Santa Barbara County Has Made Strong Progress on Addressing the Unmet Need for Child Care

Estimated Number of Children Eligible for and Enrolled in Subsidized Child Care in Santa Barbara County, 2022-2024

Note: Enrollment is for children from birth through age 12 in October 2022-2024, except for California Community College CalWORKs Stage 2, which reflects a California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office estimate for the fall 2024 school term. Excludes children enrolled in the California State Preschool Program or the Handicapped Child Care Program.
Source: California Department of Social Services, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and Budget Center analysis of US Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey data