Delaware child care assistance.

The program that helps Delaware families pay for child care, who can apply, how to apply, and how providers take part. Last checked November 3, 2026.

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The program in Delaware

WhatDetails
ProgramPurchase of CareSource: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
Run byDelaware Division of Social ServicesSource: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: who can apply

  • Child care help is available for children under age 13.Source: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • The Division of Social Services decides eligibility based on family income and need for care.Source: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • At application, gross monthly income must be at or below 225% of the federal poverty level for the family size.Source: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • A child with special needs may qualify past age 13 with a Child Care Medical Certification Form.Source: Child Care Assistance, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: how to apply

For providers: how to take part

  • Providers must be licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing before they can contract to serve Purchase of Care families.Source: Purchase of Care Provider Handbook, Delaware Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Providers complete a State of Delaware Purchase of Care Contract and Overview.Source: Purchase of Care Provider Handbook, Delaware Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Providers must attend the Purchase of Care orientation before serving families.Source: Purchase of Care Provider Handbook, Delaware Division of Social Services. Checked November 3, 2026.

Questions about child care assistance in Delaware

What is the child care assistance program in Delaware called?

Purchase of Care. It is run by the Delaware Division of Social Services.

Who can apply for child care assistance in Delaware?

Child care help is available for children under age 13. The Division of Social Services decides eligibility based on family income and need for care. At application, gross monthly income must be at or below 225% of the federal poverty level for the family size. A child with special needs may qualify past age 13 with a Child Care Medical Certification Form.

How do families apply in Delaware?

Families apply through the ASSIST self-service portal, or at any Delaware State Service Center. Official page: https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/

How does a child care provider take part in Delaware?

Providers must be licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing before they can contract to serve Purchase of Care families. Providers complete a State of Delaware Purchase of Care Contract and Overview. Providers must attend the Purchase of Care orientation before serving families.

Sources

Every source is an official government page.

About this page

We read each source above on an official government site on November 3, 2026. Each fact links to the page it came from.

If a fact is not here, we could not read it on an official page, so we left it out.

Programs change their rules, limits and forms. Confirm with the agency before you apply or enroll as a provider.

This page is a summary of public information. Bloomily does not run these programs or decide who qualifies.

More about child care in Delaware

Child care assistance in other states

Billing a family with a subsidy

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