Help Paying for Child Care
How to Apply for School Readiness Assistance
Every year, the State of Arkansas helps low-income families cover the cost of high-quality child care and early childhood education for children ages birth to 12.
To Qualify
Do you…
- Work at least 20 hours a week?
- Attend school full time?
- Spend at least 20 hours a week in a job training program.
A combination of the above qualifications equal to at least 20 hours a week will be considered.
If the answer is “yes,” then you may qualify for child care financial assistance through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF).
Please fill out the application (Spanish version) for assistance. If you have one, you can apply by emailing the caseworker you are working with, or you can drop it by your local DHS county office. You can find your local DHS county office here.
What is the qualifying income?
Use the Sliding Fee Chart to determine your eligibility. Include all earned income from all family members, including SSA, SSI, and VA. Families may be required to pay a percentage of the cost of child care.
- School Readiness Assistance Sliding Fee Chart – Effective July 1, 2024
- School Readiness Assistance Sliding Fee Chart – Spanish - Effective July 1, 2024
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Rights and Responsibilities- Spanish
If You Do Not Qualify
Contact oec.familysupport@ade.arkansas.gov or your family support specialist and ask why you didn’t qualify and what other help may be available. Examples: Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA), Early Head Start, Head Start, and Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program.
Selecting the Right Child Care Provider
Every child deserves the best start, so choosing high-quality child care is essential. Research shows that high-quality early learning programs positively impact a child’s readiness for school and life.
To help you make the right child care decision for you and your family, use the resources below:
- Find Child Care – Don’t just choose a child care center close to home or work; choose one that is right for your child. Visit several centers and use the checklist below to discover how each differs.
- Find Support – Child Care Aware of Arkansas helps parents and families find high-quality child care centers in their community and offers support and guidance.
- Child Care Aware Area Map and Contact List
- Visit Child Care Aware for more information.
- Find Quality—Better Beginnings connects Arkansas families with information and care that helps children experience a safe, happy, and healthy childhood. Each Better Beginnings facility in Arkansas has a 2—or 3-star rating to indicate its level of quality.
- Visit Better Beginnings for more information.
- Visit Better Beginnings for more information.
- Find Your Center
- Visit Local Child Care Centers.
- Visit Local Child Care Centers.
Arkansas’s child care programs can serve over 200,000 children.
Arkansas’s Total Child Care Slots
| Facility Type | Child Capacity |
|---|---|
| Child Care Centers | 131,947 |
| Out-of-School Time | 22,138 |
| Licensed Child Care Family Homes | 2,728 |
| Registered Child Care Family Homes | 45 |
Arkansas WIC
The Arkansas WIC Program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) aims to improve the nutrition of eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and young children during critical growth periods.
For more information, click English or Spanish.
Licensing and Safety
Licensing, Monitoring, and Inspections
Licensed child care facilities must meet specific guidelines to become certified. There are no licensed exempt facilities in Arkansas. All facilities that receive funding are either licensed or registered.
DHS Licensing Specialists will visit facilities and homes unannounced at least three times a year to ensure that each child care facility meets minimum licensing standards. While onsite, they may interview and observe staff to determine their daily routine and effectiveness in age-appropriate instruction. Example items Licensing Specialists may review:
- Personnel Policies
- Programs
- Behavior Guidance
- Records
- Safety
Visit Better Beginnings and the Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education to view facilities and reviews for the last three years.
- Licensed Child Care Family Home Checklist
- Registered Child Care Family Home Checklist
- Out-of-School Time Checklist
- Child Care Center Checklist
Health and Safety Requirements
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 requires States and Territories to have professional development, health, and safety training requirements for all Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) providers. All new and existing providers who accept vouchers for reimbursement must meet the training requirements. Visit CCDBG Health & Safety requirements, or contact The Child Care Licensing Unit to learn more.
Phone: 501-682-8590
Website: Child Care Licensing
Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic & Treatment (EPSDT)
The Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic & Treatment (EPSDT) helps ensure that children and teens get preventative dental, mental health, and developmental screenings. It can also help identify any specialty services that may be needed.
Child care facilities are required by The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to refer a child that may have developmental delays or disabilities to the right agency for help. However, if the child is under 3, the provider should contact First Connections. If the child is 3-21, the provider should contact the Arkansas Department of Education Special Education Unit for assistance.
Parent/Provider Complaints
If a situation arises that you are unhappy with, it is essential to calmly share those concerns with the person(s) who is causing you stress. Working things out, if possible, should be the first step. Remember that changing child care facilities can be stressful for your child. However, if a resolution cannot be reached or a serious issue has occurred, you may contact OEC using the following link:
Child Maltreatment Hotline
The Arkansas Department of Human Services is committed to protecting those who are most vulnerable. If you suspect that a child is being maltreated based on something you have witnessed or a child has told you that maltreatment is happening, it is your responsibility to report it to the authorities.
Call the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Hotline at 1-800-482-5964.
Aggregate Data
OEC strives to ensure that every child in Arkansas is in a high-quality, safe, and loving environment. This is achieved by offering resources, technical assistance, and training for families and providers.
Child Deaths, Serious Injuries, and Substantiated Child Maltreatment 2023
| Providers | Child Deaths | Serious Injuries | Substantiated Cases of Child Maltreatment* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Child Care Family Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Licensed Child Care Family Home | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Child Care Center | 0 | 182 | 185 | 367 |
| Out-of-School Time | 0 | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| Unlicensed | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 0 | 196 | 190 | 386 |
*Substantiated instances of child abuse do not have to be separated by category of provider and licensing status.
Consumer Statement
Lead Agencies must provide CCDF parents with a consumer statement that contains specific information about the child care provider they select. This information about the child care provider chosen by the parent includes health and safety requirements met by the provider, any licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider, the date the provider was last inspected, any history of violations of these requirements, and any voluntary quality standards met by the provider. It must also describe how CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access, how to submit a complaint through a hotline, and how to contact local resource and referral agencies or other community-based supports that assist parents in finding and enrolling in quality child care.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions about child care in Arkansas. We will be happy to assist you. Call: 501-682-8947 or 1-800-322-8176
