As the County economy recovers, access to affordable, quality child care is key to ensuring that the workforce required to support all industries and sectors is available. In order to provide child care financial assistance to additional working families with children birth to age twelve, a number of updates to the child care subsidy program have been made which will benefit both families and child care programs. At the state level, as a result of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, Virginia received $203.6 million in stimulus funds to further stabilize Virginia’s early childhood care and education system, provide child care assistance to additional families and to deliver critical operational and technical resources to new and returning child care providers. In addition, the Commonwealth will receive approximately $794 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to further stabilize child care and support families.
This additional federal funding as well as legislative actions from the 2021 General Assembly have provided Virginia with the opportunity to make a number of updates to the state child care subsidy program which benefit both families and child care programs throughout the state.
At the County level, effective February 1, the eligibility limit for the local child care subsidy was increased to 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This provides access to affordable child care for additional families.
Please inform families about this expanded access to child care subsidies!
For additional information and to apply for child care assistance, visit: Office for Children Child Care Assistance & Referral program.