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SBCEO details Alternative Payment Program serving about 4,000 families and how it operates
Summary
Administrator Janelle Willis described the APP's eligibility, intake, stages (CalWORKs/CAPP), audit processes, monthly claims activity and funding mix (APP roughly 24% federal), and discussed subcontracting options if Head Start funding changes.
Janelle Willis, administrator for early care and education at the Santa Barbara County Office of Education, briefed the board on the Alternative Payment Program (APP), explaining who qualifies, how families enroll and how funds flow to providers.
"It is an assistance program that covers child care from ages birth to age 13," Willis said, outlining family needs assessments and the choice families have about type of care (center, family child care, or family/friend/neighbour care). She explained the CalWORKs stage system and the California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) paths and noted SBCEO handles stages 2 and 3 and coordinates with Department of Social Services for stage 1 intake and audits.
Willis gave operational details: SBCEO processes roughly 3,500–4,500 claims monthly, averaging about 400 checks and 700 direct deposits, and in 2023–24 reported serving more than 4,000 families. She detailed funding flows — roughly $60,000,000 for ECE countywide with about $40,000,000 linked to the alternative payment portion; of APP funding, she noted federal funds comprise about 24% while the overall ECE program is about 26% federal on her figures. Willis said SBCEO retains a portion for administration and indirect costs and passes the majority to providers.
Board members asked about wait lists, eligibility for multigenerational households, and contingencies if federal funding or Head Start changes. Willis said the wait list has fluctuated from thousands to roughly 500 families recently depending on funding inflows and that families may be moved to other local supports as staff work with them. She described plans to expand offices (adding Lompoc locations), hire a counselor to embed services, and pilot outreach such as "coffee with ECE" and quarterly newsletters to keep families and providers informed.
Why it matters: The APP serves thousands of families countywide and the program’s funding and audit processes affect both fiscal operations and access to child care for low‑income households. Board members requested updates on federal funding risks and potential subcontracting arrangements if federal Head Start funding shifts to state funding.
