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The City of Seattle helps low- and moderate-income working families pay for child care for children ages one month to 13 years. Families can choose from more than approximately 135 licensed family child care homes and centers in Seattle, which contract with the City to provide high-quality and affordable child care.

At the time of enrollment, the family will be given a voucher, which authorizes monthly child care payments to the child care home or center that they choose from the list provided. The amount of the payment from the City varies according to the income of the family, age of the child, and hours of care needed. The City typically pays between 25% and 80% of a standardized rate, and the family is responsible for paying the difference between the city child care assistance and the Provider’s regular monthly rate.

The City of Seattle Human Service Department allocated over $2 million in 2010 for child care assistance payments.

Eligibility and Applications

To be eligible, a family must live within Seattle city limits, the parents must be employed or in a job training program, the family must have a gross family income that falls within the guidelines below, and the family cannot be eligible for any other subsidy program.

Eligibility screenings and applications are available by calling the Seattle Human Services Department’s Child Care Assistance office at 206-386-1050.

For services in other languages, call:

Mienh — 206-684-0605
Spanish — 206-386-1012
Tagalog — 206-386-1011
TDD — 206-233-2778

Interpretive services can be arranged for other languages.

Office Location and Contact Information

City of Seattle Human Services Department
Child Care Assistance Program
700 5th Avenue, Suite 5800

PO Box 34215
Seattle, WA 98124-4215
206-386-1050
comprehensivechildcare@seattle.gov

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

The Department of Human Services can help eligible working families pay for child care. You do not have to participate in the RI Works Program to qualify for child care assistance.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive child care assistance, families must meet income requirements.  The number of hours that a parent works or is participating in a work activity, approved training or education program are also factors. Depending on a family's income, they may have to pay a co-payment.  The amount of the co-payment depends on a family's income. See Family Income and Co-Payment Guidelines for the Child Care Assistance Program.    

For parents that participate in the Rhode Island Works Program, there is no income limit for child care because if a family is eligible for RI Works, they would meet the income requirements for the Child Care Assistance Program.

Choosing a Child Care Provider

Parents can choose their child care provider and may use more than one provider to meet their child care needs. Options for child care include:

• a licensed child care center or after-school program; 
• a licensed family child care provider; 
• a certified non-licensed day care providers (this option must be approved by DHS' Office of Child Care) or
• care in the child's home by an approved provider.

For More Information

For information on choosing quality care for your child, or for a listing of licensed or certified childcare providers near your home or work, please call Options for Working Families at (401) 946-2300 or 1-800-516-2055 or go to Options for Working Families.

For more information or an application for the DHS Child Care Assistance Program, please call the DHS Info Line at (401) 462-5300.

• Application for Child Care Assistance
• Instructions for the DHS Child Care Assistance Application 

 LINKS

• Child Care Provider Website (English)
• Child Care Provider Website (Spanish)
• Overpayment Options

HOW TO APPLY FOR LOW-INCOME CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

Contact the County Department of Social/Human Services of the county you live in to apply for child care assistance. You must fill out an application for child care services and provide information about your family including immunization information, income and your work or school program.

SUBMITTING EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

When you first apply for low-income child care assistance your child care worker may contact your employer by phone to verify hours and wages. You then have 30 days to supply written verification of your employment or education program. This is important! Benefits may be withheld if verification is not submitted. Let your worker know immediately if you cannot get the verification information.

CHOOSING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER

You must pick a child care provider for your children.  You can select a licensed child care center, a family care home, a friend, neighbor, or relative.  You will have to decide the type of care that will be best for your children and meets your family’s needs.  When choosing a provider look for signs that your child will be safe, developmentally stimulated, and encouraged to grow and learn.   Visit the Qualistar Early Learning website for more information on quality child care or refer to the Parent Handbook you received from the county. You can check into any licensing history for licensed or registered providers.

Once you have chosen a provider you need to contact the county immediately so they can authorize care before you take your child to that provider. They will need the name, address and phone number of the provider along with whether they are licensed or not. You may be responsible to the provider for payment if you do not do this.

NOTIFYING THE COUNTY OF CHANGES

In the Low-Income child care program, you must notify your child care worker of any change in your employment or income within 30 days of the change.  For your protection please provide that information in writing and you can use the county's Change of Eligibility Form (SS-7A). If any of the changes mentioned below happen, sit down and write what has changed immediately and get it to your child care worker so you do not forget. This will avoid bigger problems later. These are some of the changes that may happen:  

• Your work hours change
• Changes in the number of people in your household
• Your rate of pay or wages
• Your address
• Your child support income or payment
• Your child care provider
• Your employment status
• Your education status

Any change in your income must be verified by a letter from your employer or by your pay stubs within 30 days of the change.  Make sure you get this information to your child care worker as soon as possible.  Changes may affect your eligibility.  If you change work hours or have to work overtime, you must notify your worker or these hours may not be covered for child care.

COMPLETING YOUR LOW-INCOME REDETERMINATION
Every six (6) months in the Low-Income program, you will be sent a redetermination of eligibility form. This information is required for the county to determine if you still meet the eligibility requirements of the program.  You must turn in the signed form along with copies of the most recent three (3) months of income or education verification in the time specified or your child care will end.

PAYING YOUR PARENTAL FEES

You are required to pay a portion of your child care costs. This is called the parental fee schedule.   The amount paid is based on your gross income and the number of people in your household. The fee should be paid directly to your provider at the beginning of each month and it is the first money the provider will receive for providing care for your children. If you fail to pay the parental fee, child care benefits may end and you could be unable to receive benefits in the future. Your parental fees must be paid even if you change child care providers.   
 

The parental fee covers the hours agreed upon and is shown on your child care certificate.  Providers cannot charge you in excess of the county’s rate for your authorized child care even though their rates for private clients may be higher than the county’s rate.  However, providers can charge you for any hours used beyond those authorized on the certificate or late fees if you pick up your child after hours.

MOVING FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER

If you move from one county to another, there is no guarantee that your low-income child care benefits will transfer. Each county may have different eligibility criteria for Low-Income child care. Before you move, you must inform your child care worker and they can contact the county you are moving into and find out if your services can be transferred to the new county.

HOW TO RECEIVE COLORADO WORKS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
You will need to work with your TANF technician to receive this assistance.

HOW TO RECEIVE CHILD WELFARE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
You will need to work with your Child Welfare worker to receive this assistance.

For more information and resources visit my blog at

http://friendshelpingfriends.aidpage.com/

State child care assistance programs are funded through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). CCDF is a Federal program that assists low-income families, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and those transitioning from TANF in getting child care so they can work or attend training/education. Each State has its own eligibility guidelines. You may apply for child care assistance (sometimes called a “subsidy” or “voucher”) at a State or local agency. You may receive assistance if you show that the following is true:
• You need child care to work, attend school, or receive training;
• Your income is not greater than the income limit set by your State;
• Your child is younger than 13 years; and/or
• Your child has a special need or is under court supervision and is younger than 19 years.

States have different ways to apply for help, including different forms to fill out and steps to follow. The following are some examples of State requirements:
• Some States require in-person applications, and others offer off-site application services, such as online, telephone, or mail options.
• All States require families to pay a co-payment fee based on their family income. Some States waive the fee under special circumstances.
• Some States require single parents to cooperate with child support enforcement regulations to be eligible for services.
• Some States give assistance to grandparents and other relatives if they meet program requirements.
• All States allow families to chose from a broad range of child care providers, including relatives, friends, or neighbors.
• States require providers to meet basic health and safety requirements, but States vary in exactly what providers must do. Some require all child care providers to be licensed, while others exempt some providers, such as those serving children of relatives or those serving a very small number of children.
• States pay providers based on a set rate that can vary by age of child, type of care, location, and other factors.
• States have different systems for paying providers. Some States use paper checks, others use direct deposit, and others give parents debit cards that can be used to transfer the payment to the provider electronically.
• States may require providers to sign a contract agreement before they can participate in the child care assistance program.

To learn more about your child care assistance program, contact your State child care agency. The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC), a service of the Child Care Bureau, hosts a Web site that provides the contact information for all State CCDF agencies at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf.

Child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies sometimes have information about child care programs that have scholarships, special funding options, or sliding fee scales that are based on household income. To learn how to locate a CCR&R agency in your area, visit the NCCIC Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccrr.