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Using the same model as Parent and Caregiver Cafés, Connecting California Families (CCF) supports the production and delivery of Provider Cafés focusing on peer-to-peer learning and discussion among family child care (FCC) and family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers. As a component of TIC Cohorts, CCF offers financial and technical assistance to agencies hosting Parent Cafes across the state.
Key topics including Trauma-Informed Care and Zero to Three's The Growing Brain, served valuable spaces for reflection, community-building, and ongoing learning. CCF provided partner agencies with additional funding to facilitate “Enrichment Cafes,” a standalone version of the Cafe offered virtually to increase accessibility statewide.
In January 2023, Connecting California Families (CCF) was appointed as the lead agency in the state to plan, produce, and deliver statewide Trauma Informed Care (TIC) training for Family Child Care (FCC) and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) child care providers. This is currently made possible by funding allocated to Service Employees International Union Education and Support Fund (SEIU ESF) due to a partnership between the state and the largest child care union in the state, Child Care Providers United-CA (CCPU).
The goal of this training is to increase the number and capacity of trauma-informed professionals in child care agencies and to strengthen support for children who experience trauma in early childhood.
As the lead coordinator, CCF offers financial and technical assistance to ensure that partnered agencies are equipped with the tools, curriculum, and understanding to facilitate TIC training for their local communities. On an ongoing basis, partner agencies organize TIC learning cohorts attended by local providers.
TIC learning cohorts consist of the following components:
8-hour Trauma Informed Care Training (supported by BRIDGE curriculum)
3 Provider Cafés
"A strengths-based service delivery approach that is grounded in an understanding of a responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment."
- SAMHSA
Between 2023 and 2025, Connecting California Families has facilitated 163 TIC cohorts to support early childhood professionals with trauma informed care.
Providers in Santa Cruz wanted to take their experience with the TIC training and cafes to the next level. These providers built strong bonds through completing the 8 hour TIC training and 3 cafes hosted by Child Development Resource Center, Santa Cruz. With the momentum of these new relationships, the providers formed the Watsonville Child Care Association and are in the process of incorporating as a nonprofit entity.
This nonprofit allows the Association to leverage additional services including but not limited to: licensure assistance, child care referrals and subsidies, and shared resources. These providers are enhancing their capacity to meet the needs of their community. The foundation laid by Child Development Resource Center means that the child care community is now stronger in Santa Cruz.
