In 1982, the State established the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program in the California Community Colleges as “a unique educational program geared toward the welfare recipient who desires job-relevant education to break the dependency cycle.”

Presently, 106 accredited colleges in all 71 districts of the California Community College system offer CARE programs and services annually to over 11,000 welfare-dependent single heads of household who seek a viable alternative to continued public assistance for personal and family support. CARE is the only state-funded program of its kind nationwide.