Care 4 Kids Child Care Subsidy Program

CARE 4 KIDS is the State of Connecticut’s child care subsidy program that helps low to moderate income families pay their child care expenses. The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

WHO CAN PROVIDE CHILD CARE?

Families choose the child care provider they want for their children. Care 4 Kids can help pay for care arrangements that meet the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Division of licensing requirements. For example:

In a public or private school-based child care program that passes a health and safety inspection by the Office of Early Childhood Licensing Program.
In a day care center, family day care home, or a group day care home that is licensed by the Office of Early Childhood;
With a close relative in the child’s home or in the close relative’s home. A close relative is defined as: grandparent/great grandparent, aunt/uncle, and sibling (only a sibling living outside of the child’s home)

There are some limits on who can be a child care provider in Care 4 Kids. The following people cannot be paid as a provider:

A parent of the child needing care;
A spouse of the child’s parent;
A sister or brother of the child needing care who is living in the home; or
A parent of a minor parent

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

You can use the income guidelines table to see if your family income meets the Care 4 Kids requirements. It does not guarantee that you are eligible for the program, but it will give you an idea if your income is within the program’s limits. Families must live in Connecticut and be working or attending a Jobs First training or education activity and meet the program’s income requirements. Children must live in Connecticut and be under the age of 13 or if the child has special needs, be under age 19

HOW TO APPLY Call 1-888-214-KIDS (1-888-214-5437) for general program eligibility information and to request an application OR print out an application from the Care 4 Kids website. Complete the application, attach required documentation and send back to Care 4 Kids.

DOWNLOAD AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION: http://www.ctcare4kids.com/care-4-kids-program/forms/

PAYMENTS

The amount Care 4 Kids pays depends on a number of different factors including:

the parent’s work or training schedule;
the age of the child;
the hours of care the child needs;
if the child has special needs; and
the countable family income

For the provider, the program looks at:

where the provider is located in the state;
the type of provider; and
if the provider is accredited

Working families in Care 4 Kids are required to pay a Family Fee. Care 4 Kids may not cover all of the provider’s charges for child care. The family is responsible for the Family Fee and all child care charges not covered by the program. The family pays the provider directly for charges above the amount paid by Care 4 Kids. For more information on the state median income guidelines and to print an application visit: http://www.ctcare4kids.com/

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service name: Child Care Subsidies
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SOURCE: Care 4 Kids
PREPARED BY:211/mm
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED:July2023