For parents, finding reliable child care can be an important part of being able to work, pursue training, or look for a new job. Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast provides Child Care Scholarships to eligible families to help make quality child care more accessible.
The program provides financial assistance to families who meet eligibility requirements based on factors such as household income and family size. Approved families may receive assistance for up to 12 months, with the opportunity to recertify annually.
Families may be placed on a waitlist when funding is limited. Child Care Scholarships are available for children up to age 19 who have a documented disability.
Supporting Parents in the Workforce
Child care is part of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board’s broader workforce strategy. The Board invests approximately $370 million each year in child care assistance, helping thousands of families across the region access care while parents work, attend school, complete job training, or search for employment.
For working parents, dependable care can provide the stability needed to maintain a job and pursue new opportunities.
Tashara Wiser, an eligibility specialist with Workforce Solutions and a working parent, said reliable child care gave her the confidence that she could get to work each day. That stability also helped her move from a call center position into case management.
The benefit can extend to employers as well. When employees have dependable child care, they are better positioned to maintain their work schedules and remain in the workforce.
Investing in Quality Child Care
The program also supports efforts to improve the quality of early learning available to families.
Brittany Miller, a program administrator with Workforce Solutions’ early education quality team, said quality child care includes safe learning environments, qualified caregivers, and experiences that support children’s development during their early years.
Child care providers are an important part of that work. At Kids ‘R Kids of Riverstone, Director Jamille Rodriguez described how learning and curriculum begin during infancy and continue through the school-age years.
For families, access to reliable, quality child care can create more room to focus on work, education, and career goals. For the region, it supports parents’ participation in the workforce while helping families build greater financial stability.
How to Apply for Child Care Financial Assistance
Families interested in Child Care Scholarships can apply through the statewide KinderConnect system.
Apply for Child Care Assistance
Eligibility requirements apply, and families may be placed on a waitlist if funding is limited.
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