Childcare Voucher Program

The University of Washington Childcare Voucher Program provides eligible students with financial assistance to subsidize childcare services. This program enables students to choose among all DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services)-licensed childcare facilities in good standing in the Puget Sound area balancing factors such as cost, quality and convenience. DSHS licensing of the childcare facility is not required for children in school affilliated programs from 5 years old to 12 years old, provided that jurisdiction of another state agency exists.

Overview of the Program

The Childcare Assistance Program is funded by the Services and Activities Fee paid by all students.

Up to predetermined limits, awarded students receive a portion of their childcare costs from the Childcare Assistance Program. For children from birth through 6 years of age, students can receive 60 percent of their costs. Parents of children 7 to 12 years old, can receive 35 percent of their costs. The remainder of child care expenses are covered by personal resources. In some cases Financial Aid may be available to help with the expenses not covered by this program.

The amount of assistance is based upon predetermined monthly limits established by the child's age. The program will pay the maximum allocation or the prescribed percentage of monthly expenses, whichever is less, according to the schedule below:

Infants (1-12 months)
60% of monthly cost or

$526 maximum (monthly cost of $876 or above)

Toddlers (13-36 months)
60% of monthly cost or

$483 maximum (monthly cost of $806 or above)

Preschoolers (37 months - 6 years)
60% of monthly cost or

$444 maximum (monthly cost of $740 or above)

School-Age (7-12 years)
35% of monthly cost or

$194 maximum (monthly cost of $555 or above)

The childcare program does not pay for registration, meals, field trips, diapers, fines, or any other type of charges beyond the basic fee.

The childcare quarters are three full calendar months at a time; the dates do not correspond exactly with the academic calendar. For example, assistance is paid through to the last day of the month, regardless of the quarter end date. The Services and Activities portion of childcare assistance is distributed to students at the beginning of each three month period, provided the student completes all forms properly and on time.

Childcare assistance is limited to lower income students. Therefore, families must fall within prescribed income and resource limits in order to be eligible. For 2003-2004, these income limits are:

Family Size Max Income/Resources
2 $37,476

3 $47,016

4 $56,556

5 $66,072

6 $75,636

7 $85,176

8 $97,716

If your adjusted family income and resources (salaries, tuition waivers, etc. minus $3,230 per child) is above the amounts listed above, you will be ineligible to receive assistance through this program.

Family Size	Max Income/Resources
2	$37,476
3	$47,016
4	$56,556
5	$66,072
6	$75,636
7	$85,176
8	$97,716

Student-parents are ranked for childcare assistance on the basis of income and resources, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid. If your financial resources change during the year, your eligibility to continue receiving assistance will be reviewed and may be cancelled.

To be eligible to receive childcare assistance, student-parents must be full tuition and fee-paying students, enrolled at the University's Seattle campus full time (12 credit hours for an undergraduate and 10 for a graduate) for 3 out of 4 quarters of an academic year. The student may be part-time or not enrolled at all for the 4th quarter and still receive assistance, provided that all three previous quarters were full-time and the student has not received a degree. Autumn quarter is considered the first quarter of each academic year.

Student-parents must be the legal and physical custodial parent of the children, and must use DSHS licensed or certified care providers not related by blood or marriage.

Before and after school programs and summer day camps directly sponsored by the Seattle Public School System or the Seattle Parks Department do not need to be DSHS licensed for 5-12 year old children in order to qualify for assistance.

Childcare assistance MUST be applied for on an annual basis, even for current participants. To apply, student-parents must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the processor by the Financial Aid priority filing date (usually near the end of February) and a Childcare Request Application to the Childcare Assistance Program for Students Office by the end-of-May deadline. Copies of these forms are available in Room 482 Schmitz Hall.

The Childcare Assistance Program will notify students regarding their priority for assistance in the summer prior to the award year.

Additional information on the childcare assistance system can be obtained in the Childcare Assistance Program for Students Office in Room 482 of Schmitz Hall or by calling (206) 543-1041.

Childcare Assistance Program for Students

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
ovpsa@u.washington.edu
Modified: June 16, 2000

Infants (1-12 months)	60% of monthly cost or $526 maximum (monthly cost of $876 or above)
Toddlers (13-36 months)	60% of monthly cost or $483 maximum (monthly cost of $806 or above)
Preschoolers (37 months - 6 years)	60% of monthly cost or $444 maximum (monthly cost of $740 or above)
School-Age (7-12 years)	35% of monthly cost or $194 maximum (monthly cost of $555 or above)