How to Apply for Child Care

For application assistance and eligibility determination, please contact the Child Care Council of KY at (800) 809-7076.  For additional information on licensed and certified providers, contact the Division of Regulated Child Care (DRCC) at (502) 564-7962.

Information needed for participation in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) includes the following:

• Verification of income for all members in the household (pay stubs, receipts, statement of employer, tax forms, etc.).
• Names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for all household members. (Birth certificates or driver licenses may be used to verify date of birth.)
• If appropriate, verification of a child's disability must be provided.
• If a child is age 13-18, verification of the child's disability or court order for child care must be provided.
• Verification of household size and residency.
• Current immunization records on all children needing care.

Child care assistance is available to children under age 13, or up to age 18 if the child has special needs verified by a qualified health professional.

Eligible children must reside in Kentucky with a family whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Upon approval, children may continue to receive child care assistance benefits. See if your family’s income is within the Family Income Eligibility guidelines.

Sliding Fee Scale:

To promote parental responsibility, families with a monthly income above $900 may be assessed co-payments.  (The number of family members does not change the amount of the co-pay.)

Families that receive child care subsidies are responsible for paying the payment directly to the child care provider.

Eligible children must reside with a parent or parents who meet the following criteria:

• Parent receives K-TAP benefits and needs child care assistance to maintain employment or enrollment in an education or training program consistent with an employment goal and receives authorization from a DCBS worker;
• Parent has transitioned off K-TAP benefits within the past 12 months due to employment and the family’s income does not exceed 165 percent of the federal poverty level and receives authorization from a DCBS worker;
• Parent is employed for an average of 20 hours per week; or
• Parent is enrolled in an education or training program and works for wages an average of 20 hours per week. NOTE: A parent who is involved for an average of 20 hours per week in an unpaid student activity including an internship, practicum or student teaching is exempt from the paid work requirement.
• The requirement for two parent families is a combined average of 40 hours per week with neither parent working less than an average of five hours a week unless one adult is verified as mentally or physically unable to provide care for the children.  In instances where there is an incapacitated parent in the home the minimum work requirement for the non-incapacitated parent is an average of 20 hours per week.  The incapacitated parent must provide a doctor's statement verifying that he/she is unable to care for the child.

Other Requirements:

Child care assistance is available to teen parents who attend high school or are pursuing a GED. Child care assistance may also be available to a parent who receives, or needs to receive, protective or preventive services.  Families who need child care assistance and are approved through Protection and Permanency may have the parental co-payment waived.

Eligible families may select the child care provider of their choice.  The provider must be a:

• a licensed child care facility,
• a certified child care provider, or
• an approved registered provider.