Plaza de la Raza, Child Development Services Inc.

Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, Inc. (Plaza) is dedicated toward improving the quality of life for residents in the Los Angeles County area.   Its basic mission is to provide an exemplary program of comprehensive services to children and their families.  Plaza develops partnerships and alliances with private industry and government institutions to better serve the public.  Plaza's basic programs include the Head Start/State Preschool Program (Half-Day Sessions and Full-Day/Full-Year Programs), Early Head Start Program, General Child Care Program, and collaborative agreements with employers to provide programs for their employees.

Plaza's Head Start/State Preschool Program was established in 1965 and currently operates 30 centers and 5 Family Child Care Providers strategically located in Los Angeles County, from East Los Angeles, North East to South East Los Angeles, and San Gabriel Valley.  The program offers education, family and community partnerships, health, mental health, disabilities, and nutrition services to more than 2,500 of children and their families.

The program provides critical interventions in substance abuse, employment, literacy and child care to eligible families.  Plaza's objective is to increase access and effective community service resources to families in the targeted communities.  Plaza believes that providing such resources as education, training, and information can reduce, if not eliminate, the causes or effects of poverty and help alleviate the economic conditions of families.