Paying for child care isn’t easy. The average cost of child care is often out of reach. But without it, you’re constantly depending on family and friends to help out, or missing work or school. Families need affordable, high-quality child care so that children can get a strong start and parents can build for the future.
CDA’s Alternative Payment Program provides subsidized child care assistance to families who live or work in San Diego County, have children ages 0-13 years or children with exceptional needs under 21 years of age, and meet eligibility requirements.
Afford the essential child care your family needs to thrive.
Pick what works best for your family — a licensed child care home, center, or a trusted friend, relative, or neighbor.
Develop stability while you work or complete your education, so you can create a better life for you and your family.
Get started by completing an application on the San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List (CEL).
A friendly team member will contact you to begin your enrollment for child care services.
Submit all required documents and have a CDA approved provider for at least one of your children.
Together, we will review our program guidelines and your application for you to sign.
We will issue a notice with your approved schedule and the maximum reimbursement amount to your provider.
Your child starts care and continues to receive care during the eligibility period.
Attendance records are submitted to CDA monthly for provider reimbursement.
We pay your provider monthly on your behalf.
To be eligible for subsidized child care services, your family must meet at least one of each of the following eligibility and need requirements:
-Child Only Cash Aid
-Medi-cal
-CalFresh
-WIC
-Head Start
-Early Head Start
-The Federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
-California Food Assistance Program
To be eligible based on income, your family’s gross monthly income must be equal to or less than the amount shown in the table below. Gross monthly income is all income you and your family receive before taxes are taken out. If you are self-employed it is your income after deducting business expenses. Income eligibility is based on the State Median Income. Refer to the table below.
INCOME ELIGIBILITY TABLE
| Family Size | 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Monthly Income | $6,128 | $6,931 | $8,025 | $9,309 | $10,593 | $10,834 | $11,074 | $11,315 | $11,556 | $11,797 | $12,037 |
Effective July 1st, 2023. Subject to change.
Each adult in the family size has one or more of the following need categories:
The San Diego County Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) is one application that connects families to different subsidized child care agencies across San Diego. CDA is one of these agencies and we are currently enrolling!
Get started by completing an application today.
Apply on CEL“I am very grateful for this program. Honestly don’t know what I would do without it. Being a single mother is not easy and this program not only helps me keep a roof over my son’s head but also helps him receive the education he deserves. Thank you CDA.”
– CDA Alternative Payment Program Parent
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SubscribeVariable schedules are reimbursed for the actual care hours provided that are within the hours authorized. The reimbursement will not exceed the amount billed by the provider or the full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) RMRC listed on the certificate for child care services. CDA will not reimburse for child absences, provider holiday or closure days on a variable schedule. If the full billed/invoiced amount is not paid, the parent is responsible for the difference directly to the provider.
The number of reimbursable provider holidays and/or non-operation days is limited to a maximum of 10 days per fiscal year. Once these allowable limits are exceeded, reimbursement will be prorated for future closure days.
Fees for registration, material and/or insurance may be reimbursed if the current reimbursement amount does not exceed the Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC). Reimbursement of these fees is limited to one (1) per child, per fiscal year and will be made in a single payment when requested on the child’s attendance record.
Note: For providers with programs that have multiple fees in one year or where it has been determined that the reimbursement amount exceeds the RMRC, the excess fees will be the responsibility of the parent.
When child care is authorized for a total of 25 or more hours per week the Full Time Weekly RMRC will be used. When child care is authorized for a total of less than 25 hours per week the Part Time RMRC will be used.
