Child Care Assistance Program

Families with who meet certain eligibility criteria qualify for the program.

Must be participating in an allowable activity:

• Working (paid employment or self-employed)
• Allowable education or training programs

Temporary allowable activity:

• In situations of homelessness, looking for employment, education or training activities, and housing is considered allowable

Age limits:

• Once children are determined eligible, they may receive services until the eligibility period in which they turn 13 years old expires
• A child with special needs may qualify up to age 19
• Note: State-licensed child care providers can receive CCAP payments until the end of the month when a child turns 12 years old. Starting the following month, they can no longer receive CCAP payments for that child due to the age limits on their license. Providers licensed by other agencies, such as tribal or out-of-state providers, may still be able to receive CCAP payments depending on the rules of their licensing agency.

Asset Limits:

• A family’s assets cannot exceed $1,000,000
• Monthly income from wages, child support, pensions, veteran’s benefits or other sources must be less than the CCAP income limits

Copayment:

In most cases, families pay a co-payment, which is a portion of the child care cost. A co-payment is determined on a sliding fee scale based on a family's income and household size. Use our Worksheet for Calculating Copay to determine your co-pay amount.

The table below shows the maximum monthly income a household can earn to qualify for the program (before taxes).

Families with ongoing CCAP benefits prior to July 1, 2024, with a state median income between 75% to 85% will be eligible for an additional 18 month period at their next review.

Effective Oct. 1, 2025 - Sept. 30, 2026

The following households are not placed on the waitlist:

• Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Families participating in the Crossroads program

Families who are otherwise eligible for CCAP and not exempt will be placed on the waitlist, including those applying for the workforce benefit, after completing an application and meeting all eligibility requirements.

Priority for the waitlist is given to:

• Families experiencing homelessness
• Families with income between 0–30% of State Median Income (SMI)

Families remain on the waitlist until funding becomes available or they are removed due to withdrawal, ineligibility, or lack of contact.

Eligibility begins the first day of the month the family is approved off the waitlist, once all required information is received.

• CCAP will notify families when funding becomes available and they can be moved from the waitlist. Families will have 10 days to respond.
• Families should keep their contact information current to avoid delays or removal from the waitlist. 

• You can receive payments for your child care costs up to the full-time state max rate.
• Your co-payment will be waived.

• Live in North Dakota.
• Be employed by a licensed child care provider in North Dakota.
• Be a child care employee who works at least an average of 25 hours per week at a ND licensed child care program or ND tribally licensed program.
• Meet Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility requirements (except for income limits).

Eligible employees may receive the benefit even if their children are enrolled in a program other than where the parent works.

1. Fill out a CCAP application.
   1. Already on CCAP? All you need to do is complete the Child Care Workforce Benefit Verification form (SFN 354) and send it to applyforhelp@nd.gov.
2. Complete the Child Care Workforce Benefit Verification form (SFN 354) with your employer and submit it with your application or send to applyforhelp@nd.gov.
   1. If you have trouble downloading this form, find help by clicking here.

Note: Although the benefit is available to all licensed child care program employees regardless of income, the employee’s household income is required to process applications and to inform the effectiveness of the benefit.

What is a childcare certificate?

A childcare certificate is issued to a family and provider once they are determined eligible, and have chosen an eligible provider for the program.

The certificate contains:

• the name and address of the parent/caretaker
• the period of time covered by the certificate
• the monthly co-payment for which the family is responsible
• the children who are eligible to receive child care
• the level of care and provider each child is eligible for

What are my program rights?

As a participant in CCAP there are certain rights that protect you. You have the right to:

• review the policy manual.
• withdraw your application prior to receiving benefits.
• appeal and request a fair hearing if you disagree with any decision made by CCAP to deny, reduce or terminate benefits.
  • Note: Appeals must be requested within 30 days 
    from the print date on the notice that is being 
    appealed.

What happens if I give false information on purpose?

If you give false information on purpose, it might result in legal action against you (criminal or civil). It might also mean we reduce your benefits, take money back from you or disqualify you from benefits temporarily or permanently.

Who may I use as a provider?

Families have the right to choose their own childcare provider. Providers may be nonprofit, for profit, religious, or relatives. Families must contact the Customer Support Center for information about licensing, self-declaration or approval of relative providers.

Who qualifies to be a provider?

To receive payment providers must be at least 18 years old, licensed, self-declaration, tribal registered or an approved relative. An approved relative must be related to the child by marriage, blood relationship or court decree, and:

• a grandparent or great grandparent
• an aunt or uncle
• a sibling

Approved relative providers can not live in the same home 
as the child for whom care is being provided.

What if my provider requires a contract?

If your child care provider requires you to sign a contract, read it carefully before signing so you are aware of all your obligations. HHS is not bound by or responsible for either party’s compliance with the terms of any contract entered between a provider and a parent/caretaker.

What access to my children do I have while they are at my providers?

Families must be given unlimited access to their child(ren) in child care and to the providers who are providing the care. This access is to be during normal operating hours of the child care facility.

Is my information kept confidential?

The information you provide is held in confidence and used solely for program administration.

Do I have to provide my Social Security Number?

The Privacy Act of 1974 requires the following information be provided when individuals are requested to disclose their social security numbers:

• Disclosure of the social security number is voluntary and it is requested for identification purposes.
• Failure to disclose this information will not affect participation in this program.

You have the right to file a written complaint if you believe that you or members of your household have been discriminated against by reason of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, political beliefs, handicap, or status with respect to marriage or public assistance. 

A written complaint may be filed in the following ways:

• with your local human service zone office
• by mail:
  ND Health and Human Services office for Civil Rights, Legal Advisory Unit
  600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept 325
  Bismarck, ND 58505-0250.
• by phone: (701) 328-2311 or 711 (TTY) 
• by fax: (701) 328-2173
• by email: dhslau@nd.gov
• by contacting the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:
  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Office for Civil Rights
  200 Independence Ave. SW, HHH Building, Room 509-F
  Washington, DC 20201
  (800) 368-1019 or TDD (800) 537-7697
  fax (202) 619-3437