LOS ANGELES – Supervisor Hilda L. Solis announced Wednesday that a $15 million countywide program will provide child care vouchers to 5,000 essential workers and low-income working parents through Dec. 30.
“Child care is the backbone of our economy and parents seeking child care are facing financial hardships as the economy starts to recover, and this is acutely felt by our essential workers,” Solis said. “We must support our working parents who are stocking our grocery shelves with food, driving our public buses and caring for our loved ones with COVID-19. Now is the time to give back to our everyday heroes: our essential workers and their families.”
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, child care programs have remained open to serve families. Currently, more than 4,000 licensed child care programs are open in the county, according to Solis’ office.
The county Department of Public Health’s Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education, in partnership with the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles, will lead the program, to be funded with $15 million in federal CARES Act funding that the Board of Supervisors in July allocated for essential workers and low-income families.
Eligible working parents must live in Los Angeles County, require child care to perform their essential work, and be unable to work remotely. Essential workers are people who work in the healthcare industry, emergency services, food and agriculture industries, or in any other business sector currently open, according to the state’s most recent guidelines.
Families seeking child care may access vouchers by calling 888-92- CHILD (888-922-4453) or by visiting ccala.net. Income eligibility for the vouchers are set by the state.
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Bug Man says
For 33 years I too would not know what was behind the door when on service calls, and I too did not sign up to be exposed to any kind of virus but it is reality, it happens.
Union Buster says
I agree with Taxpayer. This article is about spending $$$ to get people back to work claiming childcare as an obstacle. It’s not about bringing COVID home. Matt, you have missed the point.
Matt says
I know exactly what the article was about. If u notice I wasnt responding to the article. I was responding only to taxpayers comment of I knew this was coming when I signed up for my job. (Being an essential worker). Union buster, u missed my point, and the only point I was making.
Taxpayer says
$15 million spent in a 3 month span. Essential workers as well as everyone else know what they signed up for. Care for their children which they created, not me the taxpayer, should be responsible for their own care.
Matt says
I’m deemed an essential worker. I am just a cable guy, but I have to go into people’s homes every day not knowing what’s on the other side of that door. Now I dont need the grant and wont be going after it, but if u think when I “signed up” up to be a cable guy, I had in the back of my mind, I could catch a virus that I could take home that could possible kill me, my family, friends, and my parents that there isnt a vaccine for yet, u are insane. Why? Because it didnt exist!!! Fall off a pole or a ladder? Yes, I signed up for that. Possibly kill every one I love? Gonna have to give u a no on that one, I didnt sign up for that. There are alot more people deemed essential employees than u realize