• Who is eligible for Subsidized Care?
• What information will I need to get on the CEL?
• I don't feel comfortable providing information over the internet or I'd prefer not to share my information with so many agencies. Can I apply another way?
• I need care now, where can I find care?
• Once I've applied to the CEL, when will I get on a program?
• Where am I on the list once I have applied?
• What if I have a change in my need, family size or income?
• I am expecting a baby. When should I get on the list?
• Can I remain on the list for my other children or for a different program?
• What do the care programs cost?
• Once an agency calls me, I'm enrolled, right?
• I live in Amador County and work in Calaveras County, which CEL should I apply on?
• My information is on the Amador (or Calaveras) County CEL, but I have moved out of this county, do I have to re-apply there?
• What Internet browsers work with the CEL?

Eligibility for most programs is based on income, family size, and needs. These needs include: employment, looking for work, school or training, and medical incapacitation. Some programs may only serve certain age groups, while some serve children to age 12. The main eligibility requirements of each program are listed on the "Child Care Programs" page on this site.

General information about your family, such as names, marital status, phone number, mailing address, birthdates, your total estimated income in a month and any need criteria (if you're working, training, in school, child care needs, etc.).

This information is kept confidential and is only accessible by programs participating in the CEL. Sensitive personal data is not shared with outside agencies or businesses.

When you apply for the CEL on-line you will also need to provide your email address. If you don't have an email address you can set up a free mail account at sites like Yahoo Mail or Hotmail. Alternatively, you can call The Resource Connection Child Care Resources or one of the partners, and they will enter your information on the CEL for you. Entering data yourself on-line is preferable since you can come back anytime and update your information without having to call us.

Yes, you can either download a printable form here and mail it in or deliver it to one of our offices. Alternatively, you can call one of the partners on the CEL Information page to apply.

If you wish to apply for only one program, you can call that CEL partner directly.

The CEL is limited for putting you on lists for state funded child care or assistance. If you are seeking immediate child care you should call The Resource Connection Child Care Resources for free referrals for child care in your community. They also provide information on helping locate quality care.

In Amador call (209) 223-1624
In Calaveras call (209) 754-1075

Enrollment on a program depends on several factors, including whether there is funding available or if there is an opening. Certain programs may only enroll children within specific ages or families with specific needs. Your wait on the list could be days, weeks, months or longer.

Until you are enrolled on a program, you will need to pay for your child care if the care facility requires you to pay for it.

Some programs DO NOT require a family to be income eligible; however in order to access these same programs, families must first be on the CEL.

The CEL is not a waiting list in the sense that you go to the end of the list and over time, work your way to the beginning of the list. Families at the beginning of the list have less income than those towards the end of the list. Your position on the list is determined by your income in relation to your family size.

When openings occur, agencies look on the Centralized Eligibility List for new families to add to their programs. State regulations usually require that the most needy are served first.

It is very important that you update your information on the eligibility list when you have changes. It is helpful for you and the enrolling agencies to have your most current information on the CEL. Don't forget to let us know of your phone number and mailing address changes too!

• If you are expecting your first child, apply on the CEL one month prior to needing child care.
• If this is not your first child and you have other children requiring care now, apply for those children now. One month prior to needing care for the baby, update your application by adding the baby's information.

Yes, if only one of your eligible children receives services the others can remain on the list. And if you would prefer to wait for different services than what your child has enrolled in, you may choose to keep him/her on the list.

• Depending on the program, some families will not pay fees for the services while others may be required to pay a fee based on state guidelines.
• If your child care provider charges more than state guidelines allow the program to pay, you may be responsible for this cost.

NO! In order to be enrolled the family would be contacted by the agency first to verify the data they provided. First over the phone and then in person with whatever pay-stubs, school/training schedules, or other documentation is necessary. Only when your need is verified and you remain eligible for the specific services will the enrollment process begin. The enrollment process is always done in person with each agency who calls you.

Many of the programs are geared for where parents seek care (not just what county they live in), so if you live in Amador County and want care closer to work in Calaveras, you would apply for services in Calaveras County.

Some counties' CEL databases may share data, but most do not. Contact a CEL partner in the county you are moving to, to see what needs to be done. A list of CEL agencies can be found here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/cdcelscontacts.asp. Also, don't forget to tell the CEL people in the county you are leaving to take your name off of their CEL.

Besides Internet Explorer 6 we have successfully used Safari for Apple Macintosh OS X and Konqueror for Linux. If your computer does not have these browsers, you may have difficulty using the CEL.