Connecting Families with Early Learning Options

San Diego County families looking for childcare, preschool, or transitional kindergarten (TK) options — as well as before- and after-school care — can now find providers in a single place. 

Childcare San Diego serves as the region’s central platform for families trying to find early learning and care options. 

San Diego County's Local Child Care and Development Planning Council (LPC), which is co-governed by the County Board of Supervisors and SDCOE, recognized the need to support families needing care, make early education options more visible, and better coordinate a mixed-delivery system across the county. As part of the San Diego County Child Care Blueprint, the LPC committed to building a culturally and linguistically responsive navigation hub for local families.  

“Children experience transformational growth in their social and emotional learning in the first five years,” said Rita Palet, executive director of early education programs and service at SDCOE. “High-quality early learning programs help children develop self-awareness and regulation, find belonging, and prepare for school. Helping working families easily access this kind of care close to home supports our mission of reducing poverty through education by eliminating barriers to care, such as access and cost.”

Using funds from a state grant to expand care to pre-Kindergarten programs, the LPC partnered with First 5 San Diego, Child Development Associates, and the YMCA Childcare Resource Service to develop the online platform. 

Families can search for programs near home or work, view availability and eligibility information, and access a helpful tool that can connect them with the right care options. They can also indicate whether they need help with transportation, which is provided by many programs in the county.

Early learning and care providers can easily promote and manage their programs to reach families through the portal, and local educational agencies (LEAs) can connect with families in their area looking for TK or state-subsidized preschool. Providers and LEAs can work with the YMCA Childcare Resource Service to maintain and update their program information.

“At its core, Childcare San Diego is what coordinated regional planning looks like in action,” said Dezerie Martinez, coordinator for the LCP. “We are strengthening childcare and development services so every family throughout San Diego County has equitable access to quality early learning and care.”