Wyoming ECARES Childcare Subsidy for Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers

How Wyoming's Childcare Subsidy Works

Wyoming's Child Care Subsidy Program helps low-income families pay for care from eligible providers. The program is administered by DFS through the Early Childhood Access Resources and Eligibility System (ECARES), an online portal that launched in August 2025 and received updated financial criteria in April 2026.

DFS reimburses childcare providers up to state-established maximum rates based on market rate surveys. You pay a sliding-scale copay based on your household income. The subsidy covers the difference between your copay and the provider's rate, up to the state maximum.

Income Limits

Two income ceilings apply at different stages:

Initial entry: income counted for the child care assistance unit must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a three-person assistance unit, that works out to roughly $47,810 per year.

Continued eligibility: once enrolled, the assistance unit can have countable income up to 225% FPL before losing the subsidy. This higher exit threshold prevents the cliff effect where a small raise at work immediately strips away childcare help.

The application uses the child care assistance unit's countable income. A relative caretaker's income is excluded unless a court order makes that caretaker financially responsible for the child.

The Activity Requirement

This is where the program creates a gap for some kinship households. To qualify, the adult caregiver must be participating in approved work, job search, or educational activities. DFS provides the subsidy to cover childcare hours while you are at work or in training.

Retired grandparents who are not working, job-searching, or enrolled in education generally do not meet this activity requirement. There are limited exceptions — if the child is receiving childcare for protective services reasons or the household is enrolled in certain qualifying program tracks — but the standard rule ties the subsidy to the caregiver's employment or training activity.

If you are a working aunt, uncle, or grandparent raising a relative's child, the subsidy can be substantial. For a grandparent who is fully retired, other programs like POWER Caretaker Relative ($259/month child-only grant) and SNAP may be more immediately useful.

Applying Through ECARES

Applications go through the ECARES online portal. The process involves creating an account, entering household and income information, uploading verification documents, and selecting a provider registered in ECARES and licensed when required.

If you have trouble logging into or using ECARES, call your local DFS office for help. Bring your income documentation (pay stubs, employer statement), proof of activity (work schedule, school enrollment letter), the child's information, and proof of your kinship relationship.

Certification lasts 12 months. You must report any loss of employment or training activity, and income increases that push you past the 225% FPL exit limit.

Other Childcare Options for Kinship Families

If the childcare subsidy does not fit your situation, two other paths can help with the cost of caring for a young child:

Head Start and Early Head Start — federally funded preschool programs for children from birth to age 5 in low-income households. These are free and do not require the caregiver to be working. Contact your local Community Action Agency for enrollment.

Title III-E respite care — the Wyoming Department of Health lists services for relatives aged 55 or older raising a grandchild or related child aged 17 or younger in Johnson, Laramie, and Sheridan counties. This can include respite support through the National Family Caregiver Support Program. It is not a daily childcare solution, but it can give a senior caregiver needed breaks.

For a full map of how childcare, POWER, SNAP, Medicaid, and other Wyoming programs work together for kinship families, the Wyoming Kinship Financial Help Guide covers each program's eligibility rules, application steps, and renewal deadlines.

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