CalWORKs Child Care Consolidation

The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care (MPELC) established an action plan for California to create a simplified and aligned system of care for infants, toddlers, and other young children. The plan includes consolidating the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Child Care stages, and clarifying local and regional administration responsibilities. A consolidated, coherent system will promote continuity of care and bring children and their early learning and care professionals the support they need to thrive.

In Fiscal Year 2025-26, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) gathered feedback on how to improve CalWORKs child care from focus groups of parents and child care providers and a workgroup of county and child care and development agency administrators.

Below are links to the reports outlining this feedback:

• Parent and Provider Insights to Transform CalWORKs Child Care Delivery: CalWORKs Child Care Program Focus Group Findings
  • (Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese)
• CalWORKs Child Care Consolidation: Administrator Workgroup Report
  • (Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese)

Contact Information

If you have feedback or questions about this work, please contact CWconsolidation@dss.ca.gov.

CalWORKs Consolidation Workgroup Meetings and Materials