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California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Some families have received temporary financial assistance and employment-focused services through the CalWORKs Program, which also assists with child care costs. The child care benefits can continue for up to two years after a family’s cash grant has terminated, provided that parent is meeting the work requirements, the family’s income meets certain guidelines and the children are under 12 years of age or have special needs up to 18 years of age. Parents or other relative caregivers with primary responsibility for providing care to one child who is from 12 to 23 months old or two or more children under six years old are exempt from participating in welfare-to-activities. However, parents of young children may volunteer to participate in work activities; parents volunteering to participate in work activities are eligible for child care services. The 60-month time limit to receive cash aid does not apply while the recipients are exempt. This provision exempting parents of young children from welfare-to-work activities remains in effect until July 1, 2011. To learn more about the CalWORKs Program, click here. If a family chooses to take advantage of the exemption to not participate in welfare-to-work activities, they may still decide to participate in a child development program that supports their role as a parent and prepares their child for school. Child development programs offering part-day services include Early Head Start for low-income pregnant women and infants and toddlers from birth to three years old, Head Start for three to five year old children, California State Preschool Programs(CSPP) for three and four year old children, and Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) for four year olds. Families interested in the CSPP would register through their local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. Families also are encouraged to explore their local Department of Parks and Recreation to find out whether they offer mommy and me programs and their local libraries to learn about story times for young children. Office
of Child Care, within the Service Integration Branch |