Subsidized Child Care

Need help paying for child care? If you do, you are looking for "subsidized" child care. There are programs in Northern Alameda County which provide help to low-income parents. But, because many more families need this kind of help than there is money for this purpose, you must start early to find a subsidized program for your child. Our updated handout on subsidized child care is available here. The following frequently asked questions may also assist you in your search for subsidized child care.

Who funds subsidized child care?
The California Department of Education (CDE) administers most of the child care funds in California – state as well as federal. Some local governments, corporations and foundations also provide funds to serve children from low-income families.

What types of programs are available?
Child Care Centers - many subsidized programs are offered in child care centers. There’s a limited number of child care centers that serve infants – most serve children around age three. There are centers open for a full day, but parents can also receive part-day child care.

Alternative Payment Programs (also known as Vendor Programs) - these programs do not provide the actual child care. Instead, they pay for the child care of eligible families in licensed family child care homes, centers or exempt child care situations. The parent chooses the child care program. Then the alternative payment program signs a contract with the parent and provider and pays the provider directly. AP programs serve specific geographic areas and often serve children within a specific age range as well.

Who operates subsidized programs?
Programs are run by a wide variety of institutions – nonprofit, for-profit organizations, churches, school districts, local governments, etc.

How can I get my child into a subsidized program?
CalWORKs (Welfare to Work) Programs: These programs serve parents receiving cash aid (welfare). Parents who have worked their way off cash aid but are still low-income are also eligible. They are funded by both the state and federal government. New welfare recipients go through a CalWORKs orientation. During the first few months after they attend this orientation, the child care (chosen by the parent) is paid for by an Alameda County Stage 1 alternative payment program. Once the CalWORKs parents are working or in a stable job-training situation, they are transferred to a Stage 2 alternative payment program. Parents remain in Stage 2 until two years after their income makes them ineligible for cash aid. At that point they are transferred to a Stage 3 program. This is a closed process and only parents on welfare can enter any of these programs.

Non-CalWORKs Programs: Parents not enrolled into CalWORKs need to sign up on an eligibility list. Alameda County’s Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) is funded by CDE and administered by BANANAS. Getting on this CEL puts you on the one list that all the CDE subsidized programs in the County use when they fill openings in their programs.

In order to get on the CEL, your family income must be below a certain level set by CDE. For most state/federally funded programs parents must be working, looking for work, going to school, in training, or incapacitated. You can enroll your child on the CEL in person or by telephone.

How are families chosen?
Since the CEL is a county-wide eligibility list, any subsidized agency in the county could contact you and offer you child care if you meet the requirements of the program. It’s very important to notify the CEL if your family income drops because that will move you closer to the top of the eligibility list. Also report any changes in your address or phone number to the program that enrolled you on the CEL. Otherwise, the program may not be able to contact you when there is an opening. Once you get on the CEL, you will receive periodic update letters. You must return these letters to remain active on the CEL.

What if the type of services offered by the program doesn’t meet my family’s needs?
If you are offered child care that doesn’t meet your needs, you do not have to enroll. Your family record will remain on the CEL so that other programs can contact you when they have openings.

By staying on the CEL, will my child eventually get into a program?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will receive assistance through a subsidized child care program. Only a limited amount of funds are available for subsidized child care. If your family income was relatively high when you got on the CEL, you may never reach the top of the list. Even if your income is low, other families with lower incomes who get on the list after you do will be served first.

Are these programs free?
They are for some families. For other parents whose income has reached a certain level, fees are charged on a sliding scale. These fees are, in most cases, much less than the cost of private child care. All state/federally-funded programs use the same fee schedule.

Are there any other subsidized options?
Yes, there are some training programs which will pay for child care while you are being trained and some city-funded programs which provide a partial subsidy. Call BANANAS for information, 658-7353.

What if I have problems after my child is enrolled in subsidized care?
Parents in subsidized programs have the right to appeal any decision which adversely affects them. Usually you would take a problem to the program's director, then to the Board of Directors and finally to CDE. If you disagree with an official decision you learn about through a “Notice Of Action” (NOA) form, be sure to appeal the action within the time allowed for an appeal. Read the back of the NOA for information on how to appeal.