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Child Care Assistance

The Alternative Payment Program, CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3, and Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment program serve families with children 0-13 years old. See eligibility and application requirements listed for each program below.

Alternative Payment Program

RCOE's Early Care and Education (ECE) unit receives state, federal, and local funding to provide these programs, assisting low-income families with the cost of child care services.

These programs allow parents to choose from a variety of child care options to best meet the needs of their children. Child care may be provided in:

  • Licensed child care centers
  • Licensed family child care homes
  • License-exempt homes that meet program requirements (not applicable to Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment program)

California Alternative Payment Program

Provides child care assistance for low-income families.

  • Serves children 0 to 13 years of age
  • Families must meet program eligibility and need criteria which is reviewed and verified no less than every two years.

Families are enrolled from the ECE Eligibility List (EL) based upon most eligible first.

For more information regarding the Subsidized Program or to request an application for the EL, please call (800) 442-4927.

The EL application may also be accessed from the links below:

Schedule of Income Ceilings (85%) for State Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Child Care and Development Programs

 Family Size  Family Monthly Income  Family Yearly Income
 1-2  $6,860  $82,326
 3  $7,785  $93,418
 4  $9,020  $108,237
 5  $10,463  $125,555
 6  $11,906  $142,873
 7  $12,177  $146,120
 8  $12,447  $149,367
 9  $12,718  $152,615
 10   $12,988  $155,862
 11  $13,259  $159,109
 12  $13,530  $162,356

Apply for the California Alternative Payment Program by completing the application below. Eligibility will be determined based on the application and will be reviewed annually.

Once eligibility is established, families are placed on the Eligibility List and the most eligible families receive assistance first. For more information on this process, please see the ECE Eligibility List (EL) page.

CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3

CalWORKs Stage 2 and 3 provide child care assistance for low-income families who previously received public cash assistance through the Department of Public Social Services. These programs serve children 0 to 13 years of age.

Families must meet program eligibility and need criteria, which is reviewed and verified no less than every two years.

CalWORKs Stage 2: Families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 2 by documenting that they have been off of public cash assistance for less than two years. Families may be eligible for these services for up to two years after they no longer receive public cash assistance. If child care services continue to be needed after the two-year period ends, eligible families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 3 child care services.

CalWORKs Stage 3: Families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 3 if they transfer directly from a Stage 2 program. Families may continue to receive child care services through this program as long as funding is available and they continue to meet need and eligibility criteria and program requirements.

CalWORKs Stage 2 and 3 income requirements.

Families can access CalWORKs Stage 2 through a referral from a CalWORKs Stage 1 agency. 

CalWORKs Stage 3 is accessed by former Stage 2 families who have reached the end of their allowed time in Stage 2 but still need services.

Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment Program

The Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment Program provides child care scholarships to eligible families with children 0-5.

The provider selection is limited to programs participating in Quality Start Riverside County. 

Please see the Quality Start Riverside County page for more information.

Families enrolled in programs participating in Quality Start Riverside County may be eligible.

Income-eligible families with children 0-5 who do not qualify for another alternative payment program may be eligible.

Schedule of Income Ceilings (85%) for State Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Child Care and Development Programs

 Family Size  Family Monthly Income  Family Yearly Income
 1-2  $6,860  $82,326
 3  $7,785  $93,418
 4  $9,020  $108,237
 5  $10,463  $125,555
 6  $11,906  $142,873
 7  $12,177  $146,120
 8  $12,447  $149,367
 9  $12,718  $152,615
 10   $12,988  $155,862
 11  $13,259  $159,109
 12  $13,530  $162,356

Apply for the Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment Program by completing the application below. Eligibility will be determined based on the application and will be reviewed annually.

Once eligibility is established, families are placed on the Eligibility List and the most eligible families receive assistance first. For more information on this process, please see the ECE Eligibility List (EL) page.

Questions about your provider reimbursements?

Please email providerpayments@rcoe.us or access your information through the provider portal.