San Diego County provides a streamlined service for applying for subsidized childcare called the San Diego County Centralized Eligibility Waitlist. This waitlist partners with agencies around the county that offer tuition reimbursement for childcare services. Phoenix House is proud to partner with most of these subsidizing agencies to help offset the cost of tuition for our families.

Many families are unaware that they qualify for subsidized childcare. If you meet any of the following criteria, you likely qualify for childcare reimbursement in San Diego:

• Your annual household income is less than $60,000

• You or your family member are participants of the following means-tested government programs:

  • Medi-Cal

  • CalFRESH (SNAP)

  • California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

  • WIC

  • The Federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

  • Head Start

  • Early Head Start

• You or your family member is:

  • Current CalWORKs aid recipient

  • Have a child with an active Child Protective Services (CPS) case or are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation

  • Experiencing homelessness

Phoenix House requires families who wish to utilize Tiers A or B to apply to the Centralized Eligibility List and provide proof of application denial OR waitlist status every sixty days.

As a small family child care license, Phoenix House can only sustainably offer significantly reduced childcare to a select number of families each month. Requiring proof of application to the Central Eligibility List helps ensure that families who are eligible for subsidies receive them as soon as possible, easing their financial burden while dually ensuring that our program can continue to provide high-quality services to our families.

This requirement allows as many families as possible the opportunity to take advantage of our in-house equity-based tuition program while being matched with a subsidizing agency more equip to financially manage their care needs as quickly as possible.

Voluntary Disclosure:

Families are under no obligation to share their financial circumstances with Phoenix House unless they intend to take advantage of our equity-based tuition program. If you prefer, you are always welcome to pay our base tuition fees (tier E) without verifying your income.

Our goal is to support as many families as possible while maintaining fairness and transparency in our tuition structure.

To ensure fair placement within our sliding scale tuition tiers, Phoenix House requires each primary parent/caregiver utilizing our equity-based tuition model to verify their income by submitting the following documents:

1. 2023 Federal and State Tax Return:

   • This provides a comprehensive view of your annual income.

2. Additionally, at least one of the following documents:

   • Pay Stubs: Recent pay stubs covering the last three months.

   • Employment Verification Letter: A letter from your employer stating your job title, length of employment, and current salary or hourly wage.

   • Bank Statements: Recent bank statements from the last three months showing regular deposits from your employer or other sources of income.

   • Social Security Benefit Statements: The most recent benefit statement or award letter from the Social Security Administration.

   • Unemployment Benefit Statements: Recent statements or award letters detailing the amount and duration of unemployment benefits.

   • Child Support or Alimony Documentation: Court orders or official statements showing the amount and frequency of child support or alimony payments.

   • Self-Employment Income: Copies of recent tax returns with Schedule C, profit and loss statements, or 1099 forms. Bank statements showing deposits from clients are also acceptable.

   • Public Assistance Documentation: Official documentation or award letters for programs such as TANF, SNAP, or housing assistance.

   • Pension or Retirement Income: Statements or award letters from pension plans or retirement accounts detailing the amount and frequency of payments received.

Submission Process:

• Families can securely submit these documents via our chosen encrypted digital storage service. Instructions for uploading documents will be provided to ensure a secure and straightforward process. Families who are more comfortable submitting a physical copy of their documents are warmly welcomed to do so.

Verifying your income helps us maintain the integrity of our equity-based tuition model, ensuring that all families receive fair and appropriate tuition rates.

Please note, families paying for tuition with subsidized childcare do not need to report their income to Phoenix House. Their tuition rates are determined by the maximum subsidy amount allowed by their program plus a fixed copay.

We are committed to making quality childcare accessible to all families. For those utilizing subsidized reimbursement programs, we have a clear and straightforward tuition policy to ensure consistency and transparency.

Families using subsidized reimbursement will be charged the maximum agency reimbursement rate plus a private copay. The copay amounts are as follows:

• For children aged 4-24 months:

  • Full-Time Tuition: Maximum Agency Reimbursement Rate + $200 private copay/month

  • Part-Time Tuition: Maximum Agency Reimbursement Rate + $100 private copay/month

• For children aged 2-5 years:

  • Full-Time Tuition: Maximum Agency Reimbursement Rate + $250 private copay/month

  • Part-Time Tuition: Maximum Agency Reimbursement Rate + $150 private copay/month

For example, if the YMCA reimburses $1,215/month for a 4-24 month-old child in full-time care, the monthly tuition for that family would be $1,415 ($1,215 reimbursement paid by the agency and $200 copay paid by the family).

Please note that specific subsidized rates are subject to change depending on the agency. To streamline our rates and maintain fairness, we require the maximum subsidy plus the designated copay amount regardless of the subsidizing agency being utilized. This policy helps us continue providing high-quality care while supporting families who need financial assistance. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact us.

We understand that families may need additional childcare beyond our regular hours. To support these needs, we offer extended care between 7:30-8:30am and 4:30-5:30pm, Monday through Thursday.

Extended Care Details:

• Copay: $16 per hour

• Hours Available: 7:30-8:30am and 4:30-5:30pm, Monday-Thursday

• Payment: Extended care copays are due on the day of care use. Invoices will be sent out via Brightwheel upon receipt of parent/caregiver notification.

Extended Care Agreements:

• For families who need to make regular use of extended care hours, we can draft an extended care agreement with a fixed schedule.

• Families without an agreement will need to notify Phoenix House via text or email at least 24 hours before each time that extended care is needed.

Please note that we do not currently offer any rate reduction options for extended care. However, we are actively working towards offering such options in the future. If you have any questions or need more information about our extended care services, please feel free to contact us directly.

We understand the importance of privacy and security when it comes to your personal information, especially with regards to income verification. Phoenix House is committed to protecting the confidentiality of your income details and tier status.

Confidentiality:

• Your income information and tier status are only accessible to the immediate administration team for the purpose of tier placement. We do not disclose this information to anyone outside of this group.

Security Measures:

• We utilize multiple layers of security protection to ensure the confidentiality and security of your information. Our systems are designed to safeguard your personal data and prevent unauthorized access.

Respectful Verification:

• We take great care to verify tier eligibility in the least invasive ways possible, ensuring that your experience remains respectful and stress-free.

Your trust is important to us, and we strive to maintain the highest standards of privacy and security throughout the onboarding process.