We create
positive change

Child Development Associates

Child Development Associates, Inc. (CDA) is a community based, non-profit agency with over 270 employees dedicated to creating positive change in our local community. We believe that all families deserve equal access to supportive services that will promote children’s healthy development and future success.

Mission:
To encourage and support the success and well-being of children, families, and the child care community.

Alternative Payment Program

Child care reimbursement for parents who can’t afford child care on their own. We help children learn while parents earn.

Nutrition Program

Nutrition education and reimbursements to ensure family child care providers serve nutritious meals to the children in their care.

Our Aim is to Create
Positive Change

Raising a family in the state of California is expensive. Low-income families struggle to make ends meet and are unable to afford the necessary child care services. CDA has made it its mission to provide families with the resources necessary to reach self-sufficiency and succeed in life.

“I want to help make the world a better place.”

Charlene Tressler, CDA Founder

Founded By a Single Mom, Who Wanted to Make a Difference

CDA was founded by Charlene Tressler in 1974, who through her personal struggles as a single parent, became committed to helping families. Charlene opened a small child development center at a local church in Otay Mesa, consisting of 24 children aged two to five huddled together in one classroom. Her vision of a small community preschool has evolved into what is now a multi-service nonprofit agency with over 240 employees serving more than 22,000 children across its programs. CDA is now the fourth largest Alternative Payment Program in the State of California and the largest sponsor of the Federal USDA Child Care Food Program in California.

Our Impact

Children
supported

Child care providers
reimbursed

Nutritious meals
served

Impact Numbers from September 2022

Learn more about how CDA supported essential workers, families, and child care providers in our Annual Report and COVID-19 Program Status.

Annual Report

COVID-19 Program Status

Our Leaders

Read Bio
Rick Richardson

President and CEO

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Norma Hernandez

Vice President, Operations, Human Resources, and Organizational Development

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Jorge Hernandez

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

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Jolie Buberl

Vice President, Family and Provider Programs

Join Our Team!

The people here at CDA create a career of creating positive change. We’re proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that values our diverse workforce. Join CDA, and help us leave the world better than we found it. Learn more about CDA life here:

Careers

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CDA Reimbursement Schedule
Family is authorized with a variable schedule

Variable schedules are reimbursed for the actual care hours provided that are within the hours authorized. The reimbursement will not exceed the amount billed by the provider or the full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) RMRC listed on the certificate for child care services. CDA will not reimburse for child absences, provider holiday or closure days on a variable schedule. If the full billed/invoiced amount is not paid, the parent is responsible for the difference directly to the provider.

Reimbursement of provider non-operation days/holidays

The number of reimbursable provider holidays and/or non-operation days is limited to a maximum of 10 days per fiscal year. Once these allowable limits are exceeded, reimbursement will be prorated for future closure days.

Reimbursement of registration fees, material fees, insurance fees

Fees for registration, material and/or insurance may be reimbursed if the current reimbursement amount does not exceed the Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC). Reimbursement of these fees is limited to one (1) per child, per fiscal year and will be made in a single payment when requested on the child’s attendance record.

Note: For providers with programs that have multiple fees in one year or where it has been determined that the reimbursement amount exceeds the RMRC, the excess fees will be the responsibility of the parent.

License-Exempt Providers

When child care is authorized for a total of 25 or more hours per week the Full Time Weekly RMRC will be used. When child care is authorized for a total of less than 25 hours per week the Part Time RMRC will be used.

View the State’s RMRC by County See the full Program Guidelines

Congratulations! You may be eligible for CDA’s program.

Let’s get started:

We’re sorry, you may not be eligible for CDA’s program.

If you would like to receive a personal eligibility screening, please complete the form below:

We’re sorry, it appears you may have different need for child care services than those listed.

To receive a personal eligibility screening, please call us at: (619) 427-4411 ext. 1400