Affordable Child Care

Rhode Island has the lowest child care assistance eligibility limit in New England.  Child care is often the largest expense in the household budget for parents with young children.

The Child Care Assistance Program helps approximately 8,000 Rhode Island children from low-income working families afford the high cost of child care.

To qualify, a parent must be working and earn less than 180 percent of the federal poverty level (e.g., $36,288 for a family of 3). Parents contribute to the cost of care based on their income.

Increasing the “Entry Income” Limit
Representative Blazejewski H5085 / Senator Goldin S141
Expanding Access to Rhode Island’s Child Care Assistance Program (2017 Factsheet)

Ensuring Access to Quality Child Care
Representative Diaz H6048 / Senator Crowley S775
Tiered Reimbursement Rates for Quality Child Care (2017 Factsheet)