LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood is pleased to now offer child care assistance to early child care workers and adoptive parents who qualify for the program. Arkansas becomes one of only a few states in the country to expand the program to these new groups.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Care recently granted ADE’s waiver request to allow the two groups to participate in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. Child care workers who work in an Arkansas licensed or registered child care or early childhood facility that participates in the Child Care Assistance Program, as well as foster parents who become adoptive parents (verified with the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Division of Children and Family Services), may be eligible to participate. Adoptive families who qualify will receive the assistance for up to one year.
“I’m proud that Arkansas is the most pro-life state in the country, but being pro-life doesn’t end once a child is born,” Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “Arkansas will soon be one of the few states in the country that offers child care support for adoptive parents and child care employees. This is huge for families struggling with child care costs – and the exact kind of pro-life policies my administration will support.”
“As child care costs, in addition to the cost of living, continue to skyrocket as a result of federal policy decisions, working class families find it harder to make ends meet each month,” ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “The expansion of this program will benefit families and students, as it will lighten financial burdens, encourage more families to consider adoption, and support the hiring and retention of early childhood professionals who play a critical role in early learning and development.”
“We are incredibly grateful to all of the foster parents who open their home to care for children and youth who are waiting for permanency and then become their forever families,” Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam said. “The expansion of this program provides helpful support to these families while also encouraging others to consider the joy of adopting. If you want to learn more about foster care or adoption, please visit everychildarkansas.org.”
ADE receives a federal Child Care Development Block Grant totaling more than $100 million each year to provide child care assistance to low-income families who work. With the new waiver, these two new groups are now eligible.
In addition to the above criteria, parents must be employed or working and participating in education/job skills training for at least 30 hours per week. Children also must attend one of the more than 1,400 child care programs participating in the Child Care Assistance Program. Child care workers also must work for a participating program. While income guidelines are waived, income must be verified. Households who declare assets of $1 million dollars or more will not be eligible.
To apply, visit https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-early-childhood/child-care-assistance-program. Parents and child care facilities who have questions can contact Brandy Ishmon at (501) 320-8930 or brandy.ishmon@ade.arkansas.gov.
