The Long Beach Early Learning Hub (Hub) is your one stop shop for child care — find and understand your options, get funded, and enroll in child care — all in one application. The Hub connects families to multiple childcare providers and child care funding opportunities in Long Beach.

The Hub is currently in Phase 1, working with a small group of child care partners. Over the next year we will broaden the options available, including: state preschool programs, in-home family child care providers, private preschools, infant toddler care providers, and faith based child care programs, to name a few.

Have a provider you wish was on the Hub? Email us at info@thehubLB.org.

There are a wide range of diverse early learning and child care options throughout Greater Long Beach. While learning philosophy, quality standards, curriculum, and cultural contexts may vary, there are some common things to look for when seeking quality child care for your little one, such as: child/teacher ratio, relationships and teaching practices, developmentally appropriate activities, curriculum, professionalism of the staff, the physical environment, program leadership, and more. Check out the below resources to learn more about choosing child care:

What To Look For in a Program by NAEYC

Family Choices for Early Learning and Care by First5 OC

Selecting a Child Care Provider by Child Care Aware of America

If you're interested in receiving financial assistance for child care, program eligibility depends on numerous factors, such as: need, income, and family size. Once you complete your application, the Hub can share a list of programs that you may be eligible for based on the financial information you have provided. Eligibility list does not guarantee a child care spot. Individual child care providers must certify your eligibility to enroll your child(ren).

Hub application overview:

• Create an Account with your personal information

• Enter your Financial information (if applicable)

• Enter your Child’s Information

• Choose your Preferred Child Care Providers

• Upload Necessary Documentation

• Submit!

Turn around times may vary depending on accuracy of application, child care availability, and staff capacity to process applications.

The Hub application is available in English, Spanish, and Khmer. Select your language by clicking the language button in the top right corner.

All Hub applications are processed in the order they are received. Once you are connected to a provider, they can best inform you if there are funding and enrollment priorities that impact your application.

To add supporting documents, please take a look at this article.

The Hub team will be hosting Hub pop-ups in the near future, where applicants can get access to and help completing the application. Check our events page to view upcoming enrollment events.

Once your application is submitted you will receive notification (email or text) that your application is being reviewed. If your application is missing information or if a funding opportunity requires additional documentation, the Hub team will contact you via email or text to get that information prior to submitting your application to your preferred providers. The Hub team will review your completed application and then send it to your provider(s) of choice. You will receive notification once you have been connected to a child care provider and are in their enrollment queue to be processed. (Please check your spam folder, if you do not receive this notification in your main e-mail folder.) An enrollment specialist will reach out within 5 business days with information on any additional next steps. Incomplete applications and missing documentation may delay this process.

Yes, Be sure to save your username and password after registering. You can alway log back into your account.

Step by step instructions on how to update your application are here: LBEL Hub FAQ: How do I update my application?

Once your application is complete, we will connect you to your chosen child care provider(s). Once in their queue you will be enrolled and waitlisted based on the individual providers’ waitlist policies. Hub staff will work with you to identify open spaces available throughout this process so that you can adjust your chosen provider if the waitlist timing does not meet your needs.

The Hub is currently in Phase 1 and we are working with a small number of providers at this time; as such availability may be limited. If your application is accurate and complete, and there is a spot available at your chosen childcare provider, you should hear from them within 5 business days.

If you qualify for subsidized childcare, enrollment priority is based on family size, income and need. Based on those factors, as determined by the California Department of Education or Social Services, families are given a ranking #. When funding and/or vacancies become available, the provider will contact parents listed on the waiting list based on their eligibility ranking # as prioritized by the corresponding funding source. It is important to keep your contact, income, and family size information up to date as this directly impacts your eligibility ranking.

The Long Beach Early Learning Hub centralized enrollment system and universal application are available free of cost to parents. Cost of child care varies and is dependent on the care option you choose and if you qualify for financial assistance. Several financial assistance programs are available and depend on: your income, family size, and the reason you are seeking child care.

Yes, before submitting your application, you will be shown programs you may qualify for. The Long Beach Early Learning Hub is currently in Phase 1. We hope to onboard additional providers and connect families to additional financial assistance programs as we grow. Additional childcare financial assistance programs are available through our partners at Children's Home Society of California.

California's subsidized childcare programs provide a service to the most in-need families. They give parents the freedom to work and provide for their family while ensuring that their children receive safe, stimulating, and nurturing care. Currently, to qualify for state-subsidized childcare a family must earn 85% or less of the state median household income. Other factors will be taken into consideration like family living situation, school zone, child’s exceptional needs, and if a parent is participating in a government program.

The Hub is currently in Phase 1 of development. You can see the providers we are currently working with by visiting the “Find a Provider” section of the Hub website. Here you will be able to search current Hub providers that meet your family's unique needs. We plan to onboard additional providers throughout the next two years.

We recognize the greater Long Beach area has many quality providers that are not currently connected to the Hub. You can find providers by searching the Child Care licensing listserv, (click on childcare from the dropdown list), providers participating in QSLA at their participant list Quality Starts LA, or by reaching out to our partners and searching the Children's Home Society of California database.