Regional Centers may be able to fund specialized child care services (sometimes referred to as day care, child care, or specialized supervision) for parents who work full-time or are enrolled in full-time job training or education programs that will lead to employment and can only take place beyond the child’s school day. Some Regional Centers may offer exceptions to rules regarding what kind of work or study a parent must be engaged in to receive day care services; limited or one-time exceptions may be made for parents who are working part-time, studying for a licensing exam, doing volunteer work that helps Regional Center families, etc. In order to receive funding for day care services, the child’s care and supervision needs must exceed that of a non-disabled child of the same age, such that they cannot participate in regular childcare resources in the community (such as day care centers, after-school programs, YMCA, and others). The care hours are usually awarded during periods when a child is not in school, e.g., after school or during school vacations.
For more information about this topic, see our article Respite and Specialized Supervision 101.
