Do You Know a Teen Parent Who Needs Child Care?

What is teen parent child care?

Teen parent child care programs (TPCC) are available around the state.  These TPCC programs provide:

• high quality infant-toddler day care
• social services and case management
• health referrals and family planning counseling
• peer support groups for teens
• parenting education
• transportation needed to get to programs
• and more!

TPCC child care is an opportunity for teen parents to get high quality child care while they finish their education or start to work.  Unlike other child care vouchers, the teens and their children also get the enhanced support services from professionals who are trained to work with adolescents and their children. 

When are teen parents eligible?

There are three basic rules:

1. The teen must be in one of the following activities:
   • Full-time high school  (immediate access)
   • Full-time GED or skills training
   • Full time college student
   • Working part-time and going to school part-time
   • Working full-time.
2. The teen's child must be between 1 month and 33 months old.
3. The teen must meet the TPCC financial criteria in one of the following ways:
   • Receiving TAFDC cash benefits, either as a head of household or dependent on her parent's TAFDC grant  (immediate access)
   • Receiving SSI benefits  (paid by the Social Security Administration to severly disabled persons including children)
   • Not on TAFDC but under age 18 and her own parent(s) income is below 200% of the poverty level (for a household size that includes the parent, teen, baby and other siblings).  If the teen's parents refuse to tell DTA their income, a self-declaration from the teen that her parent(s) refuse is sufficient.
   • Not on TAFDC or SSI but over 18 and the teen meets income guidelines for day care (almost all teen parents do!)

How do I find out if space is available in TPCC?

To find the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency that covers your local area, call 1-800-345-0131or go to the website for the Department of Early Education and Care and type in your city/town and zip code in the right boxes under Find Child Care (top right of page)