C4K

Care 4 Kids (C4K)

Program Overview

The goal of the Care 4 Kids program (C4K) is to make child care affordable for low to moderate income families in Connecticut. The program is a partnership between the State of Connecticut, the families in the program, and the providers who take care of the children. This program is sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. 

More About C4K

child playing with play dough To participate in the program, there are certain eligibility requirements for parents, children, and child care providers. Eligible families receive a Care 4 Kids certificate to help pay for child care costs by approved providers.

The program requires families to meet income and eligibility requirements to receive subsidies.
Child(ren) needing care must be under the age of 13 or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs.
Parents must be in an approved activity during the hours the children are in child care. Approved activities include working, going to school, or attending a job training or education activity. Families must also meet the program’s income requirements.

Every twelve months, each family’s eligibility for Care 4 Kids is reviewed through a process called redetermination.  The family is sent a form to complete and return. The family must meet all the redetermination eligibility requirements to be approved for an additional 12 month eligibility period.

Care 4 Kids families are required to pay a portion of child care costs — called the family fee — based on their income. The family pays the provider directly for the family fee and all charges not covered by Care 4 Kids. 

Eligibility

Families must:

Live in Connecticut
Child(ren) needing care must be under the age of 13 or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs.
Parents of the child(ren) needing care who live at home must be working, in an approved training activity, or going to school and not available to provide care.
Meet specific income limits for:
- New applications
- Redetermination

Children must:

Live in Connecticut
Be under the age of 13 or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs

Providers must:

A licensed center, licensed group, licensed family home, or license-exempt child care provider per the CT Office of Early Childhood.
Unlicensed home-based providers must be related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption, including grandparent/great-grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling (a sibling living outside of the child’s home).
Providers must complete the Federal Health and Safety Orientation Training and ongoing professional development to build their knowledge and skills.

Documents and Information You Need to Apply

You'll need to gather and submit the information below to apply. Please review the application-specific requirements here.

Care 4 Kids application
- Online
- PDF
Parent provider agreement form
Income verification documentation
Employment verification documentation
Disability information (if applicable)
Higher education/workforce development/training program information (if applicable)
Supplemental income documentation (if applicable)

How to Apply

To apply online, create an account with Ct.gov and begin your online application. To apply by mail or by phone, visit the C4K website to find forms and contact information.

Need Help?

Care 4 Kids Phone: 1-888-214-5437
Fax: 1-877-868-0871
Hours of operation:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM – 6 PM

For help finding childcare, 2-1-1 Child Care at 2-1-1 or 1-800-505-1000

Care 4 Kids Office Address:
1344 Silas Deane Highway 3rd Floor
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood 1-844-365-5328
Division of Child Care Licensing 1-800-282-6063 Department of Social Services – Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) 1-800-228-5437

Care 4 Kids