Parental Choice
Find a qualified child care provider that has your child’s best interest in mind. Qualified child care providers focus on safety, education, and nutrition.
ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for subsidized services is based primarily on a family’s income and need for care, with more specific individual criteria for certain programs.
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Income Eligibility
A family is eligible if the family’s calculated adjusted monthly income does not exceed 85% percent of the the most recent SMI (State Median Income) as published by the State of California. A family’s adjusted income is calculated based upon the verified family size and the total countable income for all the individuals counted in the family size.
Child's Age
Children who have not reached their thirteenth birthday are eligible for subsidized services at initial certification or recertification, with some exceptions. Severely disabled children may be served up to age twenty-one. There is other criteria that Children with exceptional needs shall also meet based upon their age group.
Aid Recipient
Families currently receiving aid are eligible for enrollment in federal and state subsidized child care services
Experiencing Homelessness
A family experiencing homelessness is eligible. Homelessness can be documented with a written referral from an emergency shelter or other legal, medical, social service agency, local educational agency liaison for children and youths experiencing homelessness. A written parental declaration that the family is experiencing homelessness and a statement describing the family’s current living situation will serve as documentation as well.
Child Protective Services
A family is eligible if the 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.
DOCUMENTING NEED
Based upon a family’s individual circumstances, various documentation will be required in order to establish that a family had a need subsidized care. Below is a summary of those requirements based on the qualified situations.
Seeking Employment
Documentation of seeking employment shall include a written parental declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, stating that the parent is seeking employment. Parents will be required to complete a Job Search Questionnaire.
Employment
Child care hours will be established after a careful review of documentation submitted. Hours of approved care will be determined based on the hours of employment and transportation needs of the parent.
Self Employment
The parent must declare under penalty of perjury that they are self-employed and that the information submitted on their Self Employment Declaration of Understanding is true and correct.
Training
Students enrolled in vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, paraprofession, or profession, enrolled in college classes, technical school, or apprenticeship programs must complete a Student Packet which includes the Training Verification form, Career Plan, Academic Probation and Student Contract, prior to receiving services as a student.
Seeking Housing
Parent will be required to provide a written declaration signed under penalty of perjury that the family is seeking permanent housing.
Incapacitation
In order to establish that a parent meets the definition of incapacity and has a need for services, Parents requesting child care services based on parental incapacity are required to provide a release signed by the incapacitated parent authorizing a legally qualified health professional to disclose information on the Statement of Parental Incapacity form.
Child with Exceptional Needs
Parents whose children have been identified with exceptional needs may be served ages thirteen through twenty one years of age with the proper documentation as mandated by Title V Regulations. Supportive Services, Inc. AP Program can apply a rate adjustment for children with exceptional needs with the proper documentation.
At Risk of Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
Parents, whose eligibility and need is based on the child being at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, must be referred for services by a legally qualified professional from a legal, medical, social service agency, or emergency shelter certifying that the child is at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and that the family needs child care and development services.
Child Protective Services
Parents whose eligibility and need are based on Child Protective Services must be referred by the County Welfare Department, Child Welfare Services Worker certifying that the child is receiving child protective services and that child care and development services are a necessary component of the child protective services plan.
WAITING LIST
Families in need of child care must first apply to the eligibility list. The eligibility list is a list of all children from income eligible families who are waiting for subsidized child care. Families are placed on the eligibility list in accord with the CDE, ELCD admission priorities. When funding is available, Supportive Services, Inc. Alternative Payment Program is mandated to enroll families based on priorities.
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CALWORKS
Supportive Services, Inc Alternative Payment Program provides subsidized child care for families who are in CalWorks Stage 2 or CalWorks Stage 3. CalWorks Stage 2 is available to parents when the County of Fresno Department of Social Services determines that a family has a stable need for child care services or when a family is no longer receiving cash aid assistance. CalWorks Stage 3 is available to parents when they are transitioning off CalWorks Stage 2 after 24 months.
CalWorks Stage 1
CalWorks Stage 1
The County of Fresno, Department of Social Services is required to provide the following 9 data elements before a parent can be accepted for placement on CalWorks Stage 2:
- 1. The parent(s) full name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s)
- 2. The names and birthdates of all children under age 18 living with the family, regardless of whether they are served in the CalWORKs program
- 3. The number of hours of child care needed each day for each child
- 4. The names of other family members in the household who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption
- 5. The reason for needing child care services
- 6. Family size and adjusted monthly income
- 7. Employment or training information for parent(s) including name and address of employer(s) or training institution(s) and days and hours of employment or training
- 8. Rate of payment
- 9. The name, address, and telephone number of the child care provider