The Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education CARE Program is a program for EOPS students who are single parent students receiving CalWORKs/cash aid and have child(ren) under the age of 14. The aim of CARE is to assist single parents receiving CalWORKs to increase their educational skills, enhance their employability, become more confident and self-sufficient, encourage success and the transition from cash aid to financial independence.

The CARE Program offers above and beyond services such as:

• Cash Grants
• Child Care Assistance
• Textbook assistance
• Extended Education Plan
• Priority Registration
• Personal Problem Solving/Counseling
• Academic Counseling
• Help purchasing graduation caps and gowns
• Fee waivers for university applications
• Help with Transportation
• Meal allowance in the cafeteria

To be eligible a student must:

1. Be an eligible full-time EOPS student with 2.0 GPA (good standing);

2. Be a single parent/head of household;

3. Student must be 18 years of age or older;

4. Must be a CalWORKs/cash aid recipient;

5. Have a child(ren) under fourteen (14) years of age;

Welcome to the CARE Online Orientation

What is CARE?

The CARE Program is a state funded assistance program created to help EOPS Students who are single parents with a child under 14 years of age and receiving cash aid. The CARE Program is above and beyond the EOPS Program.

The Services provided through this program are:

• Additional Book allowance
• Transportation (tokens) although you are an EOPS student you may only receive tokens by the CARE Program not both programs.
• Meals you are eligible for one meal per day up to a maximum allotment per day at the Viking Grill. Please have your picture ID ready for the cafeteria person and sign the meal sheet with full signature. No initials will be accepted. Always let them know you’re a CARE student so that they do not ring up your order and then have to back it out of their register. This will save time for both you and them. Please be nice. The Viking Grill does have the right to refuse you service.
• CARE Grant: The amount of the grant will be based on funding and divided by how many students are on the program. However, you must be in good standing with the EOPS requirements and be enrolled in the number of units that you were accepted into the EOPS Program. 12 units or if a DSPS student you must have a waiver in your EOPS file that you were accepted into our program with the number of units stated on the DSPS waiver.
• Child Care: Child care monies are paid to your child care provider once per month. The amount will be determined by the budget and how many students needing the service.
• All services on based on first come first served and are subject to decrease in amount or ended. Once the money is depleted the services will stop.

Student Responsibilities

In order to remain on the CARE Program the CARE student must meet all the EOPS Program obligations. If you are dismissed by the EOPS program for any reason, even though you are in good standing in the CARE Program you will be dismissed from the CARE program also. So, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of doing all the requirements that the State requires the EOPS program have you do.

The following are the obligations that the EOPS/CARE student must do:

• Attend mandatory CARE Meetings
• See the EOPS Academic counselor (2) time per semester, or if you’re a DSPS Student see your DSPS Academic counselor 2 times per semester.
• Attend 3 workshops each semester
• Meet with your designated EOPS Peer Advisor 1 time per semester
• Provide TANF Untaxed income verification form prior to each year to get re-qualified
• Tutorial hours must be done weekly. New students must do 3 hours weekly, unless accepted into the program on probation then they must do 5 hours weekly. Students below a 2.70 overall GPS must also do 3 hours weekly.
• Turn in a progress report by the due date each semester. The due date should be listed in your EOPS/CARE calendar.
• Complete 12 units with an overall GPA of 2.0 or above or if DSPS complete the number of units you were approved with on the EOPS Program.

Click for the CARE Online Orientation Quiz.