DREW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE: TO PREVENT INCOME FROM BEING A BARRIER TO QUALITY CHILD CARE, DREW CDC PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SERVICE PLANNING AREA 6 THROUGH THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO CHILD CARE FOR WORKING PARENTS OR PARENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO GAIN EMPLOYABLE SKILLS BEFORE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE. PARENTS OFTEN FACE PROLONGED CYCLICAL CHALLENGES, AND THROUGH THE SUBSIDY CHILD CARE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CYCLE AND ENSURE THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ON A TRAJECTORY TOWARDS POSITIVE OUTCOMES. THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED IN STAGES AS PARENTS' FINANCIAL STABILITY AND CHILD CARE NEEDS CHANGE OVER TIME. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12, AND UP TO AGE 21 FOR CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS OR SEVERE DISABILITIES. PARENTS SELECT THEIR CHILD CARE PROVIDER FROM A LIST OF QUALIFIED HIGH-QUALITY LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, UNLICENSED RELATED/NON-RELATED CARE-TAKERS WHO CLEARED BACKGROUND CHECKS.THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY WORKFORCE, ALLOWING FAMILIES TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT WHILE PROVIDING STABLE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM CREATES A DUAL BENEFIT: IT PROVIDES A PROTECTIVE BUFFER FOR PARENTS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED, AND IT CONTRIBUTES FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO IN-HOME AND LOCAL FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THESE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED APPROXIMATELY $3.1M IN MONTHLY PROVIDER PAYMENTS TO OVER 2,550 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.COMBINED, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 5,938 CHILDREN AND 3,139 FAMILIES IN FY 22-23.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) PROGRAMS: TODDLER, PRESCHOOL AND EARLY INTERVENTION: DREW CDC'S SIX EARLY CHILDHOOD STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH) EDUCATION CENTERS ARE STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN 18 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OLD. DREW CDC'S PRESCHOOL, EARLY HEAD START, AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WORK CONGRUENTLY TO PROVIDE THE OPTIMAL RESOURCES TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY KINDERGARTEN READY, BUT ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY FOUNDATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM UTILIZES A RESEARCH-BASED MODEL CALLED CREATIVE CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM IS BUILT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE, CONSTRUCTIVE-PURPOSEFUL PLAY, A PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS QUALITY LEARNING INTERACTION, AND TEACHER-FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INTEGRATED WITH STEAM LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES IN AN INDOOR-OUTDOOR CLASSROOM SETTING. BY ENGAGING THESE PRINCIPLES, THE PROGRAM TEACHES CRITICAL THINKING IN A NURTURING AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHILE ALSO PROMOTING CULTURAL DIVERSITY. INCORPORATING STEAM LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES IN OUR EARLY EDUCATION CURRICULUM HELPS CHILDREN TO ANALYZE INFORMATION AND PROBLEM SOLVE, WHICH ARE CRITICAL SKILLS THAT WILL BE USEFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 387 CHILDREN AND 319 FAMILIES IN FY 22-23.