Application / Eligibility & Need

Not sure which child care program is right for you? Start here to compare child care options, eligibility and need requirements across all our subsidized options and find your match.

CALWORKS STAGE 1

CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care helps families who get help from public programs. It works with the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to offer child care to adults who qualify. Some families can get child care in their own home. This help can last up to 24 months after a family stops getting cash aid, if they still qualify.

Eligibility / Need Requirements

How to Apply

CALWORKS STAGE 2

CalWORKs Stage 2 Child Care gives money to help families who used to get public assistance from the Department of Public Social Services. It can help families for up to 24 months after they stop getting cash aid, if they still qualify.

Eligibility / Need Requirements

Adult participant must meet only one (1) of these requirements:

Working or self-employed
Looking for a job
In job training
Going to school
Unable to work because of a disability
Looking for permanent housing
Have a child in Child Protective Services (CPS)
Have a child who is at risk
Or, have a family member who gets help from a government program that checks income, such as:
- Medi-Cal
- CalFresh
- California Food Assistance Program
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
- Federal Food Program on Indian Reservations
- Head Start or Early Head Start
- CalWORKs

Adult participant must also:

Be a current CalWORKs cash aid recipient; or
Have received CalWORKs cash aid in the last 24 months
Have a child age 12 or younger, or a special needs child age 13 to 21
Have income below the 85% State Median Income limit

How to Apply

CALWORKS STAGE 3

CalWORKs Stage 3 Child Care helps families who finished 24 months of help in Stage 1 or Stage 2. It makes sure child care keeps going without stopping.

Eligibility / Need Requirements

Adult participant must meet only one (1) of these requirements:

Working or self-employed
Looking for a job
In job training
Going to school
Unable to work because of a disability
Looking for permanent housing
Have a child in Child Protective Services (CPS)
Have a child who is at risk
Or, Have a family member who gets help from a government program that checks income, such as:
- Medi-Cal
- CalFresh
- California Food Assistance Program
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
- Federal Food Program on Indian Reservations
- Head Start or Early Head Start
- CalWORKs

Adult participant must also:

Have used up the family’s full 24 months of help in Stage 1 or Stage 2 (counting from when they stopped getting cash aid)
Have a child age 12 or younger, or a special needs child age 13 to 21
Have income below the 85% State Median Income limit

How to Apply

ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT

The Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) helps parents who work, go to school, or are in job training by paying part of their child care costs. To qualify, parents must meet state income rules and take part in approved activities. Payments go straight to the child care providers. This program is for parents who don’t qualify for CalWORKs Stage 1, 2, or 3.

Eligibility / Need Requirements

Adult participant must meet only one (1) of these requirements:

Working or self-employed
Looking for a job
In job training
Going to school
Unable to work because of a disability
Looking for permanent housing
Have a child in Child Protective Services (CPS)
Have a child who is at risk
Or have a family member who gets help from a government program that checks income, such as:
- Medi-Cal
- CalFresh
- California Food Assistance Program
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
- Federal Food Program on Indian Reservations
- Head Start or Early Head Start
- CalWORKs

Adult applicant must also:

Have a child age 12 or younger, or a special needs child age 13 to 21
Have income below the 85% State Median Income limit

In addition:
Enrollment in this program is based on Income Ranking.

How to Apply

BRIDGE PROGRAM

The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program works with the Department of Children and Family Services to help children in foster care and parenting youth in the foster care system. It gives short-term child care vouchers to foster families and foster youth who need help paying for child care. This support helps make sure children are placed in safe, stable homes and that caregivers, including young parents in foster care, get the help they need.

Services

The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program helps two groups. First, it helps families who want to take in a child from foster care but need help paying for child care. Second, it helps young parents who are in foster care and need child care for their own children.

The program gives short-term child care vouchers and connects families with a child care helper who can help find care and other support.

It also offers special training called Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) for child care providers. This training helps them learn how to care for children who have been through hard or scary times. This way, they can make safe and loving places for children.

The Bridge Program is not a guarantee for everyone. It is short-term help given when a child is placed in a home. It works like a “bridge” to longer-term child care. The program helps make sure the child’s new home is safe and stable, and gives caregivers support to balance work and family while caring for the child.

How to Apply