Wyoming Department of Family Services

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Child Care Assistance

Find Child Care

Visit the Wyoming DFS Facility Discovery page to find child care facilities around the state as well as other related and important information.

Receive Help Paying for Child Care

Child Care Financial Assistance in Wyoming

The Child Care Subsidy Program helps low-income families pay for the cost of care when the parent(s) are searching for employment, working, in school or training. Based on the family’s income, the parents may be responsible for paying for part of the cost of care. The Department of Family Services’ Child Care Subsidy Program uses a combination of state and federal funds to assist eligible families in paying for the cost of child care while the parent(s) is in an approved activity. If the family meets the eligibility criteria, the Department of Family Services pays a portion of the cost of care. Parents are free to choose a child care arrangement that best fits their needs as long as the chosen provider meets certain health and safety requirements.

How Much Will DFS Pay for Child Care?

DFS bases its maximum reimbursement rates for licensed facilities on a Market Survey which is conducted at least once every three years. Our most recent survey is the 2024 Market Survey. You will need to report your regular rates on the Provider Registration form. If your rates are more than the DFS maximum reimbursement rates, the parent(s) will be responsible for the amount above the DFS maximum reimbursement rates. The parent may also be responsible for paying for a portion of the cost of care. You cannot bill DFS more than you bill your families that are not assisted by DFS. The amount of time DFS will pay for is based on the parent(s) activity schedule. Only the hours that the parent is working or attending school are allowable hours for child care assistance. If the parent(s) are bringing the child to child care at times that they are not working or going to school, you should bill the parent directly and do not include those hours on your DFS billing form.

Is Child Care Subsidy an Option for My Family?

To qualify for the Child Care Subsidy Program, a family needs to meet all eligibility criteria including financial and approved activity criteria. The following information is provided as an overview of potential eligibility for assistance but the actual determination must be made by the local DFS office in the county where you reside.

Providing Care for Children Receiving Subsidy

To receive payment for child care services, you must either be a licensed provider or legally exempt from licensing. If you are exempt from licensing, you must meet to following conditions to be eligible to receive payment:

  • You must be 18 years old.
  • You must reside and provide care in Wyoming .
  • To complete a pre-service health, safety orientation child development training within the first year and eight (8) hours of training annually.
  • To complete an annual physical verification visit for nonrelative providers.
  • Assurance all children in care are currently immunized. A record of all children’s immunizations will be available for inspection at the child care provider’s home or facility and health information including special dietary needs and/or food allergy records of the children;. Special dietary needs and/or food allergies shall be posted in the food preparation and eating area.
  • There will be an operable telephone at the place where care is provided. An exception will be made when care is provided in the child’s home. If a phone is not available at the child’s home, a telephone must be available near the place where care is provided.
  • There will be an operable smoke detector or fire alarm system on each level at the place where the care is provided.
  • The use of tobacco, illegal drugs and/or consumption of alcohol is prohibited during the hours of operations.
  • All Chemicals, weapons, ammunition, archery equipment and potentially dangerous items shall be inaccessible. Handling, storage and disposal of all hazardous material and bio contaminants shall follow label instructions.
  • Keep a medical consent form signed by the parent or a legal guardian of the child. All medication safely stored and according to directions.
  • Wash their hands after using the toilet or helping a child toilet, handling bodily fluid, handling pets, cleaning, or handling the garbage, before and after diaper changing, handling food, eating, and giving medication.
  • The overall condition of the child care facility and grounds, including play areas, equipment, and toys shall be maintained in a clean, sanitized, uncluttered, safe condition and free of hazards, including items that may cause head injuries.
  • Unused electrical outlets shall be covered with safety caps.
  • Fire exits shall be clear and exit doors shall remain unlocked or have locks allowing all parties to safely exit.
  • Provider recognizes they are a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect and process for reporting.
  • Serious injuries shall be reported within 48 hours and any deaths shall be reported to DFS immediately and kept on file.
  • Acknowledge and follow rules regarding shaken baby syndrome, head trauma and maltreatment.
  • Awake infant and toddlers shall be directly supervised at all times. Child in kindergarten or under six (6) years shall be directly supervised outside.
  • Infants shall be placed on a firm flat surface, on their back to sleep, without anything over their head or face. Lighting in the sleep area shall be sufficient.
  • Have an expulsion and suspension policy to promote social-emotional and behavioral health of children and limit the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary practices.
  • Vehicles used to transport children shall be maintained in safe condition, with appropriate child safety restraint systems and shall comply with applicable motor vehicle laws. Operators of vehicles used to transport children shall have the appropriate and valid motor vehicle license.
  • Have emergency preparedness guidelines and procedures shall to give to parents in writing and include: How parent will be notified, relocation site and procedures for child reunifications or release.
  • The provider shall describe positive guidance, such as redirection, natural and logical consequences, modeling of positive behavior and other non-violent, non-abusive methods of discipline for children In their care.
  • The provider must submit verification to the local DFS field office that he/she is currently certified in infant/child CPR and Pediatric first aid within 90 days of date the provider was registered as a DFS Child Care Exempt Provider.
  • The provider and all household members, staff, substitute or volunteers 18 years or older must complete a National Criminal History Check (Fingerprints) initially and every five (5) years.
  • The provider must furnish the name and Social Security Number of all adult household members and any substitute provider(s) who have access to the children placed in care. Each adult listed must complete an online Authorization Release of Child Or Disabled Adult Central Registry And Wyoming Criminal History Record Information initially and annually of enrolled date. A favorable Child Abuse-Neglect Record Check, a Criminal History Prescreening Report and a Wyoming and National Sex offender Registry Check must be received for these individuals as well as the provider. Whenever an adult moves into your household, you must submit a new registration form listing these individuals.
  • The provider must allow parents, DFS, health, sanitation, fire and municipal inspectors, as required under federal and state statues, regulations and rules, to have access to and visit the facility during business hours.
  • The provider must maintain attendance records for each child in care for a period of 3 years and other evidence services were provided in accordance with each authorization and make these records available to State and Federal auditors upon request.
  • Assure that all children in your care are currently immunized and keep a copy of the child’s immunization record in your home.
  • You must have an operable phone and smoke detector or fire alarm system at the place where care is provided (Note: a phone may not be required if care is provided in the child’s home and a phone is available nearby).
  • Agree to lock up all weapons, ammunition, poisons, chemicals, bleach and cleaning materials to make them inaccessible to children.
How Do I Become Registered to Receive Payment?

Both licensed and unlicensed providers must submit a completed Provider Registration and a completed Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification to your local DFS office.

Documents & Forms
Report a concern about a child care facility

If a parent, guardian or other concerned citizen thinks that a child care program is not meeting the licensing requirements, a complaint can be made to the local  Child Care Licenser or local DFS office. Examples of concerns that might be reported include, but are not limited to:

  • Children being left alone without adult supervision
  • Inappropriate child discipline
  • Children not being fed nutritious meals
  • Too many children present for the number of staff
  • Unsafe conditions
  • Any issue relating to child abuse or neglect.

The Department has the authority to investigate all of these areas. However, the Department has no authority over areas such as operational policies about payment, hours or days of operation, if a program chooses not to administer medication, or enrollment or termination policies.

Complaint Investigation Procedure for Licensing Requirements:

    Contact the Child Care Licenser for your area. If possible, please provide the following:

    • The facility’s name and/or the provider’s name 
    • The location
    • Details about the concern
    • Any specific information about individuals involved in the incident
    • Date and/or time the incident occurred
    • Any additional information that you have
    Complaint Investigation:

    The Department makes an unannounced visit to discuss the complaint with the provider. Dependent upon the nature of the complaint, various aspects of the program will be monitored. 

    Complaint Resolution:

    If it is determined that the incident did occur, the violation will be substantiated and there are various actions that can be taken:

    • Follow up visits can be made to ensure that the incident is not repeated.
    • The provider may be required to submit a corrective action plan that details what action will be taken to correct the violation.
    • Additional action may be taken against the program’s license when appropriate. (Please refer to Chapter 3 of the Child Care Licensing Rules.)

    All substantiated complaints are part of the facility’s Complaint and Compliance History and are available upon request to a Child Care Licenser

    Public Plans

    To download and view the Federal Fiscal Year 2019-2021 Child Care Development Block Grant, please click here.

    To download and view the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for Wyoming, Federal Fiscal Year 2022-2044, please click here.

    Child Welfare and Early Childhood Education Project

    The Child Welfare & Early Childhood Education (CWECE) Project is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen connections between child welfare services and early childhood education (ECE) providers across Wyoming. This initiative focuses on improving outcomes for children ages 0-5 who are at risk of or currently involved in child welfare services, ensuring they have access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate care and education. By enhancing collaboration between the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) and ECE providers, the CWECE Project supports a whole-family approach to stability, education, and child safety. Through partnerships, community engagement, and data-driven strategies, this project seeks to create a more coordinated system of care that empowers families and promotes positive lifelong outcomes for Wyoming’s youngest learners. For more information, please contact taylor.odonnell@wyo.gov

    This website is supported by Grant Number 90CA1885 from the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families/Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families/Children’s Bureau.