California has programs that help families pay for child care. This article explains what these programs are, how to find out if your family can get help, and how to apply.

What is subsidized child care?

A subsidy is money from the government that helps pay for something you need. Subsidized child care means the government pays for some or all your child’s care.

Child care subsidies help families pay for child care. Some programs pay the whole cost. Others pay for part of it and your family pays for the rest. The part your family pays is called a family fee. Your fee is based on how much money your family makes. You can see what families pay here: 2026-27 Family Fee Scale (PDF) (Excel).

What kinds of subsidized child care are there?

There are three main types of subsidized child care programs.

• Direct Contracts: the government pays for the child care program directly.
• Voucher Programs: the program helps pay and you pick your own provider.
• Special Status Opportunities: help for families based on where a parent works.

Direct Contracts

In Direct Contracts, the government contracts with child care centers and family child care home networks. They cover some or all of the cost of care for children of families who meet specific requirements. Some of these programs include:

• California State Preschool Program. This program funds care for eligible children ages 3 to 4 (some providers also serve 2-year-old children).
• California’s General Child Care and Development Program. This program pays for care for children ages 0 to 12 and older children with specific needs.
• Children with Severe Disabilities. This program funds additional access to child care and development programs for children ages 0 to 21 who have exceptional needs. The program is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Family Child Care Education Home Networks. This program supports licensed family child care providers in offering high-quality care for children from eligible families. Providers in the network receive training, professional development, technical assistance, and resources.
• Head Start. Head Start offers free child care for families who live below the federal poverty line. Children who are in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or whose families receive public assistance may also qualify. Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5, and Early Head Start serves infants and toddlers below age 3.
• Migrant Child Care and Development Programs. These programs provide culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate child care and development services for children ages 0 to 12 and older children with exceptional needs. Services include meals and snacks for children, parent education, referrals to health and social services for agricultural families, and staff development opportunities.

You can learn more about these programs on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) website.

Voucher Programs

Voucher Programs help families cover the costs of child care. Families can use vouchers from these programs to pay for care from licensed family child care providers, licensed child care centers, or license-exempt child care providers. The programs then make payments directly to child care providers. Voucher programs include:

• CalWORKs Child Care. This program helps families get child care while the parent or caregiver is at work or participating in a welfare-to-work program. It takes place in three stages, with different eligibility requirements in each. For more information, visit CDSS.
• Alternative Payment Program (APP). This program helps eligible families to pay for child care. Eligibility is based on family income, circumstances and need. For more information, contact your local R&R.
• Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Children in Foster Care. This program offers short-term support to help families caring for a child involved with the foster care system to find and pay for child care. It also offers training to child care providers on trauma-informed care and creating safe environments. For more information, visit CDSS.

Special Status Opportunities

Certain government programs help families who work in specific industries to access and pay for child care.

• Military Child Care. The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program helps families in the armed services to find and pay for child care.
• Employer-Reduced Child Care. Some employers include child care support in their benefits packages. This can include on-site child care, child care subsidies, or flexible spending accounts to cover child care costs. Check with your employer to see if they offer any of these benefits.

 Who can apply for subsidized child care?

• To get help, your family must meet rules about how much money you make and why you need care. Meeting those rules is called being eligible. Here are some of the thing’s programs look at: How much money does your family make?
• Whether your family already gets help from programs such as:
  • Medi-Cal
  • CalFresh
  • California Food Assistance Program
  • WIC (California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Head Start / Early Head Start
  • CalWORKs
• The child’s age.
• Whether the child is receiving Protective Services.
• Whether the child is at risk of being neglected, abused or exploited.
• Whether your family lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including families experiencing homelessness or staying with relatives or friends due to economic hardship or loss of housing.
• Whether the parent or caretaker is working or seeking work.
• Whether the parent or caretaker is in school or vocational training.
• Whether the parent or caretaker does not have the ability to care for the child.

For more detailed information on eligibility, visit our Child Care Subsidy Programs article.

How can I apply for subsidized child care?

To receive subsidized child care, you must first fill out an application for support. Depending on the program, after you’ve applied, you may be added to an eligibility list until you are approved for services.

Completing an application does not guarantee that you will be approved for services.

What steps are involved in the application process?

1. Connect with your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. The first step is to contact your local R&R. They will give you information about subsidy programs and help to figure out how to apply for the eligibility list (if appropriate). They may be able to provide general eligibility information, but actual eligibility is determined during the application for services.
2. If you are eligible, complete the enrollment process. A person from your local R&R can help you complete your eligibility application. For most programs, if you are found to be eligible, you will be placed on an eligibility list. This list is used to prioritize eligibility applications and determine who is next for an enrollment appointment once funding is available. Families must meet both eligibility and need criteria. To learn more about the process and potential wait times, speak with your local R&R.
3. Choose a child care provider. Your local R&R can provide referrals to child care providers in your area that may be able to meet your needs. Please note that receiving a referral does not mean that you will receive a subsidy. You can also use the search tool on My Child Care Plan to filter providers by the subsidy programs that they take. Some providers may already be enrolled with APP agencies; other providers will need to complete the enrollment process. The R&R or subsidy program can share the criteria for a provider to participate.

What happens after I fill out my application?

Submitting your application is the beginning of the process. If you are eligible for subsidized child care, you will be put on an eligibility list. Some communities have a Centralized Eligibility List (CEL), so that you only have to apply once. In others, you have to sign up for each program separately. Your local R&R can tell you what the process is like where you live.

How long will it take to get support?

Child care subsidy programs have long waiting lists because there is not enough funding to meet the needs of all eligible families. Depending on your situation and the available funding, the wait for support could be months or even years.

How do programs choose who gets support?

Families that have been placed on the eligibility list are not served based on the order they signed up. Instead, programs choose who is served first based on family size, need and household income. Children who are involved with child protective services also receive special priority.

What should I do if my information changes?

Your family size and income affect how long you may have to wait to get support. If either of those factors changes, it is important to update your application. You should also update your application if you have a change in your contact information, such as your address, email, or phone number.

What should I do if my situation becomes urgent?

If your situation becomes urgent, contact your local R&R to update your application, review your eligibility, and discuss other possible options.

How will my child care provider get paid for services?

The Alternative Payment Program, CalWORKs, and Foster Bridge will send payment directly to your chosen eligible provider.