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Child Care Services
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Overview
Parents who work, attend school or participate in job training may be eligible for financial assistance with child care. Workforce Development Boards administer child care assistance through the Workforce Solutions offices.
Parents have the right to choose the type of child care that best suits their needs and to be informed of all child care options available, including:
- Licensed child care centers
- Licensed and registered family homes
- Relative-provided care
To determine if you are eligible for child care assistance, contact your Workforce Solutions office.
To search for private or public-assisted child care or for educational services for children, visit 2-1-1 Texas.
Eligibility
Child care assistance is available only for children under the age of 13 in any of these circumstances:
- Whose parents are receiving or transitioning off of public assistance
- Who are receiving or needing protective services
- Whose families are low-income
There may be additional eligibility requirements based on where you live, because requirements vary by Workforce Development Board area. For example, Workforce Development Boards may:
- Establish an income eligibility limit that best meets local needs, as long as it does not exceed 85 percent of the state median income for a family of the same size
- Provide care for children with disabilities up to the age of 19
- Determine the length of time a parent may be in education activities and receive child care assistance
- Establish the parent’s share of cost
- Establish the provider’s maximum reimbursement rate
- Establish attendance policies
For more information about the eligibility requirements for subsidized child care, contact your Workforce Solutions office.
Child Care Provider Options
Parents have the option of selecting regulated or relative providers, some of which have received additional state or national accreditations. Parents also may select from providers who are listed, but not regulated.
Regulated providers include those in any of these categories:
- Licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
- Registered with DFPS
- Licensed by the Texas Department of State Health services as a youth day camp
- Operated and monitored by the United States military
Relative child care providers are individuals who are at least 18 years of age and, by marriage, blood relationship or court decree, one of the following:
- Child’s grandparent
- Child’s great-grandparent
- Child’s aunt
- Child’s uncle
- Child’s sibling (if the sibling does not reside in the same household as the eligible child)
Listed child care providers are family homes, other than the eligible child’s own residence, that are listed by, but not licensed or registered with, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
To learn how to become a child care provider, see TWC’s Child Care Providers’ Resources.
Child Care Resources
Parent Resources
- Texas AgriLife Infant and Toddler Training Courses
- Don't Be in the Dark About Child Care
- Texas Early Learning Council Resources for Parents and Families
- Child Care Licensing Information from Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Child Care Rules and Regulations
Finding an Accredited Provider
- Texas School Readiness Certification System
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)-Accredited Centers
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)-Accredited Child Care Homes
- Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Accreditation
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)-Accredited Centers
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)-Accredited Programs
Resources for Parents of Children with Disabilities
- Center for Inclusive Child Care
- National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
- Child Care Law Center
- Quality Indicators of Inclusive Early Childhood Programs/Practices
- Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
- Early Childhood Intervention Services
- Special Education in Texas A-Z Index