Are you a resident of Los Angeles in need of help with child care expenses? The Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and the Los Angeles Centralized Eligibility List (LACEL) are two of the main sources to turn to for assistance. The DPSS funds CalWORKs' Phase 1 subsidized child care and establishes eligibility criteria. This program can serve families who are currently receiving cash assistance and who demonstrate that they meet the necessary requirements. The Resource Center offers various child care assistance programs, including those from the California Department of Education (CDE): CalWORKs Stage 2 (C2AP), CalWORKs Stage 3 (C3AP), Alternative Payment, and Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN).
Pregnant teens with children who participate in the Cal-Learn program are also eligible to receive child care from CalWORKs.
What is CalWORKs?
The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs) program is funded by the DPSS and administered by the California Department of Social Services in three stages for children up to 12 years old or children up to 21 years old with exceptional needs or serious disabilities. The DPSS contracts with Alternative Payment Program agencies to administer the CalWORKs Phase 1 Child Care Program, which reimburses child care providers for providing child care services.How Do I Qualify for Financial Assistance?
To determine if you qualify for financial assistance to pay for child care in Los Angeles, you'll need to ask for help paying all or part of your child care expenses through your Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) employee.They'll need to review their personal and financial situation, but at the end of the day, many Los Angeles residents are being referred to daycare and assistance programs.
