Childcare Works

Child Care Works Subsidy Program
Helping working parents work
while our children grow

Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works Subsidy supports parents who are working hard to provide for their families while giving their children the opportunity to participate in early learning programs.

Child Care Works makes it possible for child care programs to serve children whose working families could not otherwise afford care. Child care is expensive for parents—usually on par with their housing costs. Through the Child Care Works partnership, working parents have a co-payment in addition to the state subsidy that Child Care Works provides. Families earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply. A family of four earning $40,000 a year would be eligible for this program.
Child Care Works
Makes a Difference

Keeps parents working and makes them more reliable in the workplace:
Research shows that access to reliable, affordable child care makes it possible for parents to successfully complete job training programs, retain employment, have less absences and be more productive at work. (National Child Care Information Center)

A GAO report found that single parents who received child care assistance more often successfully completed their training, obtained jobs or experienced other positive outcomes, such as returning to school.

Positive benefits for Pennsylvania’s working families
Approximately 221,000 children total are served throughout the year—nearly 130,000 children each month—enabling our families to be responsible about their children while working.


Child Care Works provides assistance to families so they can choose the best options for their child. A network of local Child Care Information Services (CCIS) agencies provide parents information about early childhood and school-age programs in their community and how to choose quality early learning for their child.

Child Care Works is responding to families.
The network of Child Care Information Service (CCIS) agencies are now serving not only low-income working families who depend on Child Care Works to stay working and raise their children, but also to the individuals who are working or training and receiving TANF cash assistance. The unification of child care assistance services under the CCIS system will better support both parents and early childhood programs.

The Governor’s proposed investment for
FY 2007-2008 will make it possible to provide child care assistance to more children while strengthening the system as a whole.

Did you know that 70% of costs for a child care program are for staff and that staff are paid at or close to minimum wage? The Pennsylvania Child Care Association Wage and Benefit Survey found that the average starting wage for teaching aides in child care centers is only $6.36 per hour. As of July 1st, the minimum wage is $7.15/hr. And because the rest of the staff are paid only a little more than the aides, all personnel costs and all child care costs will rise considerably. Child Care Works must respond by providing more resources for the vulnerable, low-income children so that child care programs can continue to care for our vulnerable children and families. The resources for Child Care Works for FY 07-08 are essential to meet our minimum wage obligations—and to make sure that families can find programs that will serve them through the Child Care Works program.

In FY 2007-2008, more than 221,500 vulnerable children will be served, with new state investment of $77 million. For more information, contact the Office of Child Development and Early Learning at (717) 346-9320.