Latest News & Updates

Thank you to all the families and community participants that made Connections for Children’s first inaugural Play Together, Grow Together: A Family Learning Festival a success. The vibrant and engaging event brought together over 450 children and adults to foster meaningful connections for children through hands-on learning experiences with their families and interactions with the surrounding community. Families were encouraged to take in the moments of play to observe what made their children excited to learn. 

Did you know that by becoming a Trauma-Informed Provider, you can earn a higher subsidy rate for children enrolled in CFC’s Santa Monica Early Education Program?

Connections for Children’s (CFC) Play Together, Grow Together: A Family Learning Festival is a new event created to directly support our community! This FREE learning festival will bring together children and families for interactive, nature-inspired activities that encourage healthy parent and child interactions and foster a love of learning. Families will enjoy hands-on activities while accessing valuable health and well-being resources.

Save the Date: Trauma-Informed Care Conference 2025
Connections for Children is thrilled to announce the return of our Trauma-Informed Care Conference for Child Care Providers! 

Connections for Children (CFC) launched a free professional development series for existing and potential Family Child Care (FCC) providers in partnership with the nonprofit organization, All our Kin, to help FCCs build and maintain sustainable businesses. This 10-week program is part of CFC’s Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) and covers key topics such as contracts and policies, marketing, risk management, accounting, and tax record keeping. At the end of this series, participants will receive a certificate of completion as well as 34 professional development hours. 

Connections for Children (CFC) is strengthening its leadership team to enhance support for families and early educators. Jennifer Cowan has been promoted to CEO, Dr. Jessica Reynaga to Chief Program Officer, and Patricia Oliver joins as Chief Operating Officer. Together, they will drive CFC’s mission forward, expanding programs, increasing impact, and ensuring equitable access to quality early care and education.

In light of the recent Los Angeles wildfires, Connections for Children hosted an emergency response, free Air Purifier & Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution Event for child care providers. The event took place on Saturday, February 8th at our corporate office located in Westchester and was a drive-thru distribution. Materials for the event were donated by our partners at Baby 2 Baby and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education (OAECE). Thanks to our wonderful partners, CFC staff, and the unwavering commitment of our providers, the event was a huge success!

Connections for Children's pleased to announce it has appointed Patricia Oliver as its new Chief Operating Officer, bringing over two decades of leadership experience in education, public relations, and community development. A South Los Angeles native, Oliver is committed to strengthening operations and expanding the organization’s impact on children, families, and early childhood education.