Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care Program

If you are concerned about the cost of quality child care, Child Care Works may be able to help. Working parents may be eligible for assistance for child care expenses if they meet the income guidelines. The annual income for a family to be eligible to receive subsidy if 200 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines:

(Note: The above information provides only general guidelines. Other conditions may apply. Please contact your county Child Care Information Services office to apply for assistance.)

You can also apply for and renew your benefits from the comfort of your home using COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, Food Stamps, help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services.

Additional Guidelines

• Each Adult family member must work at least 20 hours a week or work at least 10 hours a week and participate in an approved training program at least 10 hours a week.
• The hours that a child may receive subsidized child care must coincide with hours of work, education, or training.
• Children are eligible for care from birth until the day prior to the date of the child's 13th birthday. Children with disabilities may be eligible through age 18.
• The parent is responsible to help pay for child care. This is called co-payment. The co-payment may be as little as $5.00 per week and varies according to your income and the number of people in your family. Most families eligible for a child care subsidy pay between $5 and $25 each week for their child care. The family only has one co-payment, regardless of how many children they have in care. The state pays the rest, usually about $75 to $95 a week per child.
• The parent may choose the provider of his or her choice. The parent may choose a child care center, a small family day care home, a group day care home or even a relative or neighbor to care for his or her child.
• The parent who is receiving subsidy must choose an eligible child care provider. Relative/Neighbor providers must complete an Agreement with the CCIS, must comply with the participation requirements listed in the Agreement and must complete CareCheck in order to be eligible to participate in the Subsidized Child Care Program. CareCheck is the Department of Public Welfare's program that requires background clearances (see below).
• If funding is not available at the time that a low-income, working parent applies for subsidized child care, the child may be placed on a waiting list.

CareCheck

CareCheck is a required background clearances for Relative/Neighbor Providers caring for children whose parents participate in the subsidized child care program...

People who care for three or fewer children, not including their own children, are not required to have a state license but can receive subsidized child care funding. These child care providers usually give care in their homes and are called Relative/Neighbor providers.

While relatives and neighbors may provide excellent care and best meet your family's needs, these providers who participate in subsidized child care are required to complete CareCheck. CareCheck is the Department of Public Welfare's program that requires State Police criminal histor and child abuse background clearances for all Relative/Neighbor providers. In addition Relative/Neighbor providers must obtain Federal criminal history clearances. The Relative/Neighbor provider must pay the cost of the Federal criminal history clearance, which is $36. Relative/Neighbor providers must complete CareCheck and Federal criminal history clearances in order to be eligible to participate in the Subsidized Child Care Program.

Parents who receive subsidy need to know that their children are safe when they go to work. As a parent who receives subsidized child care, it is your right and responsibility to know about your child's caregiver and the type of care they provide. Background clearances are one way to find out more about the person watching your child. Remember, even a friend or neighbor who you know well may have a child abuse or criminal history you do not know about.

If you are receiving subsidized child care assistance and are not sure if this applies to your child care provider, see Frequently Asked Questions for more information about child day care facilities and who is considered related to the day care operator, or call your Regional Office of Child Development.

To find out more about background clearances, call the Child Care Works helpline at 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437).