Frequently Asked Questions to CEL

Will I be able to meet families before I enroll them?
Yes, you can still request that families visit you first before an enrollment occurs. You and the family can decide if there is a good match.

Will parents be able to pick my center when they initially apply in the centralized eligibility list?
Yes, parents will be able to select a specific child care provider. Families will also be able to indicate any needs, preferences or requirements. These may include special needs, language, type of child care, location, etc.

The CEL would include information that would make a match between the family and the child care provider easier. In addition, the CEL could inform parents and providers about other programs and services.

How will a center add a family to the list?
Each center can add a family at their site by using simple computer software or access to an internet platform. A family will still be able to visit or call your center to apply for child care. With the CEL, they would have more ways to get on the list (It has been proposed that they could apply through their own computer, a public library’s computer, by phone, through other child care providers or at other service agencies, or by mail). When there is an opening, child care providers would still need to get full information and documentation from the family to enroll the eligible children. Currently, parents have to apply at several child care providers. And some child care provider must manually enter and maintain information for many families. When an opening occurs, the process to find a new family on handwritten logs is inefficient.

Will personal information about a family be confidential and secure?
Yes. First, only authorized providers will be given information on how to access this list. Second, the most up-to-date technology can ensure the highest electronic security so that personal and private information will be safe.

Will a larger provider have an advantage from a smaller child care provider?
On the CEL, information about families is neutral unless the parent selects a certain center or provider. When any center has any opening, they can contact a family and indicate on the centralized list that the family is in a pending status. Other participating providers will agree not to contact that family during that time.

Currently, the number of families on lists maintain by several individual centers is bigger than the number of subsidized slots in county as well as any openings that occur. That is, there are more children who qualify for subsidized child care than there are available slots. All types of providers could find eligible families and keep fill openings quickly with the CEL.

Is there a way that we can search for families who are only interested in specific program types?
 During the time of application entry

  • At the child form click on Preferences This page gives the user an opportunity to define the individual child care/ child development needs of the child.
  • At the Providers box-Select the programs/agencies the parent prefers services from.
  • At the Agencies box DO NOT USE this field. Only CEL Administration should use this function. If a parent wants to be excluded from a specific agency during an eligibility search they need to call CEL admin and complete and sign an exclusion letter.
  • At the Preferred Program box- Click on the pull down arrow
      1/2 day SPS
      AP Program
      Bakersfield Adult School
      CalWORKs
      CDD Center
      CDE After School Program
      Child Care Center
      Family Child Care Home
      Head Start
      Other CDD Subsidized

    Select the parents preferred program type.

  • At the Requested Care Schedule – Select the schedule the parent needs.

    How do I find families who request a specific program type?
    If the families were entered correctly you will find them.

  • Select Eligibility Search”
  • At the Family Criteria tab, scroll to the right and select Child Criteria
  • In the right column you will see a search option Preferred Program Select the program type
  • Select Search
  • A list of children and families that requested a specific program type will appear. Remember this will only work if the specific program type is selected when the family is entered into the CEL system

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