Initial Job Search Child Care

You may be eligible to receive child care while searching for work that will meet minimum employment activity requirements


Initial Job Search Child Care is available for parents to actively seek full employment and 100 percent of participation hours must come from employment for child care to continue beyond the three-month time frame. Attending school or training program will not be counted towards the participation hours.

How do you qualify?

  • you may self-attest to your need for child care 
  • you may self-attest that your family income is below 85% of state median income
  • you must contact the local Child Care Services office to request the child care and they will inform you whether care can begin or if you will have to be placed on a wait-list

What happens once I receive the child care assistance?

  • you will qualify for three months of child care services, with no parent share-of cost, while searching for work that will meet minimum employment activity requirements, 25 hours per week for a single parent household or a combination of 50 hours for a dual parent household                                                                                                                                        
  • if at the end of the 3 months your family meets the minimum employment requirements, your child care will continue for a total of 12 months (inclusive of the 3 month job search period) and your parent share of cost will begin
  • if at the end of the 3 months your family does NOT meet minimum employment requirements, your child care will end.  (You will be given a 15 day calendar notice of this end date)