Pennsylvania child care assistance.

The program that helps Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

WhatDetails
ProgramChild Care WorksSource: Apply for Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Checked November 3, 2026.
Run byPennsylvania Department of Human ServicesSource: Regulated Provider (Policy Chapter 300), Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: who can apply

For families: how to apply

For providers: how to take part

  • Regulated providers are child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes certified under state rules.Source: Regulated Provider (Policy Chapter 300), Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • To care for subsidized children, a provider must return the completed Provider Agreement and all its appendices.Source: Regulated Provider (Policy Chapter 300), Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Checked November 3, 2026.
  • Relative providers must complete an Agreement with the Early Learning Resource Center and pass CareCheck background clearances.Source: Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Checked November 3, 2026.

Questions about child care assistance in Pennsylvania

What is the child care assistance program in Pennsylvania called?

Child Care Works. It is run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Who can apply for child care assistance in Pennsylvania?

Families must live in Pennsylvania and need child care while they work or attend an education program. Parents must work or train at least 20 hours a week, which can include 10 hours of work and 10 of training. Children can get care from birth until the day before their 13th birthday, or through age 18 with a disability. Annual family income must be 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

How do families apply in Pennsylvania?

Families apply online through COMPASS, or send an application to their local Early Learning Resource Center by mail, fax or hand delivery. Official page: https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/home/#/

How does a child care provider take part in Pennsylvania?

Regulated providers are child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes certified under state rules. To care for subsidized children, a provider must return the completed Provider Agreement and all its appendices. Relative providers must complete an Agreement with the Early Learning Resource Center and pass CareCheck background clearances.

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 Pennsylvania

Child care assistance in other states

Billing a family with a subsidy

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