FAQ’s

What does Crystal Stairs do?
Do you make chandeliers or staircases?
How are you funded?
Do you only help low-income families and families receiving welfare cash assistance?
Do you have Crystal Stairs’ in other states?
How long have you been around?
What areas do you serve?
Where are you located?
What are your hours?

What does Crystal Stairs do?
Crystal Stairs is one of the largest private, nonprofit child care and child development agencies in California. Founded in 1980, our mission is to improve the lives of families through child care services, research and advocacy. We do this primarily by helping families find licensed child care and, for those who qualify, we can also pay for child care.

We provide training, resources and technical assistance to child care providers to enhance the quality of their care and their skills to grow and sustain their businesses

Finally, we provide a number of programs and services that support healthy living, child care advocacy, parent training and empowerment, and family economic independence.

Do you make chandeliers or staircases?
No, but we know why you would ask that. Our name comes from the Langston Hughes’ poem, “Mother to Son,” a favorite poem of one of our founders. A mother tells her son “my life ain’t been no crystal stair… but all the time, I’se been a- climbin’ on.” For us, these words describe the world we know exists as well as the one we hope to create for children and families.

How are you funded?
We are funded from a variety of sources. Most of our funding comes from federal, state and local government contracts. Over 90% of this funding goes right through our doors to pay providers caring for children enrolled in one of our four child care subsidy programs. These programs allow low-income parents to have child care that enables them to work, seek work or attend school/training with the goal of becoming economically self-sufficient.

We also receive funding from corporations, foundations and individual donors. These dollars enable us to do very important work that cannot be funded through our government contracts. Projects funded from these sources include: provider quality accreditation and training to serve children with special needs; free breast cancer detection and enrollment of low-income families in free/low-cost health insurance programs; and community-based child care advocacy training for parents and child care providers.

Do you only help low-income families and families receiving welfare cash assistance?
No. All families regardless of their income can use our free Child Care Resource & Referral Service to locate appropriate child care that meets their needs.

Our three largest child care subsidy programs are specifically targeted to low-income families who are current or former welfare cash assistance recipients who need child care so they can work, seek work or attend school/training.

Our other program is for all low-income families who need child care regardless of their status with the welfare system. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, there are more eligible families on the waiting list for this program than are actually enrolled on it. If it were up to us, we would try to help every family who needs it.

Do you have Crystal Stairs’ in other states?
No, there is only one Crystal Stairs and we are located in Los Angeles. However, there are other agencies in California and across the nation that do work similar to ours. To find them in California, call (800) 543-7793. For agencies in other states, call (800) 424-2246.

How long have you been around?
We have been in existence since July 1, 1980.

What areas do you serve?
We serve a 101-square mile area comprised of 28 zip codes that include city and county areas of South Los Angeles as well as the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena

Our boundaries are: the Santa Monica (10) Freeway to the north; the southern borders of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena; La Cienega Blvd. to the west; and Alameda Street to the east.

Where are you located?
Our office is located in the Ladera Heights area at 5110 W. Goldleaf Circle, Suite 150, Los Angeles 90056. We also operate the Nickerson Gardens SAGE Child Care Center at 1450 E. 114th Street, Los Angeles 90059.

What are your hours?
Our business office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.