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Finding Help to Pay for Child Care or Preschool
Financial assistance to pay for child care or preschool programs
may be available to your family, though there is not sufficient
State or Federal funding to help all low-income families who need
it. (Note that a free Preschool for All program has begun for 4-year-olds from Redwood City families of all incomes.) Subsidies are available either through:
- Child care/preschool centers or family child care homes that have subsidized spaces,
or
- Voucher-type (“Alternative Payment”) subsidies
which parents can use in the child care program of their choice.
Both types of programs must use the same income-eligibility guidelines
and sliding fee schedule, as determined by the California Department
of Education (except for Head Start). The maximum household income
level is approximately $38,000 per year for a family of 4 (lower
for Head Start).
State-funded Centers
To find names of State-funded centers (full-day or part-day) for
children of low-income families, look for programs indicated with
** on the lists of Redwood City programs:
Call each program to check for openings and get on an eligibility
list. The Redwood City School District’s Child Development
Centers operate programs for children 3 years to 1st grade at some
school sites (included on the lists); call the main number to ask
about those: 568-3820.
Alternative Payment/Voucher Programs
Programs of this type are administered through:
- Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County, Inc.(4C):
655-6777
- Professional Association of Childhood Educators (PACE): 800-541-9922.
Call each program to determine your eligibility and get on the
list.
In addition, CalWORKS (welfare) recipients or those who were recently
on welfare are eligible for child care assistance for a period of
time. Contact the CalWORKS Redwood City office at 363-4294, or the
4C CalWORKS child care line at 800-944-2273.
Types of Subsidized Child Care/Preschool Centers
in Redwood City
State Preschool is a half-day preschool enrichment program, for
3- and 4-year old children, to prepare them for school. Parents
do not need to be working to qualify, but must be low-income.
- Redwood City School District offers State Preschool classes
at a number of elementary school sites; call 568-3820 for information.
- Community Education Center offers bilingual State Preschool
classes at Taft and Hoover Schools (780-7517).
Head Start is a similar program for very low-income families, funded
by the Federal government. Early Head Start serves children under
3 years. Additional health and social services and parent education
for families are provided. Fair Oaks Head Start serves the Redwood
City community: 368-2698.
'General Child Care'
Full-day child development programs are available for low-income
families who must work, or attend school or job training. Programs
may serve any age groups from birth to 12 years. In Redwood City,
the following programs have these funds:
- Redwood City Child Development Program (12 months to 5 years):
780-7520
- Plaza Child Development Center(Family Service Agency, 2.5-5
yrs): 369-0527
- Redwood City School District’s Child Development Centers
(preschool and/or afterschool care for Kindergarten & 1st
graders at various schools): 568-3820
- Child Development Incorporated (CDI, before and after-school
care for Kindergarten to 6th grade, at Henry Ford and John Gill
Schools): 368-1138/364-1178.
Teen Parent (CAL-SAFE)
These programs provide child care while teen parents attend high
school or community college. Family Service Agency provides the program for children
birth to 2 years at Redwood High School, that serves students in
the Sequoia High School District: 306-1780.
Family Child Care Networks
Family Service Agency provide subsidized care in licensed Family
Child Care Homes in Redwood City and other south county cities:
403-4300.
For more information, contact the Redwood City Child Care Coordinator,
Kristen Anderson at 780-7336 or kmanderson@redwoodcity.org.
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