• Subsidized child care helps lower income families by covering their child care costs, based on financial need.

Who qualifies for subsidized child care?

• Eligibility is based on a need for service and state income guidelines.
• Income requirements, based on family size, are established by the California  Department of Education, Child Development Division.

Child care need is based on one or more of the following:

• Employment
• Enrollment in school/training
• Incapacitated– unable to care for your child(ren) for part of the day
• Referral from Child Protective Services or a legally qualified professional
• Seeking Employment 

What sources of income count?

• wages/salaries
• self-employment profits
• child/spousal support
• cash aid (TANF or CalWORKS)
• disability insurance payments, other income

• Contact Choices for Children and all other agencies who offer subsidized child care. Each agency must be called separately.  If you are determined to be eligible, you will be placed on each agency's wait list.

When should I update my application?

• Whenever your personal information changes (income, family size, need for child care, address, phone number, etc.) call us immediately.  These changes can affect your rank number, and it is important to keep current, accurate information.

• The wait varies. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to give you an estimate.  Contact is made when child care slots become available, starting with eligible families at the lowest rank number and continuing until funding runs out or all spaces are filled.  Being on the Choices for Children Wait List or any other agency wait list is not a guarantee of services.

 
Other Agencies with Subsidy Wait Lists

• El Dorado County Office of Education                    
         1286 Kyburz South Lake Tahoe         
•        (530) 543-8200
•        Services: State Preschool
• Lake Tahoe Child Development Center
          3441 Spruce Ave. South Lake Tahoe
          (530) 541-5887
          Services: Preschool and school-age child care, 
          open 24-hours, 7 days a week    
  
• Lake Tahoe Community College Child Development Center
          One College Drive South Lake Tahoe                                 
          (530) 541-4660
          Services: Infant care, Preschool, full-cost child care
• Tahoe Montessori House of Children
          848 Glorene Ave. South Lake Tahoe
          (530) 544-1818
          Services: State Preschool, full-cost child care and
          K-5 elementary school classes
  

• Tahoe Valley State Preschool
          943 Tahoe Island Drive, South Lake Tahoe
          (530) 543-2350
          Services: State Preschool

               
• Under the Magic Pine Tree               
          2111 South Ave. South Lake Tahoe
          (530) 541-4848
          Services: State Preschool, full-cost preschool and 
          school-age child care

• Happy Kids Child Care Centers:
          Happy Kids # 1
          2786 Coloma Street  Placerville
          (530) 626-0344
          Happy Kids # 2
          3900 Ponderosa Street  Shingle Springs
          (530) 677-0551
          Happy Kids # 3
          2635 Cambridge Rd.  Cameron Park
          (530) 676-2223
          Services: General child care, State Preschool,
          full-cost preschool and child care

• Choices For Children
          1029 Takela Drive Suite 1 South Lake Tahoe
          (530) 541-5848
           3161 Cameron Park Drive Suite 101 Cameron Park
          (530) 676-0707
          Services: Alternative Payment Program, Resource      
          and Referral
  
• El Dorado County Office of Education
          (530) 295-2270 or (530) 295-2276
          Locations: Camino, Rescue, Placerville,             
          Georgetown, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park,        
          Pollock Pines, El Dorado, and El Dorado Hills
          Services: Early Head Start, Head Start,
          State Preschool, and full-cost preschool
  
• Professional Association for Childhood Education Alternative Payment Program (PACEAPP)
         6355 Riverside Blvd. Suite T  Sacramento
         (916)429-8792 or (866) 262-4453
         Services: Alternative Payment Program