Childcare is often one of the biggest expenses when it comes to raising a child. The average cost of daycare is about $1,300 a month – just over $300 a week, and the more children you have, the more those numbers add up. Most parents need to work to afford to take care of their child, and most parents also don’t have friends or family that can step in to help with babysitting every day. Navigating childcare expenses doesn’t have to be confusing, and you have options. Here are a couple of programs, grants, and agencies that exist to give your little one the TLC they need during the workday at an affordable rate to you. 

Army Fee Assistance Program

If you or your partner is in the military, you could benefit from subsidized childcare, including before and after school care. Army Fee Assistance (AFA) is the Army’s contribution toward the total cost of childcare for army families.  The program assists eligible army families in locating, selecting, and offsetting the cost of civilian child care when on-base child care is not available or a viable option for the service member and their family. If you or your partner are in any branch of the military, you can check out the official military childcare website to see if you qualify.

Great Start Readiness Program and Head Start Program

Thankfully, Michigan offers a couple of low or no-cost childcare options to qualifying families. Both the Great Start Readiness Program and the Head Start Program offer free preschool to eligible 3-5-year-olds. And there are great perks to the program too: Most families qualify for free, the schools are ranked #1 in the nation, and healthy meals are provided to your child. Is your child too young for school? There is even an Early Head Start program available to expectant mothers and their children who are under 3. If your child is ready to get started, you can learn more at the link provided. 

There are other state childcare programs available as well, so be sure to do your research to find the best one for yourself and your child. 

Child Development and Care Program

Also through the Michigan State government is a payment-based program called the Child Development and Care Program. This program was designed to offset the costs of childcare by subsidizing part of the payment. Parents apply for assistance, and once received, can use that assistance to pay their childcare bills. It can sometimes be tricky, as not all daycare providers accept this form of payment, so make sure to check with your child’s provider.

Child and Dependent Care Credit

The Child and Dependent Care Credit is a tax credit you receive that helps offset the costs of childcare. If your child is under the age of 13, and you paid someone to take care of that child, you may qualify for the credit. The savings can be huge. The credit covers about 20-35% of childcare expenses, for a maximum credit of $3,000 (or $6,000 if you are married). And the best part – this is a tax credit, not a tax deduction. This means that if you claim $1,000 of your income went to paying for childcare, you will get $1,000 back at the end of the tax year. Learn more here. 

Local Programs

There are some community based organizations that offer free or reduced childcare to those who need it. Look around and see what you can find. Sometimes a church will offer free childcare, or a community center will offer reduced after-school care. There are even some public high schools that will offer free childcare provided by students in FACS classes. See what your community offers to find a program that is right for you and your child. Start by contacting Help Me Grow Michigan.

We know childcare is expensive and we don’t want it to inhibit your ability to get a job or provide for your family. While HELP does not offer childcare, we can help you get connected to local programs that might be able to help you. If you need assistance in applying for subsidized child care, or if you need help on where to find childcare, let us know by calling or texting to speak to someone about your situation.