This program provides funding to enhance the quality, affordability, and supply of child care available to Virginia's families. Child care services are child-centered, family-focused services that support the family goals of economic self-sufficiency and child development by providing for the supervision, protection, and well-being of a child while the parent is participating in an approved activity. Toward this end, policies and service strategies are designed to meet the following goals:

• Provide low-income families with the financial resources to find and afford quality child care for their children
• Ensure that the family child care program contributes to the broader objective of self-sufficiency. To provide child care to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance
• Promote parental choice in the selection of child care. To empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's needs
• Provide consumer education to help parents make informed choices about child care
• Ensure that subsidy dollars are provided to the neediest families
• Enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all families.
• Improve coordination among child care programs and early childhood development programs

Steps to Apply

1. Complete screening for potential eligibility
2. Submit application to your local department of social services (you can also pick up an application at your local office or ask them to mail one to you).

Note: You may need to be interviewed by an eligibility worker. Income Verification is required.