MARIN COUNTY, CA – September 4, 2025 – Community Action Marin (CAM) announces its expansion of high-quality early education to 638 childcare slots with a renewed program model and an award of federal funding from the Office of Head Start. In addition, CAM and Child Start, Inc. (Child Start) are delighted to partner on increased services through Family Childcare Homes with a focus on hiring more contracted providers in targeted neighborhoods where there is the greatest need.
CAM is Marin County’s largest nonprofit provider of high-quality early childhood education services to families of low income, offering both free and affordable childcare with comprehensive services to support working families, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet, and to help people of extremely low income living at or below the federal poverty line. For 60 years, CAM has brought wraparound support as a Community Action Agency and Head Start grant recipient to people across generations.
In 2020, CAM blended federal, state, and local funding to increase quality, facilitate better access to programs and services that people need, ensure compliance, strengthen efficiencies, deepen partnerships with school districts and community organizations, and increase teacher pay to accelerate toward a living wage for all staff. This award of both Early Head Start (ages 0-3) and Head Start (ages 3-5) grants for CAM adds to extension funding previously awarded (July 2025) to total $4,951,737 in federal dollars for this fiscal year through June 30, 2026. Ongoing federal funding is committed for five years with this award through the standard renewal process. With a blended funding model and $18,577,989 in contracted state investment, CAM will increase its childcare slots from 500 to 638 for children ages 0-13 with comprehensive services for families offered through Center-based Early Learning, Family Childcare Homes, and Home Visiting.
CAM will operate 11 centers, 38 classrooms, and 10 Family Childcare Homes in high-need areas across Marin City, Novato, San Rafael, and West Marin. Home Visiting work will support 24 mothers and expectant mothers in their place of residence with guidance related to health, nutrition, and quality care. All enrolled families will receive comprehensive services to support healthy development and school readiness, including early education, health, and social support. For 60 years, CAM has also brought a Whole Family Approach to people across generations as a Community Action Agency offering wraparound services including public benefits, financial coaching, workforce development, housing navigation, and other programs.
Child Start, Inc. (“Child Start”) will be joining CAM in Marin County to offer Head Start services through a childcare partnership model (CCP), working with the community’s existing network of licensed Family Childcare Home providers to implement key components of the Head Start program into their business operations.
“We are honored to serve Marin County and work with its hardworking family childcare providers, leveraging our shared experiences in providing high-quality, comprehensive, early care and education services to meet the needs of children and families in high poverty areas,” stated Juan Cisneros, Executive Director for Child Start. “While our initial focus will be working with providers in Novato and San Rafael, we are pleased to work with CAM and other licensed childcare providers to offer services throughout the greater Marin community as needed.”
With the Marin County Head Start funding award, Child Start will be recruiting an additional 10 family childcare home providers, bringing its four-county network of CCP providers to 35. Child Start’s work with childcare partners has received national recognition from the Office of Head Start and regional and state associations who have asked Child Start to mentor and present CCP successes with other Head Start providers.
“This partnership and leverage of federal investment with Head Start will strengthen our community,” shared Chandra Alexandre, CEO, Community Action Marin. “We are eager to continue building the strong collaborations that are a hallmark of early childhood education in Marin County so that people can access the high-quality childcare services that they want while also ensuring family well-being, economic mobility, and pathways to stabilization—and beyond.”
CAM’s staffing is in place for the school year that launched successfully on August 13, 2025. Openings for teachers and other staff as sites are expanded will be listed on the agency’s website: camarin.org. Child Start will begin recruiting for Family Childcare Home providers, coaches, substitutes, and a program supervisor and coordinator immediately. For staff openings, please visit childstartinc.org or contact Alonso Duarte, Human Resources and Fiscal Director at (415) 713-3995 or aduarte@childstartinc.org.
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