Child Care - Alameda County Social Services Agency

The Alameda County Social Services Agency provides child care subsidies for children 0 to 12 years of age and are made available to eligible families on a time-limited basis. This two-generational approach is not only vital to finding and maintaining employment, education and/or training for our families but providing critical support a child’s development.

Types of Child Care Subsidies Available

CalWORKs Stage One

Supports a family’s access to immediate and continuous child care as they participate in their welfare-to-work activities.  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. Administered by Workforce and Benefits Administration

California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP)

Child Care subsidies for CAPP prioritize low-to-moderate income parents who meet the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Social Services. Administered by the Department of Government and Community Relations (GCR).

Prioritization includes:

• Family is a current aid recipient;
• Family is income eligible;
• Family is homeless; or
• Family has children who are recipients of protective services, or whose children have been identified as being abused, neglected, or exploited, or at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited.

Foster Care Child Care Allowance Program

This program, also known as the Emergency Child Care Bridge, addresses lack of child care as a barrier for families otherwise willing to bring a foster child into their home, and for parenting foster youth.

It provides subsidies for child care and child care navigator services for families as well as Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training and coaching for child care providers to enhance their ability to provide nurturing and safe environments for children.

The Program is a time limited “bridge” to longer term child care solutions used at the time of placement to stabilize children in the best possible settings ensuring that caretakers have adequate support to balance their work and home lives. Administered by the Department Children and Family Services (CFS).