LEAP: Childcare receives grant amid financial shortfall in Goleta

GOLETA, Calif. – Kids have their hands full here at the LEAP childcare center in Goleta.

So does the LEAP staff.

“LEAP is growing by leaps and bounds … and there is a childcare crisis in this county we are really good at caring for children so we want to do more of it," said executive director Lori Goodman of LEAP.

According to the LEAP team, Santa Barbara County has a shortage of affordable childcare facilities, with three to four children vying for each open spot.

In addition, this past year LEAP experienced a major financial shortfall.

But thanks to a $120,000 grant from the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara, LEAP is able to pay for the financial gap.

“It’s providing gap funding … and really helping us make ends meet," said Goodman.

Despite financial challenges, LEAP is expanding its services.

"In the fall of 2024 … we will add 52 spaces … 28 of them will be infant and toddler spaces in our Lompoc location." said program director Serineh Vartani of LEAP.

While LEAP is currently serving 134 children here in Goleta, they believe there’s still more work to be done.

"Absolutely so we are excited to partner with developers and organizations who will participate and provide us facilities, so we can take care of the childcare part of it," said Vartani.

The organization supports low-income families that might not otherwise be able to afford childcare.

Directors at the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara hope the grant will allow LEAP to continue providing

quality childcare.

LEAP is a state-funded childcare center for young, underprivileged children in southern Santa Barbara County.

For more information about LEAP, visit: https://leapcentralcoast.org/.