Articles from Upwards

Upwards, a national child care benefits platform, has been selected by United Way of North Central Massachusetts as the technology and child care payment partner for a new shared-funding child care program serving employees of Heywood Healthcare. The program is funded through the Commonwealth's Employer Child Care Innovation Fund (ECCIF), part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's nearly $2 million investment to expand employer-supported child care across Massachusetts, and is described by project leaders as the first of its kind in Massachusetts.

Upwards released a comprehensive impact assessment today for the second year of the Park City and Summit County Needs-Based Child Care Scholarship Programs, revealing significant gains in enrollment and community-wide economic returns. The programs served 162 families and 186 children through 32 care providers, marking 30% growth over Year 1. The results demonstrate a compelling return: for every dollar invested, the community realized $4.25 in measurable economic value, reflecting a 325% return on the cumulative $1.56 million two-year investment.

Since 2022, more than 380 children and their families across Los Angeles and Kern Counties have accessed subsidized child care through the Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN), operated by Upwards with funding from the California Department of Social Services through the General Child Care and Development (CCTR) program. Families received subsidized care, with tuition partially or fully covered based on income, while providers gained access to coaching, resources, and operational support. In FY 2024–2025 alone, the program helped generate an estimated $6.1 million in economic value, including $3.8 million in wages for parents who were able to stay employed or return to work, and $2.2 million in revenue for child care providers, reflecting a 229% return on investment.

The County of San Diego is expanding its investment in local childcare infrastructure with the new Boost program. This 12-month initiative, led by Upwards, a nationwide childcare network, will support a total of 109 licensed home-based providers throughout the County, with business coaching, hiring assistance, and technology tools that improve day-to-day operations and childcare availability. New efforts are launching in the unincorporated County, as well as Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach, joining Chula Vista and Escondido, where the program is entering its second and third year with demonstrated increases in provider capacity and financial stability.

Several Bay Area municipalities are expanding efforts to support local childcare providers through the Upwards Boost program. Upwards, a nationwide childcare network, is launching new initiatives in Daly City, Mountain View, County of Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale—joining cities like San Jose, San Mateo, and Palo Alto in strengthening the region’s childcare ecosystem.

The City of Pico Rivera is leading the way as the first in Los Angeles County to invest in local childcare providers through a new partnership with Upwards, a national childcare network. Upwards’ Boost program will provide no-cost business and technical support to 14 local childcare micro-enterprises, helping them strengthen their operations, expand capacity, and create more childcare opportunities for families.

A newly released impact report highlights the first-year success of the Needs-Based Childcare Scholarship Program, demonstrating significant economic benefits and increased workforce stability. Administered by Upwards and funded by Park City with a $1 million investment and Summit County with $485,000, the program has enabled 125 local families with 150 children to afford quality childcare, while supporting the sustainability of 28 local child care businesses. The report finds that every dollar invested in the program generated at least $3.13 in economic impact, delivering a strong return for the community.

The City of San Jose has allocated over $1 million to support local childcare businesses through the Upwards Boost program. The program will provide no-cost business and technical assistance to 131 childcare providers in the community. The investment aims to improve operational efficiency, increase enrollment, create new jobs, and enhance the quality of care offered by local childcare providers.

The Town of Tonawanda and Upwards, a national childcare network and technology company, have partnered to launch a new childcare provider support program in New York State. Upwards’ Boost program aims to strengthen local licensed childcare providers by offering free business support to streamline operations, increase enrollment, and expand childcare availability. Funded by the Town of Tonawanda’s Community Development Block Grant program, this initiative is expected to create new childcare jobs and enhance childcare accessibility within the community.

Upwards, a nationwide childcare network and technology company, announced today the opening of enrollment for Army Reserve families in Central and Northern California as part of the U.S. Army Reserve Childcare Pilot Program launched last year.

Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) is taking a big step forward in supporting its student parents. Recognizing the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with studies, the college has partnered with Upwards, a leading childcare network, to offer a range of childcare resources to student-parents.

Summit County, Park City Municipal and Upwards, a leading childcare network, announced the expansion of the Childcare Needs-Based Scholarship Program. This new chapter broadens the program's geographical reach, to all those who live and work throughout Summit County, addressing the vital need for accessible quality childcare in the Wasatch Back.

Upwards, a leading national childcare network, will receive funding from the City of Bellevue, WA, to bolster local childcare providers. Through the BOOST program, Upwards will offer free business solutions aimed at reducing administrative work, increasing enrollments and childcare spots as well as creating new job opportunities within the community.

Upwards (formerly WeeCare), the leading national childcare network and care benefits company, today announced that it has closed a $21 million Series B financing round led by Alpha Edison, with participation from existing investors M13 and Fika Ventures. With this latest round, the company's total funding reaches $43.3 million, making it one of the most notable investments in childcare companies in recent years.

WeeCare, the leading national childcare network, today announced its new name and brand identity: Upwards. The company is taking a major step to amplify its impact in the care industry by expanding its mission to provide comprehensive care solutions for U.S. families. As Upwards enters a new growth cycle, it remains steadfast in its commitment to childcare, while also planning to include other types of care that meet the unique needs of families.