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Child Care Services Section » Program Types » Bridge Program

Bridge Program

 

Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program)
 
Overview
The Bridge Program addresses child care needs as a barrier for families otherwise willing to bring a child in the foster care system into their home, and for parenting youth in the foster care system. It provides time limited vouchers for child care and child care navigator services. There is also Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training and coaching component for child care providers to enhance their ability to provide nurturing and safe environments for children. The Bridge Program is not an entitlement, instead it is a time limited “bridge” to long-term child care solutions used at the time of placement to stabilize children in the best possible settings ensuring that caretakers have adequate support to balance their work and home lives.
 
 
Bridge Program Goals

  • Increase the number of foster children successfully placed in home-based family care settings,

  • Increase placement stability,

  • Increase capacity of child care providers to meet the needs of foster children in their care, and

  • Maximize funding to support the child care needs of eligible families.

 

Three Major Components of the Bridge Program

 

Emergency Child Care Voucher

 

Families may receive a time-limited voucher to assist with child care costs for children in the foster care system birth through age 12, and for youth with exceptional needs up to age 21. A voucher may be issued for an initial six-months, and then renewed for an additional six months, or until the child is successfully transitioned into long-term, subsidized child care. Eligibility may be extended beyond 12 months if there is a compelling reason, at the discretion of the county.  All vouchers must be paid in accordance with the Regional Market Rate ceilings for subsidized child care payment rates. Counties may issue vouchers directly or enter into a formal agreement with their local Alternate Payment Program and / or Resource and Referral Program
 
Child Care Navigator
 

The child care navigator, employed by a local Resource and Referral Program, works with the eligible family and others authorized to assess child care opportunities and provide consumer education based on the child’s age and needs. Navigator services are available to any child in foster care, any child previously in foster care who has returned to his or her home of origin, and any child of parents involved in the child welfare system.

 

Trauma-Informed Care Training and Coaching

 
Through the Bridge Program, child care providers have access to trauma-informed care training and coaching. Training and coaching are intended to help child care providers learn practical strategies for working with children who have experienced trauma.

 

The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network developed and delivers the training curriculum to certify trainers in the local Resource and Referral Program. The certification of trainers and use of the designated curriculum is encouraged for all participating R&R Programs.