Is daycare fraud widespread or just isolated cases being amplified?

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This is how the daycare fraud works:
– “You watch my kid, I’ll watch yours”
– Enroll these kids into “daycares”
– Collect money from the government
– You and your family then get to live off government subsidies

California has over 35,000+ licensed daycare facilities

The state reimburses subsidized daycare providers via Regional Market Rate (RMR) ceilings or Standard Reimbursement Rate (~$55/day base for full-time, or ~$1,000–$1,800+/month per child depending on county, age, & type like center vs. family home—based on 2018/2021 data).

Plus monthly “cost of care plus” supplement: $152–$230 per licensed child (varies by region; extended/increased thru 2028).

One-time stabilization: ~$431 per licensed child (Apr 2025 enrollment).

No single fixed amount—varies. See CDSS reimbursement ceilings for details.