Financial Assistance
Supplemental Child Care Program
The Childcare Resources' Supplemental Child Care Program (SCCP) assists eligible working parents with children birth to age five (prior to kindergarten entry) with paying for the cost of child care. Based on a sliding scale related to family size and income, parents pay a portion of the cost of care and Childcare Resources pays a portion.
Before You Apply:
Please thoroughly review all eligibility requirements below to ensure you are eligible to apply.
Only COMPLETE applications will be reviewed.
After submission, Childcare Resources will share the Program Application if it is determined you meet the requirements of the Supplemental Child Care Program. For eligibility requirements, please see below.
Definition of Family Size
A family consists of a parent/guardian, his/her spouse, and all their dependent children under 18 years of age (related by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship) who reside in the same household.
Determine Gross Annual Income
Gross income for all family members
(includes regular income, tips, commissions, SSI, SSA, etc.)
Employment income is determined by averaging the four most recent paystubs.
Eligibility Scale
Family Size | Min. Annual Income | Max. Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
2 | $38,077 | $66,650 |
3 | $47,977 | $75,000 |
4 | $57,877 | $83,300 |
5 | $67,777 | $90,000 |
6 | $77,677 | $96,650 |
Effective 06/01/2026
Eligibility Requirements
Requirements
A family must meet all five requirements in order to be eligible for our Supplemental Child Care Program​
Employment
Must be employed and working at least 30 hours per week or more
(total hours for self or self + spouse/partner)
Annual Family Income Eligibility Scale
According to family size, your annual income must fall within our Income Eligibility Scale
Child Age
Must have a child birth to five years of age (until eligible to start Kindergarten)
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Service Area
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Must live within Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, or Walker County
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Assistance
Must not already be receiving child care assistance from DHR or Child Care Central
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Program Funders
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This project is support, in part, by funds awarded through the Community Development Department, City of Birmingham, Alabama.
Application Process
Applications are processed within 60 days of receipt. A family will receive an email notifying them regarding the status of their application. The email will indicate one of the following:
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Family is eligible and documentation requested
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More information is being requested to determine if family is eligible
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Family is not eligible for assistance
Waiting List
Families are placed on the waiting list in the order their application was received, and as funding is available will be enrolled in the program.
Families currently enrolled in the SCCP are required to report any changes to their employment status, income, family size, etc. within ten (10) days from the first day the change occurs. Some changes may require additional documentation, which will be provided to the family upon receipt of their SCCP Parent Change Form.
Program FAQs
Purpose of Program:
To provide child care financial assistance for pre-kindergarten children of working families who meet the program's five eligibility requirements and provide participants with information relative to quality child care and child development.
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Processing:
Processing a case involves reviewing documents for authenticity, calculating annual income and hours per week, and anything else deemed necessary to determine eligibility. Once a determination of eligibility is made, families will be notified to select a child care provider. After the provider is enrolled with the SCCP program and all documentation from the family and provider is received and approved, an award letter will be issued to the family and the provider. Child care will begin on the first of the month as funding is available. Submitting the required documentation does not constitute eligibility.
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Documents Required to Apply:
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Driver's License or government issued ID (parent(s))
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Birth Certificates (parent(s) and children)
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Proof of Residence- lease, mortgage, property tax or utility bill
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Social Security Cards (parent(s) and children)
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Check Stubs - Four most current and consecutive for parent and/or partner
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Other family income - SSI, SSA, alimony, pension, etc. (child support not included in income)
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Most current (2025) Federal Income Tax Return
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Proof of Marriage, Divorce, Separation or Widowhood, if applicable
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Additional Documents Still Needed:
Any outstanding documents needed after the application is reviewed must be received within 10 days, or the applicant must reapply.
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Provider Selection:
A child care provider must be selected within 10 days of approval. If a provider is not selected, the applicant must reapply.
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Annual Income Calculation:
Total all four (4) gross earned (before taxes deducted) pay stubs. Divide by four (4). Then, multiply by 2.167 if you are paid bi-weekly, 2.0 if you are paid twice a month. You have your monthly amount. Lastly, multiply by 12. You have your annual income.
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For weekly income, total all four (4) gross earned (before taxes deducted) pay stubs. Then, divide by four (4). Next, multiply by 4.33. Lastly, multiply by 12. You have your annual income.
Remember to add other types of income such as SSA, SSI, Pensions, and Alimony to your monthly income. CHILD SUPPORT IS NO LONGER COUNTED AS INCOME.
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Parent Fee and Subsidy Calculation:
The family's size, gross income, and age of the child or children will place them into one of three brackets corresponding to a fixed weekly subsidy amount. There is one set of brackets for full-time care and one for part-time care. This subsidy amount can be used at any center licensed by DHR.
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Childcare Payments to Providers:
Childcare Resources mails EAV's by the end of the month. Providers must submit the completed EAV to Childcare Resources by the following by the 5th. Childcare Resources will direct deposit a monthly reimbursement by the 15th of the month following attendance.
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Be sure your provider submits their EAV’s in a timely manner. EAV’s not received by the 5th will not be paid.
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Attendance Policy:
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This program is attendance based. If a child is absent for more than five days a month, or if a center is closed for an unpaid holiday, the full subsidy will not be provided.
Reimbursement is calculated as follows:
(Weekly subsidy amount ÷ 5) × number of days attended
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Redetermination:
Participants must be redetermined every year. Participants will receive the redetermination forms via email 45 days prior to the due date. Failure to return all documents on time will result in automatic termination. Note: If terminated, participants must reapply to the program and re-enter the waiting list at that time.
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Reporting a change:
Participants must report a change in income, address, family size, or provider choice within ten days using the parent change form located on the website. Failure to report information as required will result in immediate denial or termination without the option to reapply.
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If a reported change results in no longer being eligible, the participants subsidy will end at the end of the month.