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California’s Child Care Providers Applaud Significant Investments in Child Care Laid Out in Senate Budget Blueprint

For Immediate Release 
April 16, 2026
Contact: Maya Polon

(Sacramento, Calif.) The more than 70,000 family child care providers represented by Child Care Providers United (CCPU) applaud today’s release of a Senate Budget Proposal, which reflects the priorities providers and parents are continuing to fight for. The following statement can be attributed to Maria Elena Millings, a family child care provider from Ventura County and a member of CCPU:

“Providers and parents have organized for decades for increased investments to stabilize and expand access to child care, and today’s Senate’s proposal, paired with the Governor’s January budget proposal, shows that leaders in Sacramento are listening. The Senate’s blueprint introduces 44,000 new child care slots and, coupled with the Governor’s proposed cost of living increase, makes significant strides in keeping provider doors open and meeting families’ needs. 

“We are committed to fight alongside the Senate leaders to win these funds in the final budget and to pair this expansion of slots with additional investments to increase provider pay, which averages only $7-10 per hour. A final budget that fails to also invest in provider pay increases carries the risk of providers being forced to close and fewer early childhood educators entering the profession to care for California’s children.

“These investments are a great step towards the child care system we need and make no mistake: they are a direct reflection of years of organizing by parents and family child care providers like me. We have fought tirelessly to win our union and a voice in the Capitol to make sure that providers and families aren’t left behind by an outdated system that deprives us of sustainable pay. At the same time, parents need the freedom to choose the child care option that works best for them, which vouchers help ensure are available to them. Expanded access to flexible spaces will ensure child care remains affordable for working parents and create long term economic growth for the state.

“We are pleased that pro Tem Limón, who has long been a champion for child care providers, has again demonstrated her commitment to early childhood education in her first budget blueprint as pro Tem. We are also grateful to Senators Laird, Menjivar, and Renée Pérez for standing side-by-side with the pro Tem to build a quality, equitable, and flexible early childhood education system in California, anchored by family child care providers. We are also appreciative of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus for their tireless leadership on the priorities of child care providers and the families who rely on us.

“We must also commit to UnRigging California’s economy by ensuring California’s corporations pay their fair share and exploring new ways to find sustainable revenue to be invested in the common good. We were glad to see a step towards this included in this blueprint. Providers and the families we serve have built California into the world’s fourth largest economy, and it’s time that our state recognizes the tremendous return on investment that comes with bolstering our child care infrastructure.

“This blueprint is an important step towards building child care infrastructure that meets the needs of those who depend on it every day. A strong child care system requires sustained investment, and we cannot afford reductions now or in future years that would undermine the historic progress providers have fought for. We are paying close attention to what happens next, and call on the Assembly and Governor to follow the Senate’s lead.”

Our Perspectives

Access your portal

Step 1

Go to portal site.

Go to www.MyParticipantEdge.com

STEP 2

Click “Create Account.”

step 3

Complete the following fields, using the information provided in the benefits letter you received.

  • User Type: Member
  • Email: Enter your email address and confirm your email
  • First and Last Name: Enter your first and last name
  • SSN/SIN: Enter the last 4 digits of the Retirement Identification Number you received from your benefits letter. Do not enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
  • Date of Birth: Enter your actual date of birth. If this doesn’t work, then enter the temporary date of birth from your benefits letter.
  • Zip Code/Postal Code: Enter the zip code exactly as written on your benefits letter
step 4

Click “Next” and the following screen displays

Enter the password, and three Security Questions and answers, and select the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy checkbox.

step 5

Click Finish, the account is created, and you are returned to the initial screen (see following screen example)

You will also receive an access code which will be sent to the email that you entered when you created your account. Note: Each time you log in from a new computer/device, you must enter a new access code.

step 6

From the initial screen, enter the email address you used to set up your account and password, and click Login

step 7

Enter the access code you received in your email to access the Dashboard screen

If you have any questions, or would like assistance registering your portal, call our CCPU Provider Resource Center at (888) 583-CCPU (2278) or PRC@ccpuca.org.

Info Sessions Recordings:

July 9 CCPU Retirement Fund Info Session

July 18 CCPU Retirement Fund Info Session

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions in the FAQ section below.

Are the benefits from the Retirement Plan taxable income to me?

The State contributions to your Retirement Plan account are not taxable to you until you receive a distribution. There may be distributions options to defer those taxes.

When can I sign up for the Retirement Fund and where can I learn more?

Eligible providers are automatically enrolled in the retirement fund. However, the administrator, Zenith American Solutions, will ask eligible providers to update necessary information. It is important to provide this information so that your records are accurate, and to avoid delays accessing your account.



If you believe you are eligible, but have not received this mail, you may contact the CCPU Provider Resource Center for assistance at (888) 583-CCPU (2278) or PRC@ccpuca.org.

Have more questions?

If you have additional questions, you can call the CCPU Provider Resource Center at 888-583-CCPU (2278) from 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday or email at PRC@ccpuca.org.

WHAT – What benefits does the Retirement Fund expect to offer providers?

Expand the Retirement Fund Benefits Table to see benefits.

 Plan Rules
Eligible participants*

You are eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan for a 2024 contribution if you are:

  • A licensed child care provider
  • Who has been paid 6 or more months of child subsidy in the 2023 calendar year (can be non-consecutive months).
Eligibility for benefit credit for contributions in 2024*You will earn your full service credits for 2023 if you were paid for ten or more months of child subsidy in 2023. If you were paid for 6 or more months of child subsidy, you will receive 60% of your service credits, 70% for 7 months, 80% for 8 months and 90% for 9 months. You will not earn any service credit if you were paid for less than 6 months.
ContributionsThe only contributions to the Retirement Plan will be paid from funding won through the CCPU collective bargaining agreement. The Plan does not accept contributions from you.
Amount of annual employer contributions for 2024 service allocable to participants in 2025*You will earn one full service credit for the State contribution on your behalf in 2025 if you were paid for ten or more months of child subsidy in 2024. If you were paid for 6 to 9 months in 2024, you will receive a pro-rated service credit. You will not earn any service credit if you were paid for less than 6 months in 2024.
VestingYou are “vested” in any contribution correctly made to your account. You do not need to work a minimum number of years before 2024 to be entitled to a benefit.
Distribution events

You can elect to receive your account when:

  • You stop all work as a licensed provider paid for state subsidized child care for 9 consecutive months at any age (“terminate from service”);
  • You stop all work as a licensed provider paid for state subsidized child care for 3 consecutive months at age 60 or older (“retirement”); or
  • You attain age 73, which is the age you are required to start receiving payments, unless you are still working.
Forms of distributions

If you are age 60 or older and stop all work as a licensed provider for 3 consecutive months and elect to retire, you can choose to receive your account balance as:

  • One lump-sum payment
  • Approximately equal monthly payments for 5 years
  • Approximately equal monthly payments for 10 years

If you are younger than age 60 and stop all work as a licensed provider for 9 consecutive months, you can only elect to receive your account as one lump-sum payment.

Death benefitsSince your account is 100% vested, you can designate a beneficiary (or multiple beneficiaries) to receive your account balance if you die before you receive it.
InvestmentsThe Board of Trustees will manage how the Retirement Plan is invested on your behalf, with the assistance of investment professionals.

*Special rules apply to providers where more than one provider is on the payment record.

who

Who is eligible for the Retirement Fund benefits?

State contributions to the Retirement Plan are tied to the child care subsidy program. To be eligible for retirement benefits in 2024, you must be a licensed provider who has have been paid for work with a subsidized child in at least 6 months in 2023-these months do not need to be consecutive. License exempt providers are not eligible; however, if you become licensed in a year, your work in that year may count for eligibility.

when

When will the benefits be available?

Contributions to the Retirement Plan are tied to the child care subsidy program. To be eligible for retirement benefits in 2024, you must be a licensed provider who has have been paid for work with a subsidized child in at least 6 months in 2023-these months do not need to be consecutive. License exempt providers are not eligible; however, if you become licensed in a year, your work in that year may count for eligibility.

how

How can I get help enrolling?

If you are eligible, the Plan will automatically enroll you based on data received by the State of California. You should immediately update your information with the Plan so it has has all of your current information and you receive credit for your years of licensed work.