The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a clarification about eligibility for CalWORKs Stage 2 child care. To be eligible for Stage 2 child care, families must either be 1) receiving CalWORKs, and the county determines they are stable in their welfare-to-work activity or transitioning off of CalWORKs, 2) have formerly received CalWORKs, or 3) formerly received a CalWORKs diversion payment and a funded space is not immediately available in Stage 3 child care. Families who have never received CalWORKs or diversion are not eligible for Stage 2 or Stage 3 child care.
This clarification is necessary because of legislation that expanded eligibility for subsidized child care services to recipients of MediCal; CalFresh; California Food Assistance Program; Women, Infants and Children program; Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; Head Start; and Early Head Start. However, CDSS has clarified that this expansion does not apply to Stage 2 and Stage 3 child care.
If an agency has enrolled a family into Stage 2 or Stage 3 child care who does not meet eligibility requirements, the contractor must transfer them to an Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) contract without a change or disruption in their services. If the contractor does not have a CAPP contract, they must work with another local CAPP contractor and transfer the family with no disruption or change to their services. (CCB 24-06, April 16, 2024.)