Connecticut’s Care 4 Kids child care assistance program has temporarily re-opened this week for services to working eligible families. The program will remain opened until December 31, 2009. During this temporary period, the program has raised the income eligibility limit to allow more working families to qualify.
The Care 4 Kids program helps families pay their child care costs to help parents stay employed. It also helps families on Temporary Family Assistance who are working or learning skills to obtain employment.
In May 2009, the state fiscal crisis caused the Department of Social Services to stop accepting applications from working families to ensure that families then on the program could continue to receive services. Applications from working families were placed on a waiting list.
Beginning this week, the Care 4 Kids program will:
- Notify the approximately 3,600 families on the waiting list that the program has re-opened.
- Accept new applications from working families with annual earnings up to 75% of the state median income level until December 31, 2009 (for example, $73,281 for a family of four). This income level is higher than the current eligibility ceiling of 50% of state median income to apply.
- Allow currently-served families to remain eligible until their earnings reach 75% of the state median income level until December 31, 2009.
The department expects a high application volume, and asks families and child care providers not to call daily to check on the status of applications. Care 4 Kids staff will be very busy processing new applications and working with current families. Every effort will be made to move through the increased work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The re-opening of the program for working families and higher income-eligibility level for new applicants result from federal stimulus dollars through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Connecticut receives approximately $13.7 million in child care funds under ARRA.
For information about submitting applications or general information about Care 4 Kids, please visit
www.ctcare4kids.com or call 1-888-214-KIDS (5437) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
