Children's Home Society of California has three Child Care Assistance Programs that provide subsidized child care services to eligible families, including Alternative Payment, CalWORKs, and Child Protective Services. Through these programs, in fiscal year 2008, CHS provided services to over 20,000 children and over 11,000 families. In all, more than 3,980,000 days of care were provided to children across California.

Alternative Payment Program
This program pays for all or part of child care expenses while parents work, seek work, attend school, seek permanent housing, are deemed incapacitated and/or at risk by a legally qualified professional, and/or are receiving child protective services. Through this program, participating families select caregivers from a variety of licensed and license-exempt child care providers throughout the community.

CalWORKs
As families are transitioning off cash aid/welfare assistance, it is essential that parents have access to subsidized child care to gain financial independence. CHS provides parents with child care referrals, technical assistance, and assistance with the cost of child care. Families are referred to CHS through local offices of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).

Child Protective Services
This prevention program provides child care to children certified to be at risk of abuse or neglect because of inappropriate parenting, a family medical emergency, or other family crisis. Eligibility is established by written referral from a qualified medical, legal, or social services entity.

To learn more about eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Programs, click here.