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Subsidized child care programs

Options for Learning contracts with the California Department of Social Services to distribute federal and state child care and development subsidies/certificates for CalWORKs and income-eligible families. Alternative Payment Programs (APPs) support families and children by ensuring parental choice and accommodating the individual needs of each family. For more information, call 626-699-8070.

CalWORKs child care programs — Stage 1, 2 and 3

The CalWORKs child care program helps families access immediate, short-term child care as the parent works or performs his or her welfare-to-work activity. The purpose of the program is to support parents as they transition to the stable, long-term child care necessary for the family to leave and remain off aid. The CalWORKS child care program is administered in three different stages and is defined as follows:
  • Stage 1: Family is receiving cash aid and in an approved Welfare-to-Work activity.
  • Stage 2:  Families who are currently receiving cash aid from the Department of Social Services (DPSS) and are participating in an approved Welfare-to-Work activity OR families transferring from CalWORKs Stage 1 program due to reaching the Stage 1 program time limit OR families who previously received cash aid within 24 months.  
    Stage 3: Families who are receiving CalWORKs Stage 1 or Stage 2 and are reaching their 24-month cash aid time limit. These families are transferred into C3AP on the first day following their 24-month time limit date. 

Alternative Payment Program

The Alternative Payment Program (APP) offers an array of child care arrangements, including licensed family child care, center-based care, and exempt providers for families who meet income and eligibility guidelines. When funds are available, families select a child care provider of their choice for which services will be reimbursed.

Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN)

The Family Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) focuses on promoting high-quality early learning environments in licensed family child care homes. If an enrolled subsidized family chooses a licensed home in this program, the FCCHEN provider must first meet standards set by Desired Results; Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERS).

Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for foster children (Bridge Program)

Eligible families may receive a time-limited child care voucher to help pay for child care costs for foster children ranging from birth through age 5. Child care cost reimbursement for Bridge families may also include siblings of the foster child. This also includes foster children with exceptional needs and severely disabled children up to age 21. Referrals to the Child Care Bridge Program must be made through the resource family’s children’s social worker (CSW) at DCFS. Learn more by calling our Resource and Referral Department at 626-856-5900, ext. 8351.