The Inyo County Office Of Education (ICOE), Child Development Division (CDD) receives state and federal funding to provide programs to assist low-income families with the cost of child care services. The Alternative Payment Program and CalWORKs Stages 1, 2 & 3 programs are operated by ICOE CDD and serve nearly 200 children in Inyo County. These programs allow parents to choose from a variety of child care options to best meet the needs of their children. Child care may be provided in:

• Licensed child care centers

• Licensed family child care homes

• License-exempt homes that meet program requirements 

Alternative Payment Program

• Provides child care assistance for low-income families

• Serves children 0 to 13 years of age

• Families must meet program eligibility and need criteria which is reviewed and verified at least once per year

• Families are enrolled from an Eligibility List (EL) based upon most eligible first

• For more information regarding this child care subsidy program or to request an application for the EL, please call (760) 873-5123 x.0 or childcareconnect@inyocoe.org 

 Check back soon to access the EL application materials online.

CalWORKs Stage 1

• Provides child care assistance for low-income families who currently receive public cash assistance through Inyo County Health & Human Services (HHS)

• Serves children 0 to 13 years of age

• Families must receive a referral from their HHS caseworker to determine eligibility and need for this program.

CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3

• Provides child care assistance for low-income families who previously received public cash assistance through the Department of Social Services

• Serves children 0 to 13 years of age

• Families must meet program eligibility and need criteria which is reviewed and verified at least once per year

• Stage 2:  Families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 2 by documenting that they have been off of public cash assistance for less than two years.  Families may be eligible for these services for up to two years after they no longer receive public cash assistance.  If child care services continue to be needed after the two-year period ends, eligible families may qualify for Stage 3 child care services.

• Stage 3:  Families may qualify for CalWORKs Stage 3 if they transfer directly from a Stage 2 program.  Families may continue to receive child care services through this program as long as funding is available and they continue to meet need and eligibility criteria and program requirements.

How to apply for help with child care payments?

Eligibility list application documents are available to download below:

• Alternative Payment Application 

• Alternative Payment Application (Spanish)

• Verification of Work Form 

• Self-Employment Income and Expense Report

• Self-Employment Declaration

• Additional Application Documents 

  • Parent/Provider Handbook    

  • Parent/Provider Handbook (Spanish)

For more information about any of the child care subsidy programs (i.e. the Alternative Payment Programs), email childcareconnect@inyocoe.org or call (760) 873-5123 x. 2123.

Questions about your provider reimbursements?

Please email childcareconnect@inyocoe.org or call 760-873-5123  x. 2151 for questions about provider reimbursements.