Childcare Assistance
The average cost of childcare in Des Moines is $350 per child per month. For many families, meeting this expense is simply not possible. Government subsidies help families close to the poverty line, but as their income goes up, these families lose government assistance long before they are making enough to cover the cost on their own. These are the families that the DMARC Childcare Assistance program strives to help.
By the Numbers
In 2007-2008:
· 17 families received assistance
· 19 children participated in the program
· $70 per week was the average subsidy per child
· 86% of families receiving assistance were single-parent families
Seek Assistance
Parents who would like to enroll their child or children in the Childcare Assistance Program can contact Shelly Helm with Polk County at 515-286-3611. We then enroll accepted children in an established, licensed daycare center in the area. To make the program affordable for each family, childcare payments are based on a sliding scale, and each parent’s assistance is reviewed every trimester.
Support
Many families qualify for DMARC's Childcare Assistance Program due to low household income; however, we are forced to place a large percentage on a waiting list due to lack of funds. If you would like to join DMARC's effort, you can
contribute to the Childcare Assistance Program through our website.