_edited.png)
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE
WITHIN REACH
"Every child deserves quality care"
At Healthy Kids, we believe every child deserves access to safe, enriching, and high-quality care. We proudly partner with Ohio State's child care assistance program to help make our services more affordable to families. Whether your child is just starting out or needs care during the school year or summer, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Is My Family Eligible?
Check the requirements below to see if you qualify
Eligibility Requirements
✓ Meet Income Requirements: Household income must be at or below 145% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), based on gross monthly income at the time of application.
✓ Participate in a Qualifying Activity: All caregivers in the household must be working, attending school, participating in job training, or enrolled in an approved employment program.
✓ Have an Eligible Child: Child must be under 13 years of age.
✓ Be an Ohio Resident: The parent or caregiver must live in Ohio.
✓ Meet Citizenship Requirements: The child receiving care must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
✓ Use an Approved Child Care Provider: Care must be provided through a licensed child care center, licensed family child care home, or approved in-home aide.
Eligibility is redetermined every 12 months and families must recertify annually.
2026 Income Limits
~$2,470
Monthly Income Limit
What Documentation Do I Need?
Gather these documents before you apply
Proof of Income
Examples may include: pay stubs, letter from employer including rate of pay and hours worked, tax records, child support, or social security benefits
Work, School or Training Verification
Examples may include: work schedule, school or training records, or statement from school or training program
Proof of Residency
Examples may include: statement from landlord, mortgage records, or current lease
Child Care Provider Details
*Families must provide details about household members, income, and expenses. In two-parent households, both parents must meet activity requirements or provide documentation explaining why one cannot provide care.
Accepted document types include: PDF, DOC/DOCX, JPEG, or PNG
Certain documents may fulfill more than one requirement.
How to Apply
Families can apply through the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal. Thorugh this portal, families can submit the application, upload documents and track their case status
Families can also apply:
In Person at their local county JFS office
By Phone by calling their county office
By Mail /Email /Fax with a paper application and documents
Are There Other Forms of Assistance?
Have Questions?
We're here to help through every step of the process
Chat With Us
Need help right now?
Use the chat bubble in the bottom right corner—available 24/7 in English and Spanish.