How to Enroll

Enrollment Process

To enroll your child in the program, the YMCA requires a one hour meeting with staff, or more time as appropriate, to complete the required paperwork. This meeting enables our staff to understand the needs of your child, and gives you a chance to learn about our programs.

By signing the enrollment forms, the enrolling parent or legal guardian is certifying that they have legal physical custody and authority for the child. California law requires that parents who have joint legal custody have equal access to all information regarding the child.

If you have legal issues, court orders must be submitted to prevent the other parent or legal guardian from certain activities such as picking up the child or visiting the child at the Center. We reserve the right, however, to prohibit individuals from being at the Center if the health and safety of any child is threatened or compromised.

Eligibillity for Enrollment

Enrollment is open to all families who qualify for services. Certain criteria determine which families have the highest priority for placement in state and federally funded programs. In order to qualify for full-day services, parents must verify that they are in training, school, or working.

All Head Start and subsidized child care and development programs have eligibility criteria that must be met by all families and children enrolled. See the specific criteria by program listed below.

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, in order to be enrolled in any full day or full year program all adults counted in the family size must have a documented need for child care services for the days and hours of enrollment in the child care portion of the program. Documentation verifying need for care, employment /training or school hours must be received prior to program enrollment.

If your family participates in a full day child development program, it is your responsibility to notify the YMCA of any changes in family income, family size, or reason for needing child care (including changes in the adult’s training/work schedule of school/ employer) during the year. Documentation will be requested to verify these changes and the child’s service hours will be reduced or expanded based on current status. Evaluation of your family’s eligibility and need for subsidized child care services will be made annually.

Should changes occur affecting eligibility or need for care in any State-funded program requires a Notice of Action form given to parents at least 14 days in advance of the effective date of the change (or mailed to parents at least 19 days in advance of the effective date of the change). 

For some programs, re-enrollment is required annually. This means you may have to re-apply, bringing proof of income, employment, and or school in order to remain in the program. Any change in family income, family size, marital status, work/school, or anything affecting eligibility, must be reported immediately. Health and TB clearances are also required to be submitted on a regular basis, depending on your child’s age. It is your responsibility to provide the program with updated information. Please notify the family advocate for your center if there are any changes in your family status. Inaccurate information or failure to report changes may result in termination of program services.

There are NO fees for Head Start, Early Head Start or State Preschool services if the family meets the income or other eligibility requirement. State subsidized child care has a family fee scale based on your income and family size.