There are many ways for low income families to get support paying for child care.
Below is an overview of the programs at the state and federal levels that help families pay for child care.
State-Subsidized Care: The state partners directly with child care centers or family child care homes to pay for a certain number of child care slots. Eligible children can enroll for free or for a small fee.
Vouchers: The state provides an amount of money to an eligible family to be used towards a child care provider of their choosing. Eligible families may receive a child care voucher through the following programs:
- CalWORKS (stages 1, 2, or 3): A California public assistance program for families with children
- Alternative Payment Program: Makes payment for child care services directly to the provider chosen by the family
- Bridge Program for Foster Children: Provides temporary child care vouchers to families bringing a child in the foster care system into their home or for parenting youth in the foster care system
Transitional Kindergarten (TK): Year one of a two year kindergarten (K) program offered for 4-year-olds in elementary schools in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). By the fall of 2023, all district schools that offer kindergarten will also have a transitional kindergarten program. TK and K are full day programs that operate on the 180-day school calendar. For more information visit LAUSD’s Early Childhood Education Division’s webpage.
Headstart: A federal program that provides free child care for families living below the federal poverty line. Other vulnerable populations (children in foster care, homeless, or in families that receive public assistance) may also qualify.
Military child care: There is one child care center operated by the military in Los Angeles: the Los Angeles Air Force Base Child Development Center. For more information on military child care programs click here.
Tax Benefits: If you are not eligible for any of the above programs, you can claim the child dependent care credit on your federal and state taxes. For more information on how you claim the child dependent care credit click here.
How do I know if I qualify for subsidized care?
Because the eligibility requirements for each of the above programs vary and can be confusing, the easiest way to determine whether you qualify for any program, is to reach out to your local Resource & Referral agency where a specialist can guide you through the steps needed to determine your eligibility for financial support for free. There are five resource and referral agencies that support the residents of LA. Click the link below and enter your zip code to identify the resource and referral agency that serves you.
Remember, your resource and referral agency can also help you locate available child care options. We recommend having their specialists help you locate care and get support in paying for care all together.
Find your Resource & Referral agency here