Choosing Child Care

Families that qualify for the CCAP program can choose their own child care provider.

A little girl with blond hair and blue eyes smiles at the camera. Next to the graphic is a description about how to find an early learning center.

DHS will reimburse authorized child care providers up to a certain amount. Most eligible families share in the cost of care, called a co-payment, based on their income, family size and the number of children receiving child care subsidies. This fee is paid directly to the child care provider.

A chart listing co-pay amounts is below:

Parents can select the child care provider of their choice and, if necessary, may use more than one provider to meet their child care needs so long as the hours of care do not overlap. Options for child care include:

  • A DHS licensed child care center or before/after-school program
  • A DHS licensed family child care home
  • A license-exempt provider (relative) that has received approval from DHS

DHS' first priority is to protect the health and safety of all children and families served in child care programs statewide, before and during the global pandemic. In June 2020, child care providers who wanted to reopen could under new, safer regulations and COVID-19 guidance from public health experts. The COVID-19 Child Care Playbook in English and Spanish can be found here. 

Delia Hall, who serves as the director of the University of RI’s Dr. Pat Feinstein Child Development Center, discusses why child care is essential for the social and mental development of kids.

Licensed child care providers in Rhode Island are safe and give the quality care needed in these important brain development years. There is space for your children.  

To find providers, including those approved for CCAP, check out our consumer website. It can be found by clicking the learn more button at "Find an Early Learning Program" on the Rhode Island Children's Cabinet website, which has a multitude of prenatal to pre-K resources to keep RI kids strong. (You can also click on the picture about to go straight to the search tool.)     

Our partner, BrightStars, are also available to help you find a CCAP child care provider. You can reach them by phone at (401) 739-6100 or 1-855-398-7605 or by email at info@BrightStars.org. Services are available in both English and Spanish.