Crystal Stairs Inc

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES THROUGH CHILD CARE SERVICES, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - UNDER CONTRACTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (CDSS) CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, WE ADMINISTER A CHILD CARE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE CYCLING OFF WELFARE (CALWORKS) AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT FAMILY ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PAYING FOR CHILD CARE SO THAT PARENTS CAN WORK, SEEK WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL/TRAINING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES CHILD CARE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES REFERRED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN ARE "AT RISK" OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. WE CERTIFY THE FAMILY'S ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILD CARE, ASSIST THEM TO LOOK FOR AND SELECT CHILD CARE, PROVIDE REFERRALS TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AS NEEDED, AND MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THEY SELECT TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ENROLLED 10,631 FAMILIES WITH A TOTAL OF 19,454 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD, AND MADE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO 5,923 LICENSED AND LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN.

CALWORKS STAGE 1 CHILD CARE - UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES (DPSS), WE ADMINISTER A CHILD CARE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR CASH-AIDED FAMILIES STARTING THE TRANSITION FROM WELFARE TO WORK. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE A FAMILY'S ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND/OR EDUCATION/TRAINING THAT WILL LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT. WE CERTIFY THE FAMILY'S ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILD CARE, ASSIST THEM TO LOOK FOR AND SELECT CHILD CARE, AND MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THEY SELECT TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ENROLLED 4,391 FAMILIES WITH A TOTAL OF 7,192 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD, AND MADE MONTHLY CHILD CARE PAYMENTS TO 3,302 LICENSED AND LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN.

HEAD START AND STATE PRESCHOOL - UNDER FOUR GRANTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE ADMINISTER A HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START AND CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP GRANTS FUNDED FOR 1,436 CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 5 YEARS OLD. AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE PROGRAM SERVICED 865 CHILDREN THIS PAST YEAR. THERE WERE 645 VOLUNTEERS USING THE REMOTE LEARNING GENIE APPROACH TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AT HOME. NO IN-PERSON VOLUNTEERING WAS IMPLEMENTED THIS PROGRAM YEAR. OF THOSE CHILDREN ENROLLED, 220 OF THE STUDENTS WERE DUALLY SERVICED IN OUR STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE FULL DAY SERVICES TO WORKING PARENTS AND THOSE WHO ARE IN SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED FULL-DAY SERVICES IN 17 CENTERS FOR 200 DAYS. OF THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ENROLLED, 58% HAD ELIGIBILITY AT 100% BELOW FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES; 37% WERE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (TANIF OR SSI); 2% WERE IN FOSTER CARE; 2% WERE REPORTED AS BEING HOMELESS; AND 1% WERE OVER INCOME. IN ADDITION, 8% OF THOSE CHILDREN HAD AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) OR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICES PLAN RECEIVING DISABILITY SERVICES. THE GOAL OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN AND TO SUPPORT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT THAT LEADS TO PARENTS TAKING ON OR MAINTAINING THEIR ROLE AS THE CHILD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER. CENTER-BASED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN FULL-DAY 8 HOUR SESSIONS. WE TAKE A "HOLISTIC" APPROACH TO SERVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT ALLOW US TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH OUR STAFF DIRECTLY OR THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER. WE HAVE A SHARED GOVERNANCE APPROACH WHERE PARENTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING.

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