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December 9, 2020 2020-R-0274

Care 4 Kids Program The Care 4 Kids program is a state and federally funded subsidy program that has been providing child care assistance to low to moderate income families in Connecticut for more than 40 years. Participating families receive a Care 4 Kids certificate to cover certain child care costs, which is funded by a federal and state partnership program. The program requires families to meet certain eligibility requirements to receive subsidies, and subsidies are generally available until children reach age 13. Providers receiving reimbursement from Care 4 Kids must complete a one-time orientation and meet annual training requirements specific to the provider type. Trainings must focus on improving children’s health development, safety, and school readiness in child care settings for children from birth through age 12. (This report does not address program changes made by the administrating agency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

How is Care 4 Kids Funded? The primary funding source for the Care 4 Kids program is the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) federal block grant administered by the federal Office of Child Care. The CCDF is a federal and state partnership program authorized under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act and is administered by states to provide financial assistance to low-income families for child care so the parents or guardians can work, attend job training, or attend school. In Connecticut, the Care 4 Kids program is administered by the state Office of Early Childhood.

Care 4 Kids Estimated Care 4 Kids Subsidies The table below shows the estimated amount that Connecticut has spent on child care subsidies under the program for the past six fiscal years.

Fiscal Year $ Millions FY 15 109.3 FY 16 115.4 FY 17 115.9 FY 18 76.0 FY 19 89.0 FY 20 60.9 Source: Office of Fiscal Analysis, CORE-CT