Child Care Subsidized Programs

Stage 1 is administered by the California Department of Social Services through Alameda County Social Services. Stage 1 begins when a participant enters the CalWORKs grant welfare-to-work plan developed by for each family. Parents are eligible for the program if they:

• currently enrolled in the CalWORKs program in Alameda County and receiving cash assistance
• meet the income guidelines
• have children up through age 12, (13-21 years old if child is special needs)
• use child care in Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Alameda, and Piedmont, and
• need child care because they are employed, seeking employment, in a vocational training, seeking permanent housing, and/or incapacitated.

If you are currently receiving cash assistance for yourself, please contact Child Care Links at 925.417.8733. You will need to select a child care provider before you can enroll into the program. For help with finding a child care provider, call our child care resource and referral team at 510.658.7353 to discuss your child care options, or search our online  Child Care Referral Search form.

You qualify for this program if you received public cash assistance (welfare) for yourself within the past 24 months and meet the requirements listed below:

• meet the income guidelines
• have children up through age 12, (13-21 years old if child is special needs)
• use child care in Alameda County, and
• need child care because they are employed, seeking employment, in a vocational training, enrolled in school, seeking permanent housing, and/or
• incapacitated

Families are enrolled into this program directly from Stage 2 services after their 24 months of eligibility has expired. Families must be transferred directly from Stage 2 and cannot have any break in services. Families remain on the Stage 3 program as long as they continue to meet the need and eligibility criteria below:

• meet the income guidelines
• have children up through age 12, (13-21 years old if child is special needs)
• use child care in Alameda County, and
• need child care because they are employed, seeking employment, in a vocational training, enrolled in school, seeking permanent housing, and/or
• incapacitated

Child development services for children from birth through 12 years of age, and older children with exceptional needs, are available.

California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP)

The CAPP program helps pay for child care services for parents. As funding becomes available, the families that have the most need are enrolled into the program through a ranking system. Families are ranked by family size and household income. Families who have a child with special needs or who are receiving services through Alameda County Children & Family Services may have priority. Families remain on this program as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Parents are eligible if they:

• meet the income guidelines,
• have children up through age 12, (13-21 years old if child is special needs)
• use child care in our service area, and
• need child care because they are employed, seeking employment, in a vocational training, seeking permanent housing, and/or incapacitated

To enroll on our eligibility list, please call us at 510.658.7353 and speak to one of our child care resource and referral counselors.

Many families choose family and friends to care for their children over a licensed child care provider. When parents choose family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. to care for their child, your village becomes a support system in caring for your child. This is also a very cost effective choice since many parents also create cooperative child care agreements between each other and choose family members as caregivers.

Benefit to Parents: Children are cared for by a trusted family or friend. This type of care is usually more affordable for families.

The City of Berkeley helps pay for child care services much like the CAPP program. As funding becomes available, the families that have the most need are enrolled into the program through a ranking system. Families are ranked by family size and household income. Families remain on this program as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Parents are eligible if they:

• meet the income guidelines,
• have children up through age 12, (13-21 years old if child is special needs)
• use child care in our service area, and
• need child care because they are employed, seeking employment, in a vocational training, seeking permanent housing, and/or incapacitated

To enroll on our eligibility list, please call us at 510.658.7353 and speak to one of our child care resource and referral counselors.