Day Care for Children

Program Overview

The Davidson County Child Care Subsidy Program assists parents in affording safe, legal, quality child care. The amount of funding allocated to each county is determined by legislation.  If the county department of social services or other local purchasing agency does not have enough funding to serve all families who apply for subsidized child care, the agency may establish priorities for services and may establish a waitlist. 

When funding permits, if a family meets the eligibility criteria, this program pays for a portion of the cost of child care. The program supports the NC Division of Child Development Child Care star rating system that encourages parents to choose higher quality child care settings for their children. Generally, children may receive child care subsidy assistance until they turn 13, but in special situations, they may remain eligible until they are 18.

Care is provided in licensed Child Day Care Centers and Family Care Homes. All families who are eligible for child care assistance based on their countable income will be charged a parental fee for a portion of the cost of child care assistance. Parental fees are set at 10% of gross monthly income for all families who are required to pay a fee. Recipients are responsible for paying parental fees of any amount that are assessed by the child care worker.   Parents are encouraged to use the NC Child Care star rating system in order to choose a quality day care setting for their children. Applications for this program are only taken at the Lexington office.