Child Care Subsidies

CalWORKS is a Welfare-to-Work program for adults with dependent children. In order to meet the requirements, families must be working, in job training, transitioning off welfare, or have special family needs. This program serves parents receiving TANF cash aid (welfare). New welfare recipients go through a CalWORKs orientation. During the first few months after they attend this orientation, the child care (chosen by the parent) is paid for while they are receiving TANF cash aid and participating in an approved program.  Once the CalWORKs parents are working or in a stable job-training situation, they may get transferred to a Stage 2 Calworks program. Parents can continue receiving child care in Stage 2 for 24 months after they stop receiving TANF cash aid if they meet the eligibility requirements. Parents who need additional assistance with childcare payment after the 24 months period will get transferred to stage 3.  For more information regarding Calworks programs, please contact the Department of Human Services at (415) 557-5000.

Non-CalWORKs Programs: Wu Yee Children’s Services have City Fund and Vendor Voucher child care subsidies programs to assist low-income families with children 0-3 years old, who are not enrolled into Calworks, to pay for child care through a licensed provider of their choice. The programs are both funded locally by the City and County of San Francisco. Families interested in accessing this program should enroll in the San Francisco Centralized Eligibility list (SFCEL).

The San Francisco Child Care Eligibility List (SFCEL) gives families access to many subsidized child care programs that cover all or part of their child care costs.  With the SFCEL, families can apply for child care and development programs all over San Francisco through a single application.

Child care subsidy programs enroll families based on factors such as income, family size, and other needs as spaces become available.  Families are not selected on a first-come first-served basis.

You must be income-eligible.  Your gross (pre-tax) monthly family income must be at or below the amount listed for your family size.

Family Size	1-2	3	4	5	6
Gross (pre-tax) Monthly Income*	$3,283	$3,518	$3,908	$4,534	$5,159

SFCEL

SFCEL does not guarantee a child care opening. If you do not update your records as your information changes, you may no longer be eligible for a program.

For more information on non-Calworks Subsidies programs or CEL, please call Wu Yee Children’s Services at (415) 677-0100.  To download a SFCEL application, please visit the SFCEL website.