In Chittenden County, Child Care Resource partners with the State of Vermont to help families pay for child care expenses through the Child Care Financial Assistance program. Families qualify for this program based upon family size and gross monthly income. Payments are made directly to the child care provider by the state. Click here to download the Child Care Financial Assistance Application.

In addition to meeting certain income guidelines, families must have a reason to need child care in order to qualify for assistance.  This is called a "service need". Along with the application, you will need to provide additional forms or information to show that you have a qualified service need.  You request these froms us. Here is a list of eligible service needs:

Employment - any activity for which a primary caregiver receives compensation of at least minimum wage. To verify employment, 2 consecutive current paystubs must be submitted with applications. If employment has just begun or will be starting soon, the employer will need to fill out this verification of employment form until 2 paystubs containing needed information can be submitted.

Self-employment - any business activity approved that nets a monthly income of at least $100.

Training or Education - is any activity that is likely to lead to employment within 1 year of completion of the activity. Reach-Up activities are included. Volunteer work and Post-Baccalaureate education are not eligible activities.

Seeking Employment - any activity recognized as necessary to obtain employment. This is limited to 4 weeks of child care in a 12 month period.

Special Health Need (Adult) - authorized for a parent who is unable to provide adequate and necessary care and supervision to his/her children and maintain employment or training because of a medical condition. This must be documented by a physician or licensed psychologist.

Special Health Need (Child) - a significant health or specialized developmental need as documented by a licensed physician and/or licensed psychologist or by the assessment determining eligibility for Special Education or Early Intervention Services that includes child care as part of the child's development plan (IEP or IFSP).

Family Support - is a prevention and early intervention service. Family Support Child Care is designed to reduce stress for families and their children and promote positive child development. Child care subsidy may be authorized under this condition after a confidential application and risk assessment has been completed and reviewed.

Provider Reimbursement Rates

Statewide reimbursement rates for Child Care Financial Assistance are established by Vermont Department of Children and Families and are based upon the setting in which child care is provided, the program's STARS (quality recognition) rating, the age of the child, and the number of hours the child is in child care daily. A pre-screening tool for eligibility and financial assistance rates is found on this State of Vermont Building Bright Futures page.

If you would like us to send you an application for Child Care Financial Assistance (and live in Chittenden County, Vermont), or have a question for one of our specialists, e-mail us.

Eligible Child Care Settings

In order to care for children eligible for child care financial assistance, child care providers must be either licensed, registered, or approved as legally exempt care givers by the State of Vermont. For information on becoming an eligible child care provider, contact the Child Development Division, Licensing Unit at (802) 241-3110 or toll-free (in Vermont) at 1-800-649-2642.