Care About Childcare – Utah

Childcare Assistance · Utah · Free

Statewide child care resource and referral network helping Utah families find quality licensed child care providers and access professional development for providers. Fathers can call weekdays for a personalized referral or use the online search by city, zip code, and age of child. Services are free to families. Be ready to share your child's age, desired schedule, neighborhood preferences, any special needs, and whether you plan to use a subsidy.

Contact & Details

Phone: 801-326-4400

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

About Childcare Assistance for Fathers

Childcare assistance for US fathers includes the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy, Head Start and Early Head Start, state pre-K programs, and sliding-scale nonprofit childcare. CCDF subsidies are administered by each state's lead agency (usually the Department of Human Services or a dedicated office) and help families pay for childcare while parents work, attend school, or participate in training. Eligibility is typically up to 85% of state median income. Head Start serves children 3–5 from families below the Federal Poverty Level; Early Head Start covers birth to 3. State pre-K is free or low-cost in most states and offered through public schools and partner providers. Many community action agencies run sliding-scale childcare for working parents. For single dads, CCDF subsidies and Head Start are the two most consistent free options. This directory includes each state's CCDF office, local Head Start programs, and resource and referral agencies.

Childcare Assistance in Utah

Utah district courts handle family law in each of its eight judicial districts; juvenile courts handle parentage and some custody matters. The Office of Recovery Services (ORS) operates child support enforcement. Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, and West Jordan are the largest cities. Utah Legal Services and the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake provide free civil representation.

More Childcare Assistance in Utah

  • Utah Child Care Subsidy Program — State program that helps eligible working families pay for licensed child care through the Department of Workforce Services. Fathers working
  • Utah Head Start — Federal early childhood education program offering free preschool, health, nutrition, and family support services for income-eligible Utah f
  • Utah Pre-K Program — State-funded pre-kindergarten for eligible 4-year-olds in participating Utah districts and high-quality private providers, coordinated by th
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake – After School — Affordable after-school and summer programs for elementary and middle-school youth in Salt Lake City, including the California Avenue club.
  • Early Intervention – Utah Baby Watch — State's early intervention program providing free developmental screening, evaluation, and therapy services for Utah children from birth to
  • Utah Office of Child Care – Licensing Info — State office within the Department of Health and Human Services that licenses, monitors, and provides consumer information on child care pro

Childcare Assistance — Common Questions

What is a childcare subsidy?
A state-administered program (funded by federal CCDF) that pays a portion of childcare costs for working, training, or school-attending low-income parents. Apply through your state's lead agency. Eligibility typically up to 85% of state median income. Benefits go directly to the provider.
What's the difference between Head Start and pre-K?
Head Start is a federal program for children 3–5 from low-income families (below the Federal Poverty Level) with comprehensive services (health, nutrition, parent involvement). State pre-K is state-funded preschool, usually through public schools, with broader eligibility.
Can fathers apply for childcare assistance alone?
Yes. Childcare assistance is gender-neutral. Single fathers with custody qualify on the same terms as any other parent. If you share custody, you can still apply — you'll need the subsidy for the time the child is with you.
Where do I find quality care I can trust?
Every state has a Child Care Resource & Referral agency (CCR&R) that maintains a free database of licensed providers, quality ratings, and availability. Call your local CCR&R (find at childcareaware.org) for personalized referrals.