4Cs provides step-by-step guidance for individuals interested in starting a family child care business and becoming licensed. Support includes:

• Pre-licensing visits and assistance navigating state licensing requirements.

• Business foundations training to help providers establish strong operational practices

• Opportunities for start-up grants to purchase instructional materials and program supplies.

Through Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, FCC providers receive tailored advanced business training and expert consulting for long-term success. Renaissance offers:

• Advanced Business Courses on marketing, branding, and financial sustainability.

• One-on-one consulting with business experts.

• Opportunities for growth grants to expand and strengthen FCC businesses.

FCC Pathways Program helps providers grow their businesses through targeted outreach and client retention strategies, including:

• Utilizing the statewide resource and referral database MyChildCarePlan (MCCP).

• Technical assistance and support in creating and maintaining an MCCP profile, along with ongoing referrals from 4Cs.

4Cs’ FCC Pathways Ambassador Program connects newly licensed providers with experienced FCC professionals who serve as mentors. Ambassadors provide:

• Peer support and hands-on guidance to strengthen business operations.

• Best practices for curriculum, family engagement, networking, and client retention.

Providers have access to foundational business courses and professional development workshops in multiple languages (English, Spanish, and Chinese), including:

• Health and Safety Prerequisites such as Preventative Health and CPR/First Aid.

• Fundamentals of Family Child Care Series

• All Our Kin (AOK) Business Series

And other courses covering:

• Best practices in the field and quality improvement.

• Health and Safety and Licensing Regulation Updates.

• Family engagement and culturally responsive practices.

Melody Hung (she/her) is our bilingual Workforce Development Specialist supporting the Family Child Care (FCC) Pathways Program at 4Cs of San Mateo County. She helps individuals navigate the FCC Pathways Program by connecting them with the right people, training, and resources based on their needs.

Melody brings a warm, collaborative approach to her work and is fluent in English and Mandarin. With a background in child development—including experience providing developmental assessments and early intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders—as well as skills in business operations, she is passionate about supporting both aspiring family child care providers and existing business owners with sustainability and growth.

Interested in opening or growing a family child care business? Melody is here to help.

Contact Melody at: mhung@sanmateo4cs.org | 650-517-1449
Language: English and Mandarin

Maria Gavaldon (she/her/ella) is our bilingual Early Childhood Education Specialist supporting the Family Child Care (FCC) Pathways Program through the Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP). She supports individuals who want to start their own licensed family child care businesses, offering personalized support and guidance throughout the licensing process and beyond.

Maria has been with 4Cs for over three years and previously helped families access child care subsidies through our Eligibility Program. She brings a warm, culturally responsive approach to her work and is passionate about supporting new providers in our community.

Interested in opening a child care business? Maria is here to help.

Contact Maria at: mgavaldon@sanmateo4cs.org | 650-517-1446 

Language: English and Spanish

Emmy Shih (she/her) is our bilingual Early Childhood Education Specialist supporting the Family Child Care (FCC) Pathways Program through the Ambassador Program and All Our Kin business series. She works one-on-one with family child care providers, offering personalized coaching and support to strengthen quality practices and build sustainable child care businesses.

Emmy brings a warm, relationship-based approach to her work and is fluent in English and Mandarin. She is passionate about partnering with providers on their quality improvement journey—honoring each provider’s strengths, needs, and goals while fostering reflection, growth, and community connection.

Interested in sustaining your child care business? Emmy is here to help.

Contact Emmy at:
eshih@sanmateo4cs.org | 650-517-1448
Language: English and Mandarin