CCFAP Vermont Grandparent Guardian: How Kinship Caregivers Get Childcare Help

What CCFAP Covers

The Child Care Financial Assistance Program is Vermont's childcare subsidy. It helps pay for regulated childcare — licensed centers, registered family homes, and legally exempt providers. For grandparents and relatives who are suddenly parenting a young child while working or dealing with medical appointments, CCFAP can cover a large portion of the cost.

CCFAP is administered by the DCF Child Development Division, not the Economic Services Division that handles Reach Up and 3SquaresVT. The two divisions share the same parent agency but have separate application processes.

The Income Waiver for Legal Guardians

Here's the rule that most kinship families miss: if you are a legal guardian receiving a Reach Up Child Only grant, CCFAP income guidelines are waived. You qualify regardless of your personal income.

This means a grandparent earning well above the normal CCFAP income limit can still receive full childcare assistance — as long as they hold a guardianship order and have an active Reach Up Child Only grant for the child.

The waiver reflects Vermont's recognition that kinship guardians are doing the work of parents without having planned for it. Even a caregiver with a decent income is absorbing enormous unplanned costs.

Who Qualifies Without the Waiver

If you don't have a legal guardianship or aren't receiving Reach Up Child Only, you can still apply for CCFAP under the standard income rules. As of March 22, 2026, the requirements are:

• Household assets under $1 million
• Income within the updated CCFAP guidelines (which are more generous than they were before 2026)
• The child must be in regulated care — a licensed center, registered family home, or legally exempt provider
• You must meet an activity requirement (working, in school, or in a training program)

The asset limit is high enough that it rarely disqualifies anyone. The income guidelines are the practical threshold for most families.

How to Apply

CCFAP applications go through the CDDIS Parent Portal — the Child Development Division's online system. A few things to know about the portal:

• It requires multi-factor authentication
• DCF recommends using a laptop or desktop computer, not a phone
• You'll need documentation of income, childcare provider details, and your work or school schedule

If you can't access the portal, you can call the Child Development Division directly for a paper application.

Getting Reach Up First Opens This Door

The strategic move for most kinship guardians is to apply for Reach Up Child Only first. Once that grant is active, you have the foundation for the CCFAP income waiver. The sequence matters:

1. Apply for Reach Up Child Only (Form 202CARE through ESD)
2. Once approved, apply for CCFAP through the Child Development Division
3. Reference your Reach Up Child Only grant and guardianship order on the CCFAP application

This sequencing unlocks the most generous childcare support Vermont offers to kinship families.

What CCFAP Doesn't Cover

CCFAP pays a portion of childcare costs at regulated providers. It may not cover the full cost, and you may owe a copayment depending on your income level (even with the waiver, some copayment may apply based on the specific subsidy tier). It also doesn't cover informal babysitting by friends or family members who aren't registered or legally exempt providers.

Our Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Vermont guide walks through the CCFAP application step by step, explains how to document the legal guardian waiver, and shows how childcare assistance fits with Reach Up, 3SquaresVT, and Dr. Dynasaur in a complete benefits package.

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