Among the many expenses you will incur as a parent, the cost of quality child care is one of the most necessary but also among the most costly. Working families in the U.S. are increasingly feeling the pinch of paying for child care. In fact, the cost of infant care in at least 33 states is higher than the average cost of college tuition.
Parents want to make sure that the care their children are receiving is high-quality care, but the associated costs can be a tough pill to swallow. Luckily, there are several government-sponsored child care assistance programs (also called subsidies, vouchers and fee assistance) available to families in the U.S. that are finding it difficult to make ends meet while working full-time and paying for the child care they need.
What are child care assistance programs?
Child care assistance programs are government-sponsored programs that help offset the costs of child care for qualified families. Each state receives funds from the federal government, which they are required to use to financially support these programs. Although the bulk of the financial support comes from these federal funds, states also include money from their own budgets to supplement the programs, but those amounts vary from state to state.
Families that qualify to utilize these programs receive financial assistance for child care-related costs in the form of vouchers, fee assistance or subsidies.
Read more: “9 child care subsidies every family should know about”
How can a family apply for child care assistance programs?
In general, a family will qualify for child care assistance programs if they meet their state’s low income guidelines and if they require child care in order to work or to look for work. Families can also be granted child care assistance in cases where the parent needs to attend employment-related training.
Most government-sponsored child care assistance programs are aimed at helping mid- to lower-income families, but you should check with your local Child Care Services office to find out what the specific requirements are in your state.
To find out how the child care assistance programs in your state work and how to apply for them, look for your state’s Child Care Services office listed below and contact it directly.
Child care assistance grantee contacts by state & territory
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Alabama: Child Care Services Division, Alabama Department of Human Resources
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American Samoa: Child Care Division, American Samoa Department of Human and Social Services
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Arizona: Child Care Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security
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Arkansas: Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Arkansas Department of Human Services
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California: Early Education and Support Division (EESD), California Department of Education
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Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs
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Connecticut: Bureau of Teaching and Learning, Office of Early Childhood, Connecticut Department of Social Services
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District of Columbia: D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education
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Florida: Office of Early Learning, Florida Department of Education
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Georgia: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
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Guam: Division of Public Welfare, Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services
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Hawaii: Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division, Hawaii Department of Human Services
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Kansas: Economic and Employment Services, Kansas Department for Children and Families
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Kentucky: Department for Community Based Services, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
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Louisiana: Early Childhood Division, Louisiana Department of Education
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Maine: Office of Child Care Family Services, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
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Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
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Michigan: Child Development and Care Program, Office of Great Start, Michigan Department of Education
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Minnesota: Community Partnerships and Child Care Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services
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Mississippi: Policy and Programs Unit, Division of Early Childhood Care and Development, Mississippi Department of Human Services
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Montana: Early Childhood Services Bureau, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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New Hampshire: Child Development Bureau, Division for Children, Youth and Families, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
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New Jersey: Division of Family Development, New Jersey Department of Human Services
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New Mexico: Early Childhood Services Division, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
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New York: Division of Child Care Services, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
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North Carolina: Division of Child Development and Early Education, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
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North Dakota: North Dakota Department of Human Services
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Oklahoma: Child Care Services, Oklahoma Department of Human Services
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Oregon: Office of Child Care, Early Learning Division, Oregon Department of Education
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Pennsylvania: Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services
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Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Administration of Integral Child Care and Development
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Rhode Island: Family and Children’s Services, Rhode Island Department of Human Services
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South Carolina: Division of Child Care Services, South Carolina Department of Social Services
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South Dakota: Division of Child Care Services, South Dakota Department of Social Services
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Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Citizens Plaza State Office Building
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Texas: Workforce Policy and Program Assistance, Workforce Development Division, Texas Workforce Commission
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U.S. Virgin Islands: Office of Child Care and Regulatory Services, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services
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Utah: Office of Child Care, Utah Department of Workforce Services
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Vermont: Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families, Vermont Agency of Human Services
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Virginia: Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Development, Virginia Department of Social Services
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Washington: Washington State Department of Early Learning
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West Virginia: Division of Early Care and Education, Bureau for Children and Families, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
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Wisconsin: Division of Early Care and Education, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
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Wyoming: Early Childhood Division, Wyoming Department of Family Services
Read next: 5 steps to creating a child care budget
