Pay for Child Care

Changes to the Child Tax Credit will help many families get advance payments of the credit starting July 2021. The benefit is $300 per month per child under age 6 and $250 per month for each child between ages 6 and 17. Visit ChildTaxCredit.gov to learn more and do things such as: manage your payments or register for payments using the non-filer tool. Read this list of Frequently Asked Questions and resources from Children’s Defense Fund for more information.

Keep your personal information safe: If you get an unexpected IRS email prompting you to give up personal or financial information to get your Child Tax Credit payments, don’t reply. It’s a scam: irs.gov/alerts

Cincinnati Preschool Promise is a non-profit organization with a mission of expanding access to quality preschool in the City of Cincinnati. Preschool expansion is made possible thanks to a significant investment from taxpayers who approved a five-year Cincinnati Public Schools levy in 2016. Cincinnati Preschool Promise is utilizing funds to expand the number of quality preschools and for tuition assistance for families who need it most. Parents who qualify may enroll children in community-based preschool or Cincinnati Public Schools preschool of their choice.

For more information call 513-447-4CPP (4277) or email info@cincy-promise.org.

Early Head Start is a free federally funded program for income-eligible families with infants and toddlers under age 3. Children who participate in Early Head Start are involved in a variety of educational activities. Programs serve families through full-day, full-year program options that best meets their needs.

For more information or to locate a Early Head Start provider call a 4C Family and Community Services Specialist at 800-256-1296 x1330.

Head Start is a free federally funded program for income-eligible families with preschool children ages 3 to 5. Children who participate in Head Start are involved in a variety of educational activities and may also receive medical, dental, mental health and nutritional services.  Most programs offer part-day schedules but some offer extended day schedules.

For more information or to locate a Head Start provider, call a 4C Family and Community Services Specialist at 800-256-1296 x1330.

The Montgomery County Preschool Promise is an initiative designed to ensure that all children can attend at least one year of affordable, high-quality preschool the year before Kindergarten. Families participating in Preschool Promise may receive tuition assistance to reduce the cost of sending 4-year-old children to star-rated programs.

For more information, email questions@preschoolpromise.org, text or call 937-329-2700.

The Early Childhood Education Grant, funded by the Ohio Department of Education, is awarded to child care programs serving high-needs areas of the state. The grants are given to help prepare 4-year-old children for kindergarten.

In order for children to qualify for the grant he or she must be four years old at the beginning of the school year. Families must also meet income requirements. Child care programs that receive the grants include public preschool, chartered non-public schools, private preschool, Head Start, child care centers and family child care homes.

For more information, visit ODE’s website for a list of participating programs and how to apply.

Public child care subsidy is generally available for Ohio low-income working parents or parents enrolled in approved work or training programs. Other eligibility guidelines also apply.

Parents apply for subsidy through their county’s Ohio Department of Job and Family Services office. Most parents are required to pay part of the cost of their child’s care, although the exact amount depends upon family size and income.

Parents may use licensed child care centers and school-age programs or licensed family child care providers. Relatives may become certified to provide care outside the child’s home. Parents may also have the option of using family members or friends by completing a parent inspection of the potential provider’s home.

For more information or to apply for subsidy, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in the county where you live. (See list of phone numbers below.) You may also visit: http://jfs.ohio.gov/CDC/childcare.stm.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit provides a refundable credit of up to 50 percent of child care costs for a child under age 13 or any dependent physically or mentally incapable of self-care. Employer-provided child and dependent care benefits include amounts paid directly for care, the value of care in a day care facility provided or sponsored by an employer, and, more commonly, contributions made to a dependent care flexible spending account (FSA). The money set aside in an FSA is not subject to income or payroll taxes. Learn more details about these credits from the Tax Policy Center.