Child Care Financial Assistance

Child Care Subsidy Assistance supports income-eligible parents and guardians with the high cost of child care.

Child Care and Development Fund

This program assists income-eligible families in obtaining child care so they can work, receive job training, or finish a higher education/vocational training program. The Division of Social Services (DSS) serves as the lead agency for administering the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) in Nevada. DSS manages eligibility case management in southern Nevada, while The Children’s Cabinet supports families in northern Nevada and offers statewide assistance to child care providers.

SOUTHERN NEVADA: For questions regarding child care subsidy applications, individual cases, or payments, contact [email protected].

NORTHERN & RURAL NEVADA: For questions regarding child care subsidy applications, individual cases or payments, contact [email protected]

STATEWIDE: If you are looking for child care or are thinking about providing child care in Nevada, contact [email protected]

How to Apply for Child Care Subsidy

  • The names of every person living in your home and their relationship to you.
  • Each adult’s daily activities, like working or going to school.
  • All income received by each person living in your home.
  • All forms of assistance received by each person living in your home.
  • The provider who will be caring for the child(ren) when the adults are at work.
  • A copy of the photo ID for all adults living in the home.
  • Proof of every adult’s and child’s social security number.
  • Proof of every child’s birth date.
  • Proof of all income received by the household in the last 30 days.
  • Proof of any assistance received by anyone in the household.
  • Proof of schedule (work or job search) for adults in the household.

Call any of our offices and ask to be prescreened for subsidy program eligibility.

  • A staff member will screen your information to:
    • Make sure each adult has a reason for needing child care,
    • Count how many people make up your household size, and
    • Calculate the total monthly income for your household. See the Child Care Household Monthly Income Chart below.
  • Based on the above information, the staff member will tell you if you are eligible.
  • If eligible, you will be sent an application for you to fill out and return.
  • You must meet all program requirements to remain eligible for child care subsidy.
  • You will be assigned a case manager who will help you with all program requirements.

See Important Updates to the Child Care Subsidy Program below for additional information on the wait list that went into effect on April 1, 2024.

Southern Nevada

Child Care & Development Program
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.dss.nv.gov/programs/child-care/

Northern and Rural Nevada

The Children's Cabinet
Phone: 775-856-6200 or 800-753-5500
Website: www.childrenscabinet.org

You can submit an application online through ACCESS Nevada

Or you, can download and print a paper application:

Child Care Subsidy Application - ENGLISH

Child Care Subsidy Application - SPANISH

Important Updates to The Child Care Subsidy Program

Effective April 1, 2024, The Child Care and Development Program has implemented a wait list for all new applicants applying for child care subsidy. In addition to the wait list, families are now responsible for a family co-payment contribution. See attached documents for additional information, including applicants who are exempt from these requirements.

Child Care Update Letter - Parents
Child Care Update Letter - Providers
Questions and Answers Regarding Co-Payments

Head Start Eligibility for Families Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Support

In April 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a change in Head Start policy which makes it easier for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households to become eligible for Head Start programs. ACF expanded its interpretation of “public assistance,” as used in the Head Start statute, to include SNAP. Now SNAP households can demonstrate their eligibility for Head Start by simply showing proof of SNAP receipt or eligibility, such as a copy of a notice of approval, other documentation of eligibility or benefits from the SNAP agency, or an Electronic Benefit Transfer card with SNAP identification number to become categorically eligible for Head Start services. Click on the flyers below for more information.

SNAP Head Start Flyer-English
SNAP Head Start Flyer-SPANISH

Child Care Household Monthly Income Chart

Updated as of October 1, 2025. More information about this chart is provided on the DSS Child Care website.

Child Care Household Monthly Income Chart

Child Care Policy Manual

The State of Nevada Division of Social Services offers a comprehensive Child Care Policy Manual, outlining all aspects of the Child Care and Development Program. Key sections include:

  • Program Overview: Introduction, general provisions, subsidy availability, priority populations, waitlist management, special considerations, and duplicate benefits prevention.
  • Application Process: Types of applications, conflict of interest considerations, new applications, renewals, reinstatements, and referral protocols, including for DWSS NEON.
  • Interview Process: Interview sites, interpreter services, authorized representatives, and required forms, such as rights and responsibilities agreements and voter registration applications.
  • Eligibility Factors: Verification requirements, income limits, subsidy percentages, non-financial eligibility criteria, including age, special needs, identification, citizenship, and household composition.
  • Income and Budgeting: Types of income considered, income deductions, verification, documentation, and budgeting steps.
  • Provider Information: Provider requirements, types, rates, attendance, payments, and compliance, along with investigation and recovery processes.

This manual serves as an essential resource for families, childcare providers, and agency staff, ensuring clear understanding and consistent implementation of childcare policies and regulations in Nevada.

Click HERE to download the Nevada Child Care Policy Manual.


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First 5 Nevada, a program of The Children's Cabinet, is partially supported with funding from the Administration for Children and Families Child Care and Development Fund through a subaward agreement with the Nevada Division of Social Services, Child Care and Development Program (Grant #G00996005). First 5 Nevada was initially developed with funding from the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0099, awarded to the Nevada Department of Education, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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