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Childcare Services

What's New

Notice of Reduction in Payment Rates for License Exempt Child Care Providers

Effective July 1, 2011, the California Budget Act of 2011 has reduced the maximum amount that can be paid to unlicensed child care providers. Based on this change in law, the maximum amount you as a licensed exempt child care provider can receive will be reduced to 60 percent of the Regional Market Rates for licensed Family Child Care Home providers.

Child Action Newsletter

How to Get Subsidized Child Care

If you are receiving cash aid and participating in a Welfare to Work activity with the Department of Human Assistance (DHA), ask your worker to send a referral for child care to the Child Care Processing Unit. You will be enrolled on DHA’s Stage 1 program.

If you were on cash aid within the last 24 months and are no longer aided, you could be eligible for CAI's Stage 2 program. If you think you are eligible, please call (916-361-0511) to apply.

If you have never been on cash aid or it's been longer than 24 months, you can call the CEL (916-361-2376) or go online at Child Action, Inc. to apply for services.



Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net

Child Care

Index
What is CalWORKs and the Three Stage Child Care System?
Need Help Paying for Child Care?
About Sacramento County

The Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance is Building Bridges to Better Futures. The future belongs to the children in our community. We hope that visiting this site will be educational and beneficial to the needs of you and your children.

What is CalWORKs and the Three Stage Child Care System?

In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which replaced the Aid to Families with Dependant Children (AFDC) program with the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF was different in that it required aided parents to work, had a time limit for aid and gave states implementation authority. California then passed the Welfare to Work Act of 1997, which created the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.

CalWORKs provides cash aid and services to eligible needy families. One of the services provided to help families achieve self–sufficiency is temporary child care subsidies. Child care can be difficult to find and expensive, creating an obstacle to stable employment and financial self–sufficiency. With this in mind, the CalWORKs program created a three stage child care system to aid families in getting connected to local child care resources, stabilizing their child care arrangements and continuing with their services until they no longer need aid. When someone enters the CalWORKs program their child care is considered Stage One. The Stage One child care subsidy remains active until the participant's work activity becomes stable and then they are transferred to Stage Two. The participant can remain in Stage Two for 24 months past the time their cash aid is discontinued or until their income reaches 75% of the state's median income. Stage Three is for former CalWORKs clients, diversion clients, and the general population when spaces are funded and available.

Stage One is administered by the County and supervised by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Stages Two and Three are administered by an Alternative Payment Program (APP) with the California Department of Education (CDE). Child Action, Inc. is contracted by CDE as their APP and by Sacramento County to process payments and provide resource and referral services ensuring a seamless transition between the stages.

Need Help Paying for Child Care?

About Sacramento County

  • The Children's Report Card

    Report highlighting Sacramento County challenges and successes in the areas of economics, education, health, safety, social and emotional well-being. Published by the Sacramento County Children's Coalition, this document is used to guide policy development promoting the health and well being of children and families in the community.

  • 2007 Sacramento County Data Book

    Published by Children Now, site reports how Sacramento County ranks in various areas compared to other counties in the state.

  • The California Child Care Portfolio

    Child Care supply and demand in Sacramento County

  • Promoting Excellence in Child Care and Education

    A strategic plan for child care and development in Sacramento County 2007-2012.


Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net

CalWORKs Clients


Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net

Parents



Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net

Child Care Providers

Semi-Annual Meetings

When:
2nd Wednesday of the following months: April and October from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Where:
2433 Marconi Ave.
Directions


Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net

Get Involved



Contact DHA's Child Care Unit at:
Phone: (916) 874-6000 | Email: DHA-Child-Care-Provider-Clients@saccounty.net