How to Apply: Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN)

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

FCCHEN helps you pay for child care in the home of a licensed provider. The provider joins a local network and gives your child more than just care. Your child also gets early learning, healthy meals, and check-ins on how they are growing. The provider gets coaching and support too.

FCCHEN is not one office. Local agencies run it in each area. The state pays for it.

Am I eligible for FCCHEN?

FCCHEN is part of California's subsidized child care. 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, in job training, unable to care for your child, or looking for a home. (This also counts for the other parent in your home.)
• A legal, medical, or social services agency says your child needs care. Or your family does not have stable housing.

Other things to know:

• Age: FCCHEN serves children from birth up to age 13. Some networks only take younger children, like birth to age 4 or 5. A child age 13 or older may join if they have special needs, an IEP, and a letter from a doctor or specialist. Ages can change by agency.
• Where you live: You must live in California. You work with the network 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 FCCHEN?

There is no single form for all of California. You apply by calling the child care Resource & Referral agency in your county. The R&R helps you get on the list. They check if you qualify. Then they connect you to an FCCHEN provider near you, if there is one.

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 info on R&R help:cdss.ca.gov – Resource and Referral

How you apply can be by phone, in person, mail, or online. It depends on your agency. There is no one website for the whole state. Most R&Rs start by phone or a web form.

How long does it take to get help from FCCHEN?

FCCHEN 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)

Wait times are very different for each family. It depends on funding and where you fall on the list. Families with top priority, like a child who needs protective services, may start fast. Others may wait months or longer until a paid spot opens.

What do the application steps look like?

1. Find your local R&R agency. Use the directoryor the hotline above.
2. Ask about FCCHEN. Ask to be put on the waiting list for subsidized child care.
3. Fill out the application with the R&R. Share your income, family size, and your need for care.
4. Turn in all your documents Fill out the whole form and add every document they ask for. Missing documents 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 you. Keep your phone number and address up to date. If they can't reach you, you could lose your spot.
6. Pick an FCCHEN provider from the network. 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

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 statement, or ID with current address.

Other papers (if they apply)

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

What happens after I apply to FCCHEN?

After you apply, your family goes on the list. You get a spot in line based on priority.

When a paid spot opens that fits your place in line, the agency calls you. They finish your sign-up and check your documents.

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 new address or phone number

Report changes to the R&R agency or provider that runs your care.

Common questions

Can I get FCCHEN anywhere in California?Every county has an R&R agency. But not every area has an FCCHEN provider all the time. It depends on funding. Your R&R can tell you if one is near you.

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").

.Is the application in other languages?Yes, in part. The MyChildCarePlan website and the hotline offer English and Spanish. The site also has Chinese (Traditional) and Vietnamese. Translated forms and in-language help can be different by agency.

Can my child stay with the same provider?Yes. FCCHEN is built to last. Your child can stay as long as you still qualify and your spot stays funded.

Who do I contact about my application?

Call the R&R agency or FCCHEN provider 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.

Last updated June 29, 2026