LA County secures $15M for childcare vouchers for essential workers, low-income families

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has allocated $15 million from its CARE Acts funding for childcare vouchers that will help essential workers and low-income families who are relying on daycare centers to take care of their kids while they are at work.

The amount of money translates to three months of childcare for 5,000 families, county Public Health Director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer told reporters Wednesday.

The Department of Public Health's Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education will lead the distribution of the funding in partnership with the LA County Early Childhood Education COVID-19 Response Team, which was created in March to support essential workers.

Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.

The Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education will contract with the Childcare Alliance, a network of LA County resource and referral alternative payment agencies, to distribute the vouchers. 

Ferrer said that in order to expedite the process, the funding will be infused into the county's existing voucher system.

RELATED: Stay up to date on all coronavirus-related information

She added that income eligibility will be set by the state at a later date.

Families seeking additional information about how they might access the vouchers were asked to call 888-922-4453.