CDA Annual Report 2025 - Flipbook - Page 3
Message from the CEO
Dear Friends,
2025 was a year of remarkable achievement. Building on the momentum of our 50th anniversary, CDA accomplished
more than ever before: expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and meeting the rising needs of families and child
care providers with innovation, ef昀椀ciency, and unwavering dedication. The need for child care support has never been
greater. Families across California face rising costs and limited access to quality care, while child care providers navigate
operational challenges and 昀椀nancial pressures that threaten their ability to sustain their businesses. In response, CDA
showed up with clarity, consistency, and solutions that work.
Our strength lies in our ability to adapt and innovate while staying true to our mission. CDA has evolved to meet the
changing needs of our community, and 2025 was no exception. Through steady support and personal guidance, we walk
alongside families and providers through complex systems, helping them access resources, build stability, and move
toward their goals. This approach de昀椀nes who we are and the kind of change we create.
This year, CDA served thousands of families and children, distributed substantial payments to providers across our
state. Our ability to ef昀椀ciently administer large-scale programs with precision and accountability has earned the trust
of the California Department of Social Services. We expanded programs designed to address emerging needs: new
approaches to family economic mobility, nature-based learning for providers, strengthened business support systems,
and continued delivery of California’s largest nutrition reimbursement program. Beyond direct services, we remain an
active voice in advocacy and policy engagement, ensuring that the needs of children, families, and child care providers
are represented where decisions are made.
In 2026, we will continue to innovate, expand our services, and respond to the evolving needs of our community with the
same commitment and care that has de昀椀ned CDA since 1974. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. I invite
you to explore this year’s annual report to see how, together, we empower families and child care providers to thrive.
With gratitude,
Rick Richardson
President and CEO
