The Resource Connection offers many subsidy programs to help pay for child care. The subsidy programs operate in accordance with the California Department of Education and the federal government, and allow parents to choose their own child care.

When a parent calls the Resource Connection seeking help paying for child care, the staff ask questions to determine whether the parent is eligible for help paying for care.  Those that are eligible are placed on a waiting list until there is an opening (in other words, when funding is available). To be eligible for a child care subsidy, parents must have a reason for needing care (they are working, in school, or unable to care for their own children) and family income must be less than a certain amount (which is different depending on the number of people in the family). Once all of the necessary information is collected by the Resource Connection staff, the family is given an ‘Eligibility Rank’ which determines the family's place on the waiting list.

Unfortunately, there are often more than 100 families on the waiting list at any one time. Remember: you are not necessarily placed at the end of the list. Your spot on the list is based on your ‘Eligibility Rank.’ Also, some families don’t need child care when they are called. So it’s important to get on the list and call whenever you have a change in income, family size, or need. Once you are on the waiting list, you will stay on it for six months, unless we hear from you in that time.