Help for Families with Special Concerns
Child Care Budgeting
Like all parents, you want the best for your child. You want your child to get the kind of care children need to be ready for school.
Child care is a big expense, so you want to make sure it is high quality. No matter what type of care you choose- a child care center or care in someone's home or your own home- take time to make an informed child care choice.
If you have good child care, the money you are paying is going for caregiver/teachers' salaries, so that they can stay in their jobs, and so they can receive education and training that will help them best meet your child's care and early learning needs. Your child care fees are also helping to purchase food, toys, equipment and supplies.
Each type of child care financial assistance has different qualifications, like income level, employment status, or residency, so make sure you get all the facts. Some options are:
State Child Care Subsidies
Find out if you are eligible to receive state-funded child care subsidy. State child care subsidy is available in every state, but eligibility guidelines vary. Usually, child care subsidies are available for lower-income families who are working and in some cases in school. If you are eligible, you pay part of the cost, and the rest is paid directly to your selected child care provider. For Financial Assistance for Child Care visit:
www.theworksource.org
Local programs
Catholic Charities - www.catholiccharities.org
United Way - www.unitedwayhouston.org/looking/community.html
Employer/College Support
Does your employer (or college, if you are a student) provide child care scholarships, discounts to certain programs, or on-site child care at reduced rates?
Child Care Program Assistance
Ask if your child care provider offers scholarships, discounts, or sliding fee scale.
Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Programs
Many states now offer free or low cost pre-k programs for 3 and 4 year old children. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state, but the goal of all pre-k programs is to make sure that children are better prepared for kindergarten. Pre-K programs are offered in public schools and other child care settings.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally and sometimes state funded full- or part -day programs that provide free child care and other services to help meet health and school readiness needs of eligible children. Most, but not all, families who access Head Start or Early Head Start must have incomes that meet federal poverty guidelines. To locate a program near you visit the Texas Headstart State Collaboration Office at www.uth.tmc.edu/thssco/map.htm
Visit the Early Head Start National Resource Center:
www.ehsnrc.org
For Assistance in locating Child Care with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable Family Resource Specialist, Call 2-1-1.
Financial Assistance
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
You may be able to lower your taxes and even get up to several thousand dollars back if you qualify for the EITC. To qualify you must be working full- or part-time and make less than a certain amount based upon family size. In Texas, it can be worth up to $4,300 per household. You don't have to owe any taxes to get EITC. For more information or to see if you qualify, visit www.houstonassetbuilding.org
Federal Child Tax Credit (CTC)
If you have a dependent child under the age of 17, you may be able to get the Child Tax Credit, which can be worth hundreds of dollars per child. The income limit for the CTC is much higher than for the Earned Income Tax Credit, but you still don't have to owe any taxes to get the Child Tax Credit.
Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs)
Your employer may offer a Dependent Care Assistance Program, which allows you to have money (up to $5,000 a year) taken out of your paycheck tax-free and put into a special account to be used for child care reimbursement. Check in your Human Resources department.
For financial assistance
www.catholiccharities.org
For low-cost and free health care coverage
www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org
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