Parent Resources

Parents or guardians looking for child care can reach out to their local Child Care Resource and Referral Program (R&R). R&Rs have a directory of child care providers and give resources and information to parents looking for child care. R&Rs also help child care providers with training and licensing. R&Rs also have a tollfree telephone number. If you would like more assistance, call 1-800-KIDS-7933.

Parents or guardians can also look for licensed child care providers in their area using the MyChildCareplan.org online search tool.

The State of California may be able to help pay for your child care if you meet certain income and eligibility criteria. In California, there are two types of subsidized child care: voucher-based and center-based or direct service programs.

• Voucher-based Programs: Voucher-based programs provide vouchers for families to obtain care in licensed child care centers, licensed family child care homes, or license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor care at the parents’ option.
  • If you select a license-exempt provider, they may be required to complete a background check in order to be reimbursed for their care through a voucher-based program. You can learn more about the steps to pass this background check on our TrustLine webpage.

• Center-based/Direct Service Programs: Direct service, center-based subsidized programs contract with the State directly and enroll families at child care and development centers, based on income eligibility and other criteria. You can reach out to your local R&R for a list of center-based programs available in your area.

• CalWORKs Stage One: If you are on CalWORKs cash aid and have age-eligible children, you are entitled to CalWORKs Stage One Child Care upon enrollment in CalWORKs. The CalWORKs program is administered at the local level by the county welfare departments. To find out if you are eligible and to apply for services, contact your local county welfare department.

• CalWORKs Stage Two: Once families on CalWORKs cash aid are determined to be stable, or when parents are discontinued from cash aid, they are transferred to Stage Two Child Care. Families are eligible for Stage Two if on the parent(s) received cash aid within the past 24 months and their income does not exceed 85% of the state median income. Like Stage One, this is an entitlement program, but Stage Two is administered by your local Alternative Payment Programs (APPs), which contracts with the state of California to distribute vouchers for child care subsidies to eligible families. Please visit the California Alternative Payment Association webpage to contact the APP in your area for more information about Stage Two Child Care.

• CalWORKs Stage Three: After families have been off cash aid for 24 months, they are transferred to CalWORKs Stage Three Child Care. Unlike Stages One and Two, Stage Three is not an entitlement program and families are only able to benefit from the program if funding is available. If funding is available, families can stay in Stage Three Child Care until their income exceeds 85% of the state median income or their child ages out. Like Stage Two, Stage Three is administered by the local APPs. Please visit the California Alternative Payment Association webpage to contact the APP in your area for more information about Stage Three Child Care.
  • If you are currently receiving CalWORKs Child Care, have questions or concerns about your services or current Child Care arrangements, contact your county worker or case manager.

• California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP): APPs provide CAPP vouchers for eligible low-income families who are not on CalWORKs. APPs exist in each county and have enrollment specialists or case managers who prioritize the families most in need of child care including families who are involved in the child welfare system or at risk of child welfare involvement to receive a voucher. Families are then prioritized based on their income – with families with the lowest gross income receiving priority for enrollment.
  • Additionally, APPs help families receiving CalWORKs and APP vouchers arrange child care services and make payment for those services directly to the child care provider selected by the family. Please visit the California Alternative Payment Association webpage to find the APP in your area.

• Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program): The Bridge Program offers limited-term child care vouchers for foster parents and for parenting youth in the foster care system. Through the program, families receive vouchers to help pay for child care and child care navigator services. The Bridge Program is only available in participating counties. Please visit our Bridge Program webpage to find out more information about the Bridge Program.