Employer Supported Child Care Options

Compliments of Maine Children's Growth Council

Investing in Early Care and Education
Early Care and Education plays a critical role in economic development by supporting workers, attracting businesses and providing an education foundation for the community.  Early care and education is recognized, based on recent research, as the critical foundation for a child’s future learning.  Quality early care prepares children for school by fostering their social, intellectual, emotional and physical development.  Investment in quality early care doesn’t just benefit the work force today – it is an investment in the work force of tomorrow.

There are various ways in which an employer can provide early care assistance:

  • Host work place seminars to inform parents about available child care resources and parenting supports.
  • Disseminate information through bulletin boards, website postings, newsletters or resource libraries.
  • Develop or support on-site or near-site early care and education center.
  • Participate in early care and education coalitions and task forces to help meet the early care needs of communities.
  • Offer family oriented personnel policies such as flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, etc.

Employer Sponsored Child Care Assistance Plans

dad and daughterThere are a growing number of employers in Maine that offer some sort of assistance to their employees for their child care needs.

Dependent Care Assistance Plans  (DCAP): Some companies offer their employees Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAP). These plans let employees set aside a certain amount of income before taxes to pay for child care. Personnel or benefits offices can give employees information on whether they offer a DCAP and how to use it.  The amount set aside will reduce the dollar amount eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

Employer-Sponsored Assistance:
There are many options for some form of employer-sponsored child care assistance to their employees. If you would like more information on these options please call the RDC. Some examples of employer assistance are:

  • Matching funds or subsidy programs that are paid for by the employer for employees’ child care needs. This is offered as an employee benefit.
  • Work and family resources, offered through the HR department, that may include enhanced child care referral services (in collaboration with the RDC), elder care, and work/life issues.
  • Employer funding for after-school or camp programs for employees’ children during school and summer vacations.
  • Some employers offer on-site care for mildly ill children and emergency back-up care.
  • Family friendly time-off policies (sick/vacation/personal days) that support child care needs of the working parent.

Visit the Department of Labor’s “Employer Child Care Options ” for more information about Employer Child Care Assistance plans.

Child Care Opportunities Resource Development Center can help employers assess their employees child care needs and offer assistance in starting child care assistance programs. One program the Resource Development Centers can offer is Enhanced Referrals. These will give employees a more thorough referral which includes contact with the potential providers to ensure availability. Other assistance employers can offer include on-site child care, child care payment assistance, and flex-time.

For more information on how Child Care Opportunities  Resource Development Center can assist you, please visit us at

Child Care Opportunities, Resource Development Center
18 Avery Lane Ellsworth, ME o4605

Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

You may also reach us by phone at:

207 667-2467 or 1 800-834-4378,
TTY 1 800 963-9490

or  email: charliez@childandfamilyopp.com