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Program Details
State of Hawaii Child Care Subsidy and
Preschool Open Doors Programs
The Child Care Subsidy
The Child Care Subsidy program (formerly known as Child Care Connection Hawaii or CCCH) helps low-income families to sustain their employment, educational efforts and job training by paying a subsidy for their children who are in the care of DHS-approved child care providers. Unless child care is required for protective purposes, families must meet income and activity requirements to qualify for this subsidy program.
The Preschool Open Doors (POD)
The Preschool Open Doors (POD) program is a separate subsidy program with funds that provides services state-wide to families sending their children to a licensed preschool during the two (2) school years prior to kindergarten entry. The goal of POD is to promote school readiness for children, and the program focuses on meeting the needs of the child. Parents are not required to have an eligible activity, unlike the Child Care Subsidy program, but they must meet income and other eligibility requirements. For POD, there is an initial application period established and published each year with the possibility of additional application periods dependent on the availability of funding.
What are Child Care Subsidies?
The Child Care Subsidy and the Preschool Open Doors (POD) programs use a sliding fee scale for families meeting the income eligibility requirements. The subsidy amount varies based on the family’s gross monthly income, family size, type and cost of care. The subsidy may not cover the full cost of care, thus families may be required to pay for some of the child care costs.
For families with children under the age of 13 years, the Child Care Subsidy program provides subsidies to help pay for a variety of legal child care settings including: care provided in the child’s home, care by relatives or friends in their home, before and after school programs, and preschools. All child care providers, even if they are not licensed by DHS, need to have child abuse/neglect, adult perpetrator, and criminal history background checks completed in order to receive a DHS child care subsidy payment. This is to help ensure that the child is in a safe setting.
Child Care Subsidy program also provides families with: guidance in selecting a child care provider; information about quality child care programs; and referrals to community resources for help with other concerns.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Subsidy?
Child Care Subsidy Eligibility Requirements (general child care)
How to Apply for Child Care Subsidy
Applications for child care services are accepted statewide, year-round, except for the Preschool Open Doors (POD) program which has a limited Open Enrollment period during the spring.
The Application Process:
Apply online at ChildCareSubsidyApplication.dhs.hawaii.gov.
OR download the Application for Child Care Services (DHS 911) and drop off, email, or mail the application and supporting documents to:
Mail: Child Care Subsidy Unit
94-275 Mokuola Street, Room 105
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
Phone: (855) 643-1643
Email: HawaiiCCSU@dhs.hawaii.gov
Applying Online:
Applying by paper:
(Child Care Subsidy)
Mail: Child Care Subsidy Unit
94-275 Mokuola Street, Room 105
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
Phone: (855) 643-1643
Email:HawaiiCCSU@dhs.hawaii.gov
For Families that are determined eligible for Child Care Subsidy Payments:
Program Forms
WHAT IS PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS?
The Preschool Open Doors (POD) program provides subsidies for eligible families with children for up to two school years prior to kindergarten entry. POD subsidies may be used to assist with payments to DHS licensed preschools or exempt center-based providers that are listed with DHS. The program has an initial application period established and published each year.
POD subsidies may be paid directly to families via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or direct deposit to the family’s bank account, or a direct payment to a licensed child care provider.
Each family has different child care needs and preferences. The parent/guardian chooses the child care provider most appropriate for their child. Contact People Attentive To Children (PATCH) for resources in choosing a child care provider.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Preschool Open Doors?
Preschool Open Doors (POD) Eligibility Requirements
There is a priority application period from February to April 30th and a first-come, first-serve application period from July to January 31st for each program year. Assistance is provided according to priority criteria based on the child’s age, referral documentation, and the family’s income:
How to Apply for Preschool Open Doors
There is a priority application period from February to April 30th and a first-come, first-serve application period from July to January 31st for each program year.
The Application Process:
Apply online at ChildCareSubsidyApplication.dhs.hawaii.gov.
OR download the Application for Child Care Services (DHS 911) and drop off, email, or mail the application and supporting documents to:
Mail: PATCH
Preschool Open Doors
560 N. Nimitz Hwy, Ste. 218
Honolulu, HI 96817
Email: PODadmin@patch-hi.org
Phone: (808) 791-2130 or toll free at (800) 746-5620.
Visit Patch Hawaii for more information.
Applying Online:
Applying by paper:
(Preschool Open Doors program)
Mail: PATCH
Preschool Open Doors
560 N. Nimitz Hwy, Ste. 218
Honolulu, HI 96817
Email: PODadmin@patch-hi.org
Phone: (808) 791-2130 or toll free at (800) 746-5620.