Grantee Profile: Child Care Information Services

Founded in 1973, CCIS is a state-funded resource and referral agency that provides information and support to children and families as well as subsidized child care for families on CalWORKs or earning low wages. Additionally the agency has worked diligently to bring a variety of grant-based programs and services to the community. An example of what is now available is the First 5 LA-funded resource library, which allows local providers the opportunity to access new curricula or check out books regarding child development. Such enrichment has positioned CCIS as a provider of unique and quality training to the surrounding community.

Fiona Stewart, resource and referral director at CCIS, helped launch the Training Institute in August after participating in the First 5 LA Social Enterprise Academy, co-hosted by First 5 LA and the Social Enterprise Institute. After some market research, the staff at CCIS determined that they could earn additional income for the organization and influence child care quality in their area by formalizing the many workshops, site visit services and mentoring activities they were already offering. They packaged these services into the Training Institute, and through the institute CCIS has managed to create both an important service and add income diversity to its operation.

"We're excited to bring the breadth of knowledge and expertise of our CCIS trainers to the community and expand on the agency's more than 30 years of support for the early childhood education field," said Stewart. In its short lifespan, the Training Institute has already provided training to groups from Upland Head Start, National Pediatric Support Services, Inc. and Glendale Preschool. CCIS plans to use the additional revenue stream to continue to expand services that improve child care quality in the San Gabriel Valley. 

To learn more about the CCIS Training Institute, contact Fiona Stewart at (626) 449-8221.

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