Similarly, while the law intends for parents to choose the child care that suits them best, they are limited to those providers who will tolerate lengthy delays in payment. Across the state, delays in provider payment, sometimes of as much as three to six months, have been persistently reported. 5 Additional confusion exists about Stages 2 and 3 child care because CDE has failed to issue any regulations on CalWORKs child care. 6 CalWORKs child care is an essential part of the important bargain between participants and the state. If participants obtain jobs or placements, the law guarantees child care so that the participants can succeed.
Responsibility rests on both sides of the equation.
However, what exists now is a lag period in which participants have been pressured to move quickly into the workplace, but the state, through its agencies and contractors, is moving much more slowly to meet its side of the bargain. Advocacy is crucial to bridge this gap, so that participants have a chance to cross safely before time runs out on their limited aid. The materials contained on this web site have been prepared by Western Center on Law and Poverty, Inc. for informational use only and are not legal advice. By placing information on this web site, WCLP does not intend to create an attorney-client relationship with any user of this site. Internet subscribers and online readers should seek professional counsel for their specific legal matters.