Child Development Associates
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersBonita, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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).
Child Development Associates firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Child Development Associates industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Child Development Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bonita
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Child Development Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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
Child Development Associates product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Child Development Associates
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Child Development Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Child Development Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Live Well San DiegocoreCDA 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 ServicescoreCDA 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)coreCDA 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
Child Development Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Child Development Associates social profiles
Digital presenceChild Development Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Child Development Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Child Development Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Child Development Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Child Development Associates
What does Child Development Associates do?
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.
Is Child Development Associates a public or private company?
Child Development Associates is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Child Development Associates founded?
Child Development Associates was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Child Development Associates based?
Child Development Associates is headquartered in Bonita, United States, in the North America region.
How does Child Development Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Contract Administration.
Who are Child Development Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Options for Learning, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), Wu Yee Children's Services, Crystal Stairs and Child Care Resource Center (CCRC). Broad incumbents are First 5 LA, KinderCare Education, San Diego County Child Care & Development Planning Council and Community Care Licensing (California DSS Division). BANANAS is listed as a regional player.
Does Child Development Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Child Development Associates.
What industry is Child Development Associates in?
Child Development Associates's product category is Subsidized Child Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAKAD, Family & Child Benefits Administration (Child Allowance, Parental Leave), with a secondary code of EDACAMAA, Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs). Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8300.