child Care Assistance Program

To qualify for assistance, families must be income eligible or have a referral from Child Protective Services. In addition, some programs require that the parent(s) be working, seeking employment, attending school/training, or being medically incapacitated to qualify.

Join the Waitlist

To begin the enrollment process, kindly add your name to the waitlist. Should you have any inquiries regarding the waitlist, please refer to the Q&A section below for further information, or feel free to contact our helpline. We are delighted to assist you.

Waitlist Q&A

  • The Go Kids Waiting List is a list of eligible families that need help paying for childcare and would like to be considered for an opening at a Go Kids program. Families that qualify may receive free or low-cost subsidized childcare in Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, or Monterey counties.

  • Go Kids administers state-funded childcare programs. When there are openings, staff contact eligible families from the Go Kids Waiting List for enrollment.

  • State guidelines require that the neediest family be served first. Go Kids requires parents to submit documentation regarding income, employment and/or training status, and other important factors during the enrollment process. In addition, some programs are designed to serve only families who meet specific requirements. For example, Migrant programs are for seasonal agricultural workers only.

  • Contact Go Kids to report any changes as they may affect your eligibility. Changes that should be reported include:

    • New address

    • New phone number

    • Income changes

    • Change in family size (new baby, marriage, a child turns 18, etc. )

  • The state knows that parents make different decisions on how to spend their income. The most equitable way to determine eligibility is to use gross monthly income before taxes or any special deductions are taken out. The state requires that we follow these guidelines.