Day Care Program
Who is eligible?
County-licensed foster families and relative caretakers are eligible for this program. The first priority is given to foster and/or adoptive families with a sibling group of 3 or more. Second priority is given to foster and/or adoptive parents who have at least one child in placement. And third priority is given to relative caretakers.
All foster care, adoptive parents, and relative caretakers must be employed at least part-time to be eligible for this child care program. Child care hours are based on the need of the caretaker, (i.e., part-time employed = part-time child care, full-time employed = full-time child care). Funds are limited and although you may be eligible for this service it may not be always available due to lack of funds. The child care subsidy will end once an adoption is finalized or guardianship is established.
What qualifies as Day Care?
Day care, under this program, is any care given by a licensed child care provider. The provider can either be a licensed daycare center or a family daycare home. There are a few exceptions, for example a center on-site at a school may not be licensed but would be acceptable in this program. Other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, primarily when a child with exceptional needs cannot be met by a licensed daycare provider.
How does it work?
Day care expenses are paid directly to the daycare provider so the foster/adoptive parent or relatives do not have to pay for daycare out-of-pocket. The program cannot pay the foster/adoptive or relative directly for any day care expenses.
Enrollment
At the time of placement, or before if you know in advance, you can be enrolled in the child care program. The foster/adoptive parent or relative caretaker must contact the child care program to find out if there are any openings. If there are no openings you will be placed on a waiting list and given other child care resource information. If there are openings, you will need to select a child care provider and provide the contacting information to the subsidized day care program. The assigned staff will contact the child care provider and set up the necessary paperwork with them. You will receive a verbal approval and receive a “Notice of Action” in the mail.
Each month you will fill out an “Attendance and Invoice” form (sent to the provider by the child care program) and the provider will mail the form to the child care program.
Notice:
This program is NOT retroactive and cannot pay for child care in the past. Please do not assume that you are enrolled. You must have an approval “Notice of Action” before you can be sure that the child care expenses will be covered!!
- Day Care Program - Call Kim Wahl (408) 975-5797.
