comparable as a regional contracting and program administration peer, but with a much broader funding and policy remit.
• KinderCare Education: Large national for-profit child care provider that accepts subsidized child care payments from programs like CDA's; comparable as the provider-side counterpart in the same child care delivery ecosystem, though operating a fundamentally different commercial model.
• San Diego County Child Care & Development Planning Council: Local government body that plans and coordinates subsidized child care in San Diego County — CDA leadership sits on this council, making it the closest government counterpart and policy-setter for CDA's service area.
• Community Care Licensing (California DSS Division): State government regulator that licenses and oversees the family child care providers CDA reimburses; comparable because both organizations operate within and shape the same state-subsidized child care ecosystem in California.

Regional players

• BANANAS: Bay Area child care resource & referral agency administering subsidized child care payments and provider support — comparable in function to CDA but operating in Northern California rather than San Diego.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cdasandiego
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/child-development-associates
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdasandiego
• Xx.com/CDAsandiego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Child Development Associates