Child Care Subsidy Program

What is the Child Care Subsidy Program?

The subsidy program assists families who need child care for their children and may not be able to afford the cost of child care. The subsidy program provides financial help to eligible families whose children attend licensed child care centres or family day homes. The amount of subsidy is based on an income test. This test takes into account family size, income, and the community in which you live.

How do I qualify for subsidy?

You can apply for subsidy when:

You have a job
You are looking for a job
You are attending school or a training program
You are having medical treatment or you or your child have a special need based on professional assessment
You need to meet a short term family crisis

How do I apply?

You can get an application form from the Child Care Services Office at 9010 Quartz Road, from your child care centre or day home or from the social services offices in the communities, or download from here. (link to YG2279 in forms).

Complete the form and enclose all required information. If you are employed, you must provide at least two pay stubs, or proof of employment signed by your employer.

Verification of income forms are available at the Child Care Services Office. If you are attending school, you must provide confirmation of enrollment in school or a training program before a subsidy can be approved. If you are self employed, you must submit the most recent tax summary form or fill out the self-employment form. To qualify for special needs subsidy, you require an assessment by a recognized professional and they must fill out the special needs forms or supply documentation.

Submit an application form and all the supporting information to the Child Care Services Office. When your application is complete, it will be reviewed to see if you qualify for a subsidy. You will receive a letter informing you of the decision. Your application for subsidy will not be processed and no money will be paid to your centre or day home until you have provided all required information to the Child Care office.

If I'm eligible for a subsidy, what happens next?

On a monthly basis, you will be required to sign a billing form. This lets us know that you need child care for the coming month and that your circumstances have not changed. You must notify the Child Care office immediately of any changes in your place of residence, marital status, income or reason for needing child care. You will need to reapply. Note: You must not sign more than one eligibility form at a time.

The centre or day home submits the billing form and payment is made directly to the program on your behalf.

The maximum subsidy available is

$500 for infants (18 months and younger)
$450 for children over 18 months
$225 for school-age children during school year

If you qualify for a full or partail subsidy and the program you are using charges more than the above maximum amount above, you must pay the caregiver the difference.

When must I reapply for a subsidy after it has been approved?

The letter you receive will tell you how long you are approved for and whether or not you have a parent contribution. We will send you a lapsing letter in the mail about a month before your subsidy expires. It is very important to reapply on time, otherwise you may be responsible for child care fees if the application is late.

How do I get more information?

For help, information and application forms, contact:

Child Care Services Unit H-10
Yukon Territorial Government
Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 or drop by 9010 Quartz Road
Telephone: (867) 667-3492

For Caregivers: Application for Certification for Child Care Provider

Day Home Assessment Checklist – move from current site
Opening a Family Day Home – move from current site
Newsletters (move from current website)

Direct Operating Grant

Once a child care centre and family day home is licensed they are then elgible for the Direct Oeprating grant. The grant is paid quarterly based on a formula which takes into consideratioon the ages and number of children enrolled in the program, the level of training of the staff or operator; if the program offers a hot meal and for centres only the building costs.

The grant provides funding to child care programmes to help ongoing operating and maintenance costs and to help reduce the pressure on programmes having to raise parent fees.

Supported Child Care Program

The principal of the supported child care program is to provide additional needed support for children with special needs in child care settings. This support may be provided by providing funding for the following:

Extra staffing where needed;
Assistance in staff development and programming;
Assistance with materials, fees, and transportation where needed

Application forms are available through Child Care Services and will be reviewed as needed.

Individual Program Plans (IPP) must be in place and signed by the facility, caregiver, professional and parent.

Approval will be given up to a maximum of 6 months, based on the IPP.