What is ECARES?
Early Childhood Access Resources and Eligibility System, or ECARES, is a web-based system for parents and guardians needing child care and for programs providing child care in Wyoming.
Parents
ECARES is for all parents of children needing care! Parents who would like to apply for child care assistance can use ECARES to check their eligibility. Parents who do not qualify for assistance can use ECARES to search and review local child care providers.
How to use ECARES
ECARES help for parents
- What Has Changed.pdf
- Account Creation.pdf
- Child Care Assistance Application.pdf
- Child Care Enrollment.pdf
- Child No Longer Needs Care.pdf
- Child Schedule Change.pdf
- Contact Information Change.pdf
- Entering or changing the dates when you need care video
- Entering your household activity video
- Entering your parent schedule video
- Help Tickets.pdf
- Income Change.pdf
- Foster Care Providers Reference Guide.pdf
Parents who are having trouble logging in or using the system can call their local DFS office for help. Find a local office at this link.
Parents who have previously received child care assistance will receive either an email or a letter with a unique access code to log in to ECARES. Letters will be sent prior to your renewal date. Please note: child care assistance renewal occurs one year after the start date so renewal periods will take place year-round.
Providers
Providers can use ECARES to:
- Manage child care enrollment for families receiving assistance
- Accept and track assistance payments electronically
- Access and track professional training
- Track licensing requirements
- View fingerprinting and Central Registry information
Provider Training Videos and Documents:
- Adding Images (pdf)
- Assign Programs (pdf)
- Authorization (pdf)
- Authorization Notice Example (pdf)
- Creating a Profile (pdf)
- Creating a Profile Video
- Review Enrollment Requests (pdf)
- Review Facility Details (pdf)
- Submitting Requests via Tickets (pdf)
- Viewing Current Enrollments (pdf)
- Viewing Facility Inbox (pdf)
- Viewing Subsidy Payments (pdf)
- Virtual provider training for STARS credit at this link on the Thinkific Platform
- Virtual provider training refresher for STARS credit on the Thinkific Platform
- Verifying Attendance (pdf)
Communication and transparency are top priorities as we transition to ECARES. You will find the latest information via the following sources:
-
Regular updates through our WY Quality Counts newsletter
-
Email communication from the Department of Family Services and your licensor
- Please reach out to your licensor for more information. Find their contact information at this link.
For more information about child care assistance visit the child care assistance page at this link.