
Our Programs
Child care is a workforce issue. Parents cannot go to work or to school if they don’t have access to affordable, accessible care for their children.
ChildCareGroup manages the Child Care Assistance program (also known as the child care subsidy program) which provides qualified families with financial assistance to offset the high cost of child care so that parents can go to work or attend school or job training. Eligible families can seek financial support for care for their children from birth to age 12.
Working on behalf of Workforce Solutions in Dallas County and Southeast Texas (Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange Counties), the Child Care Assistance program helps subsidize the cost of care for 22,000 children and their 11,000 parents. Through the Child Care Assistance program we are supporting today’s workforce and preparing tomorrow’s workforce.
Getting Started with Child Care Assistance
Eligibility for the Child Care Assistance program is based on earnings, activity hours and the child’s eligibility. The amount of subsidy provided is based on household income and the number of children in care.
Contact Information – Dallas
- Child Care Assistance Parent Portal
- Child Care Assistance Provider Portal
- Child Care Assistance Parent Application
For more information, call 214-630-5949.
Contact Information – Southeast Texas
- Child Care Assistance Parent Page
- Child Care Assistance Provider Portal
- Child Care Assistance Parent Application
For more information, call 409-835-1411 or 409-962-1236.
How to Qualify
Location Requirements
Dallas
- Must live in Dallas County
Southeast Texas
- Must live in Hardin, Jefferson, or Orange Counties
Parent Requirements
- Parent must be working, training or attending college
- Must be in the activity for:
- 25 hours/week: One-parent household
- 50 hours/week (can be combined hours): Two-parent household
Children Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or legal immigrant
- 12 years old or younger
Income Requirements
# of Persons in Family | Total gross monthly income before taxes cannot be more than… |
2 | $3,493 |
3 | $4,315 |
4 | $5,137 |
5 | $5,959 |
6 | $6,780 |
7 | $6.935 |
8 | $7,089 |
9 | $7,243 |
10 | $7,397 |
Priority Placement Requirements
All children who are not in the mandatory category go on the waiting list. As children exit the program and a funding slot becomes available, children are identified from the waiting list based on their priority of order.
Priority Order:
- Children who need to receive protective services child care
- Children of a qualified veteran or qualified spouse
- Children of a foster youth
- Children experiencing homelessness
- Children of parents on military deployment
- Children of teen parents
- Children with disabilities
Second Priority Order:
- Siblings of children already in care
Third Priority Order:
- Income Eligible children on the waiting list
Finding a Provider
Finding the right child care is an important decision: The program needs to be focused on quality indicators such as the development of children and preparing children for school.
- Learn more about the different types of child care and quality indicators to know about
- Check to see if your provider has any Child Care Licensing non-compliance issues
- See a list of child care providers with a Texas Rising Star quality rating in Dallas County
- See a list of child care providers with a Texas Rising Star quality rating in Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange Counties
- Visit the NorthTexasFamilies website to find child care providers and more in Dallas County
Frequently Asked Questions
The parent share of cost is based on your gross household earned and unearned income, number in the household and how many children you need care for. If you do not have any income, then your share of cost would be zero.
Your children have been placed on the wait list for future funding spots. Annually we receive money to provide financial assistance for child care costs, and when all of the money has been allocated, children who apply afterward have to go on a wait list. As children drop out of the program, we place children from the wait list.
First, make sure you have given us all of the information. If you don’t feel that it was determined correctly, you can contact our office at 214-630-5949 for a review.
Community Resources
Developmental Screenings for Chldren
Local Parenting Classes
- Help for Parents. Hope for Children.
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – Child Care Licensing 214-583-4253 / 800-582-6036
Texas Information and Referral System
Child Care Search
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Call us at 214-630-5949.