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 Department of Social Services.

WHO CAN PROVIDE CHILD CARE?

Providers must:

• Be licensed by the Dept. of Public Health (unless exempt from licensing); or
• Be a relative, like a grandparent; or
• Take care of the child in the child's home, and
• Be eighteen years old.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS FROM WORKING FAMILIES WITH ANNUAL EARNINGS UP TO 75% OF THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2010, PENDING BUDGET AVAILABILITY.

Families currently receiving TFA, families that have been on TFA in the past 5 years, teen parents attending high school; Care if for child under 13, or under age 19 if child has special needs; Child receiving subsidy must be a U.S. citizen; Must be Connecticut resident; Must be working; No asset limit.

Income of families applying for Care 4 Kids must be at or below 75% of the state median income.

NOTE: Families who are not or have not been on TFA and who are below 50% of the State Median Income will be placed on a waiting list.

COST

No fee to apply; Parent pays a portion of their child care expenses on a sliding fee scale based on household size and income.

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/pdf/C4KfinalApplication2.pdf

PAYMENTS

If you are eligible, your child care provider receives a check each month directly from Care 4 Kids. If the provider’s charge is above the Care 4 Kids approved rate the parent may need to pay for the amount, which exceeds the approved state rate. For more information on the state median income guidelines and to print an application visit: 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 brochure
PREPARED BY:211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED:July2009