Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP)

a "how to" guide to help you navigate the application process for CAPP in California.

What is the CAPP program?

CAPP helps you pay for child care. The state gives money toward your child care costs. The best part is that you pick the provider. You can choose a licensed child care center, a licensed family child care home, or even a relative, friend, or neighbor (with some rules). This lets you find care that fits your family.

CAPP is for low-income families who need child care so they can work, go to school, or look for a job. It is paid for by the state. Local agencies run it in each county.

Am I eligible for CAPP?

To qualify, your family must meet one rule about income AND one rule about need.

Income rules (meet at least one):

  • Your family income is at or below 85% of the state's middle income for your family size. For a family of three, that is about $89,659 a year right now. The exact number depends on your family size and changes each year. Your local agency can tell you the current number.
  • Your family does not have stable housing, or you are looking for a permanent home.
  • Your child gets child protective services, or is at risk of abuse or neglect.
  • Someone in your home gets Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC, the California Food Assistance Program, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

Need rules (meet at least one):

  • You are working, looking for work, in school, or in job training.
  • You are unable to care for your child, as shown by a doctor or specialist.
  • You are looking for a permanent home.
  • Your child gets child protective services, or is at risk of abuse or neglect.

(These need rules also count for the other parent in your home.)

Other things to know:

  • Age: CAPP serves children age 12 and under. A child age 13 or older with special needs may join if they have an IEP and a letter from a doctor or specialist.
  • Where you live: You must live in California. You work with the agency in your county.
  • Immigration status: Your child's immigration status does not block them from getting care.

You may qualify but still have to wait. There are not enough spots for everyone. Spots go in order. Children who need protective services come first. Then families with the lowest income. So many families go on a waiting list until a spot opens.

How do I apply to CAPP?

There is no single form for all of California. You apply through the agency in your county. This is usually your child care Resource & Referral agency (called an "R&R"). They put you on a waiting list. This list is often called the Centralized Eligibility List, or CEL. Getting on this list can help you with more than one program at once.

Find your local R&R agency: mychildcareplan.org/local-rr-directory — a list of every R&R, by county.

Or search by ZIP code or city: mychildcareplan.org/find-child-care

Call the free statewide hotline: 1-800-543-7793 (English and Spanish). They will connect you to your local R&R.

State (CDSS) info on these programs: cdss.ca.gov – Subsidized Programs

How you apply can be by phone, in person, mail, or online. It depends on your agency. Most agencies start by phone or a web form.

One note: if you are on cash aid now (CalWORKs), or were in the last 24 months, you may go through a different child care program. Tell your case worker you need child care, and they can point you the right way.

How long does it take to get help from CAPP?

CAPP does not give you cash. The state pays your provider for you. So you do not get money in hand. Instead, your child care cost is paid for or made smaller. (You may still owe a small fee based on your income. See the FAQs.)

What do the application steps look like?

  1. Find your local R&R agency. Use the directory or the hotline above.
  2. Ask about CAPP. Ask to be put on the waiting list (the Centralized Eligibility List).
  3. Fill out the application. Share your income, family size, and your need for care.
  4. Turn in all your documents (see the next part). Fill out the whole form and add every paper they ask for. Missing papers are a top reason families get delayed or turned down.
  5. Wait for an offer. When a paid spot fits your place on the list, the agency will call or mail you. Keep your phone number and address up to date. If they can't reach you, you could lose your spot.
  6. Pick your provider. Choose a licensed center, a licensed family child care home, or a relative, friend, or neighbor. If you pick a relative, friend, or neighbor, they must be approved first. Then your child can start.

What documents do I need for my application?

The exact documents can be different by agency. But you will likely need:

To show your income or how you qualify

  • Recent pay stubs, or other proof of income for everyone in your home
  • If you qualify through another program: your Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, or WIC letter
  • If it applies: a CPS or at-risk letter, or a letter about not having stable housing

To show your need for care

  • Proof you work, go to school, or are in job training
  • If it applies: a doctor's note about not being able to care for your child

To show your family size

  • Birth certificates for your children. Or custody, guardianship, adoption, or foster care papers.

To show you live in California

  • lease agreement, mortgage receipts, or an ID with your current California address.

Other papers (if they apply)

  • Shot records, an IEP or IFSP, or court orders about care hours

What happens after I apply to CAPP?

After you apply, your family goes on the list. You get a spot in line based on priority. Children who need protective services come first. Then families with the lowest income. If two families are tied, the spot goes to a child with special needs first, then a family whose main language is not English.

When a paid spot opens that fits your place in line, the agency calls or mails you. They check your income, family size, and papers again before you start.

What if something changes after I qualify?

Once you are signed up, you may need to report some changes. These include:

  • A change in your income (most of all, if it goes above the limit)
  • A change in your family size
  • A change in your work, school, or training
  • A change in your child care provider
  • A new address or phone number

Report changes to the agency that runs your care. 

Common questions

Can I really pick my own provider?
Yes. This is the main thing that makes CAPP different. You can pick a licensed child care center, a licensed family child care home, or a relative, friend, or neighbor. A relative, friend, or neighbor must be approved by the agency first. Your children can even have different providers.

Can I get care at night or on weekends?
Often, yes. Care can be full-time or part-time. It can be during the day, in the evening, overnight, or on weekends. It depends on your need and your provider.

Do I have to pay anything?
You may owe a small fee based on your income. Families below 75% of the state's middle income pay no fee. Fees are capped for families above that. Families who get CalWORKs cash aid, and some others, pay nothing. You can find the current fee chart on the CDSS child care site (search "family fee schedule").

Who cannot get help?
CAPP does not pay private school tuition for kids in kindergarten or grade school.

Who do I contact about my application?

Call the R&R agency where you applied. They handle your spot on the list and your sign-up. Not sure who that is? Use the Local R&R Directory or call the free hotline at 1-800-543-7793.