Early Care and Education (ECE) receives state, federal, and local funding to provide programs to assist low-income families with the cost of child care services. The Alternative Payment Program, CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3, and Riverside Hybrid Alternative Payment program are operated by ECE and serve over 10,000 children in Riverside County. 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)

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 once per year
• 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 via the following links:
  • ECE Eligibility List Application (English)
  • ECE Eligibility List Application (Spanish)
  • Online ECE Eligibility List Application in English and Spanish

CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3

• Provides child care assistance for low-income families who previously received public cash assistance through the Department of Public Social Services
• Serves children 0 to 13 years of age
• Families must meet program eligibility and need criteria which is reviewed and verified once per year
• CalWORKs Stage 2: Families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 2 by documenting 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 meet need and eligibility criteria and program requirements.

Questions about your provider reimbursements?

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

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