Child Care program for frontline workers
The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood has launched the CTCARES for Frontline Workers Program, which was created to help frontline workers struggling with the costs of child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides subsidies directly to child care providers so that children can get the care they need while their parents or guardians are able to get to work.
Under the program, frontline workers include anyone who must work outside of their own home for at least 8 hours a week caring for people or providing in-person direct services and essential goods. Some examples of frontline workers may include:
- Health care workers
- First responders
- Child care workers
- Grocery workers
- Workers at state facilities
- Home/group home care workers (for seniors, youth, mental health, or people with disabilities)
- People who provide in-person services to any of the above
The subsidy depends on the number of children in the household who need care and the number of hours the frontline worker needs to work.
If a frontline employee works 21 or more hours each week:
- For one child, $200 each week for up to 6 weeks
- For 2 or more children, up to a maximum of $500 per family each week for up to 6 weeks
If a frontline employee works 8 to 20 hours each week:
- For one child, $100 each week for up to 6 weeks
- For 2 or more children, up to a maximum of $250 per family each week for up to 6 weeks
This program is ineligible to anyone already participating in the Care 4 Kids program, and there is a family income limit of up to 85 percent of the state median income to qualify.
Applications are being accepted from Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 22, 2020. To apply, call 1-800-505-1000.
