Child Care Assistance Program

Program Eligibility

Child Care Assistance Program subsidies are available to families with gross income less than 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) for their household size. Subsidy payments are available for child care provided during verified need and parents are allowed up to 1 hour of travel time each way. Child Care assistance may be available for families enrolled in vocational and/or higher education. Child Care assistance is also available to teen parents attending high school. Families contribute to the cost of care based on a sliding scale (parent share/fee). The minimum weekly share is $1.

Want to see if you qualify? Click on the link below and enter your income and household information.

How to Apply

To apply for the child care assistance program, please click on the "Child Care Application" link below or call the DHS Application Line 585-753-6960 to request a Child Care Application packet. Complete the application in it's entirety (you must answer all questions), child care statement, work schedule form and absent parent form (if applicable) and send it to:

Department of Human Services
111 Westfall Rd.
Rochester, NY 14620
Attn: Team 76 – Child Care

You can also submit an application by email to: [email protected]

NOTE: Families who are currently receiving Temporary Assistance should continue to work with their assigned workgroup for child care assistance

• Child Care Application - new fillable form
• How to Complete the Child Care Application
• Solicitud de Asistencia Para Cuidado Infantil
• Cómo Rellenar La Solicitud de Asistencia Para Cuidado Infantil
• Child Care Statement
• Child Care Work Schedule form
• Child Care Absent Parent form

NEW - Apply through the online OCFS Child Care Assistance Application Portal (CCAA)

Apply Now for CCAP using the Child Care Assistance Application portal (CCAA). You will need to register with an email address for a NY.Gov account. You do not need to complete the application all at once. You can save your progress and come back to it later. If you apply through the portal, you will NOT need to submit a paper application.

For assistance locating a child care provider, please visit The Child Care Council at https://childcarecouncil.com/

For additional information on child care, please visit the State Office of Children and Family Services at https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/

Absence Policy

After a child begins care with a provider, that provider may submit attendance for routine absences due to illness on days the child would normally be in care. Providers should clearly note, in CCTA or on attendance sheets, the days the child was scheduled to be in care but was not, due to illness. Absences are not intended to be claimed for a time prior to care beginning or after a family has notified a provider that they will no longer be attending. A provider may submit payment requests for up to 80 absences per year, per child, per provider. Absence tracking resets on April 1st each year.

Child Care Tips for Providers and Parents

Tips for Parents

• Monroe County can only pay for actual child care services provided, and only for care during the hours of your employment or your participation in an approved activity (plus a maximum of 60 minutes of travel to and from your job or activity). You will be liable for payment to your provider for any care not billable to the subsidy program.
• If your provider uses attendance sheets, only sign an attendance sheet after it's filled out completely and accurately. Attendance sheets are used to bill Monroe County for daycare services provided to your child, therefore you and your provider are responsible for the attendance sheet’s accuracy and completeness. Never sign a blank attendance sheet.
• If you sign a contract with your provider for daycare services, please understand that Monroe County is not a party to that contract and therefore is not responsible for compliance with the terms of that contract. You will be liable for payment to your provider for any care that is not billable to the subsidy program.
• Monroe County will pay your provider for up to 80 absences each year. Tracking resets in April.
• You must notify Monroe County within ten (10) days of any changes that may affect your subsidy case (change in income, household composition, address, employment, etc). Overpayments resulting from a failure to notify us of changes will need to be repaid by you to Monroe County. Intentional misrepresentations may lead to program sanctions or prosecution for fraud. Your child care subsidy assistance is guaranteed for a 12 month eligibility period at initial opening and when you complete your annual recertification. Your income can increase to up to 85% State Median Income (SMI) and you will remain eligible through the end of the guarantee. Your parent share will not change during the 12 month eligibility period. Your Child Care subsidy can also continue through the end of the guarantee if your child turns 13 years old during the 12 month period.

Monthly 85% State Median Income