ECES
Early Care and Education Services
Early Care and Education Services (ECES) manages all of the subsidized preschool and child care programs that 4Cs operates. These programs are funded by the State Department of Education, Child Development Division. There are two main types of programs - Centers and Alternative Payment. In order to enroll in a subsidized child care program, families must meet eligibility and need requirements as outlined in Title 5 Regulations.
Families interested in attending a 4Cs Center or enrolling into an Alternative Payment Program can contact the Sonoma County Centralized Eligibility List (Sonoma-CEL), call (707) 544-3077 and ask to be placed on the CEL, or complete a CEL Application - English and turn it into 4Cs.
4Cs is enrolling PACEAPP clients!
The Early Care and Education Services (ECES) department will be enrolling families and providers from PACEAPP. Families are being transferred as of June or July 1st 2013 to 4Cs depending on their program of enrollment.
4Cs operates very similarly to PACEAPP and it is our goal to make this transition as smooth as possible. Until a family meets with a 4Cs case manager, child care hours and payments will be based off the most recent certificate from PACEAPP. Should there be any changes please call us as soon as possible.
Please see the parent and provider letters for more information, including an invitation to our Provider Information Night on June 19, 2013.
We look forward to working with you to support the well being of every child and continuing valuable services to our community.
Child Development Centers
4Cs operates thirteen child development programs throughout Sonoma County. Fees are on a sliding scale. The ages served varies from center to center, but includes ages two months to six years. The 4Cs centers offer income eligible families a safe and caring, developmentally appropriate environment for their children, in both full and part-day programs. The educational program is individualized, based upon the needs, interests and strengths of each child. Parents are welcome at all times, as are their concerns and desires for program content.
Parental Choice Alternative Payment Program
Parental-choice child care is available for income eligible families and those referred by Child Protective Services or CalWORKs programs. Families may be eligible for free or low-cost child care services in a licensed or license-exempt child care facility. Approximately 1,400 children, ages birth to thirteen, are subsidized through this program annually.
4Cs Parental Choice Alternative Payment Program (APP) or Voucher Program (VP) is funded by the State Department of Education, Child Development Division. Parents must be low income and have a specific need for child care to receive subsidized child care services. There may be a long waiting period for some programs. Families who are referred by the CalWORKS programs directly are usually served immediately. Please refer to the list below for specific information on each program.
These programs are vital to low income parents who need child care to work or go to school. If you are interested in advocating for more funding, join our Parent Voices team and help us let legislators know of the need for more subsidized child care!California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP):
* Serves infants to age 13.
* Parent(s) must be working, looking for work, in training, incapacitated, have a child with special needs, or be referred by Child Protective Services or another licensed professional for child abuse prevention.
* Call 4Cs at 707-544-3077 to be listed on the Centralized Eligibility List. There is usually a long wait for care since funding for these programs is limited.
CalWORKS Stages 2 & 3 Programs
* Serves infants to age 13.
* Parent(s) must be either on cash aid with a Welfare to Work Plan, or be a past recipient of cash aid and be working, looking for work or in training.
* To apply for the Stage 2 program, a parent must be on cash aid, or be low income and have gone off cash aid within the past 24 months.
* Once in the Stage 2 program, parents are eligible for 24 months of child care after their last day of cash aid.
* At that time they may be transferred to Stage 3 if funding is available. The Stage 3 Program provides child care as long as the family is low income, until the enrolled child ages out at 13 years old.
* Call the Department of Human Services at 707-565-2715 to apply for cash aid and request child care services. Call 4Cs Voucher Program at 707-544-3077 if you have gone off cash aid in the past 24 months to see if you are eligible for CalWORKS Stage 2 Program.
General Guidelines
* All parents and providers must be enrolled at 4Cs before care can be paid.
* Parents choose from all legal Child Care options.
* VP pays the cost of child care up to the market rate ceilings allowed by our funders.
* Child care providers are independent contractors (not employees) and receive payment after submitting attendance sheets to 4Cs.
* Some parents may pay a sliding scale fee based on income.
* License-exempt providers must be TrustLined and attend a group orientation and training session.
* Resource Specialists and Case Managers are available to provide enrolled parents and providers with support services and referrals.
FAQs
* When do enrolled providers get paid for child care provided?
Providers are paid monthly between the 15th and the 18th of the month following care. In order to receive payment, attendance sheets must be received by 4Cs by the 5:00 p.m. on 5th of the month following care.
* How can I become a Voucher Program child care provider?
Since the Voucher Programs are parent choice programs, an enrolled parent must choose you to be his/her provider, and then you must complete an enrollment process to be paid for care. Licensed providers are listed with 4Cs Resource & Referral, and are referred to parents looking for care. Contact R&R at 544-3077 if you are interested in becoming licensed.
For more information on the 4Cs Voucher Programs, contact the ECES Client Services Director at 707-544-3077.
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