Last updated: May 19, 2026
Bottom line
Michigan’s main child care help program is the Child Development and Care scholarship, often called CDC. It can pay part of your child care cost if you need care so you can work, look for work, go to school, finish GED or ESL classes, or take part in an approved family preservation activity.
Apply through MI Bridges. If your income is too high for CDC, ask about MI Tri-Share. If your child is 4, also check free PreK through Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program. If your child is younger, check Early Head Start or Head Start.
This guide is for single mothers and other parents in Michigan who need practical child care help. For a broader overview, see our child care guide and the main Michigan help guide.
If you need child care fast
If your child care fell through today, apply for CDC right away, but do not wait for approval before calling other places. CDC can take time, and providers may have waitlists.
- Call Michigan 211 at 211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or search online for local child care, transportation, food, rent, and emergency help.
- Call Great Start to Quality at 877-614-7328 or use the provider search to find licensed care and free PreK options.
- If you already applied and your case is delayed, contact your county MDHHS office and check MI Bridges for missing tasks.
- If the problem is also food, rent, utilities, or safety, use our emergency help page too.
Where to start
Start with CDC
Use the official eligibility calculator if you are not sure whether your income may fit. Then apply on MI Bridges. The calculator is only a screening tool; MDHHS makes the final decision.
Look for care early
Before you choose a provider, ask if they accept CDC, ask about open spots, and check their license or program record. A provider cannot get paid until the provider step is done.
Apply to free programs
For a 4-year-old, check GSRP PreK. For birth to age 5, check Head Start and Early Head Start. These can help while you wait for other care.
Quick reference table
| Program | Best for | What it may help with | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDC scholarship | Working parents, students, and some approved activities | Pays part of approved child care costs | child care assistance |
| MI Tri-Share | Working parents whose employer participates | Splits licensed child care costs between parent, employer, and state | regional hubs |
| GSRP free PreK | 4-year-olds | Free PreK seats, with priority when seats are limited | find free PreK |
| Head Start | Pregnant parents and children birth to 5 | Early learning, meals, screenings, and family support | Head Start locator |
| Tax credit | Parents with care costs so they can work or look for work | May reduce federal income tax | IRS credit page |
Michigan CDC scholarship
The Child Development and Care scholarship is the main state child care subsidy. It is run by Michigan’s child care office, and MDHHS handles eligibility through MI Bridges and local offices. Michigan says CDC supports low-income working families by helping them access early care and afterschool programs.
You may qualify if you need child care while you are in one of these activities: employment or self-employment, approved undergraduate college, job training, GED, adult basic education, English as a second language, or an approved counseling or treatment plan. Graduate school, medical school, and law school are not treated the same as undergraduate education under the parent FAQ.
Michigan removed the child support cooperation rule for CDC effective February 25, 2024. That means you do not have to work with child support enforcement just to qualify for CDC. If you have separate child support questions, see our child support guide.
CDC income limits
CDC uses gross monthly income. The entry number is the most you can usually have when you apply. The exit number is the higher amount used after you are already approved. Some protective services and foster care situations have different rules, so ask MDHHS if that applies to your child.
| Family size | Entry monthly income | Exit monthly income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,608 | $4,311 |
| 2 | $3,526 | $5,638 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $6,964 |
| 4 | $5,358 | $8,291 |
| 5 | $6,276 | $9,617 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $10,944 |
The official CDC rate chart lists family sizes up to 10, the family contribution, provider rates, and two-week payment amounts. It is marked effective September 21, 2025 and updated in the 2026 reference table.
What CDC may pay
CDC does not always pay the full price your provider charges. The state rate depends on your child’s age, the provider type, the provider quality level, and approved hours. Licensed centers and licensed family or group homes use payment bands. License-exempt providers, such as some relatives, are paid at lower hourly rates.
| Provider type | Infant/toddler | Preschool | School age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed center range | $7.15 to $9.60 hourly | $5.05 to $7.55 hourly | $4.90 to $7.35 hourly |
| Group/family home range | $5.70 to $8.20 hourly | $4.90 to $7.35 hourly | $4.80 to $7.25 hourly |
| License-exempt Level 1 | $2.95 hourly | $2.95 hourly | $2.95 hourly |
| License-exempt Level 2 | $4.95 hourly | $4.40 hourly | $4.40 hourly |
Family contribution amounts are based on income and are charged per child per two-week pay period. The family contribution can be waived for children in protective-services income-waived categories and for income-eligible children assigned to a center, family home, or group home rated at quality level 3 or higher. Ask your provider what you would owe after the CDC payment.
How to apply for CDC
- Create or log in to your MI Bridges account and choose child care assistance.
- Answer the income, household, work, school, and child care questions as clearly as you can.
- Upload proof right away. Do not wait for a worker to ask if you already have the documents.
- Watch MI Bridges and your mail for notices. If MDHHS asks for more proof, answer before the deadline.
- After approval, complete the MDHHS-4025 Provider Verification form so your provider can be assigned and paid.
- Ask for help if you do not understand your notice, hours, provider assignment, or family contribution.
The CDC parent page says the MDHHS-4025 form verifies the provider you chose and the date care began. Your provider will not receive payment until this form is completed and submitted to your local MDHHS office.
Documents to gather
| What MDHHS may ask for | Examples | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and Michigan address | State ID, license, lease, utility bill, official mail | Use clear photos or scans. |
| Income | Pay stubs, self-employment records, benefit letters | Use the most recent 30 days when asked. |
| Approved activity | Work schedule, class schedule, training letter, GED or ESL proof | Show days and hours if possible. |
| Child details | Birth certificate, school schedule, custody or foster care papers | Ask MDHHS what can replace a missing document. |
| Provider information | Provider name, license number, start date, MDHHS-4025 | Do this quickly after approval. |
If you are applying for other benefits too, our TANF in Michigan, SNAP in Michigan, and Medicaid guide pages may help you prepare.
Choosing a provider safely
Do not choose a child care provider only because they have an opening. Check the provider’s license, inspection history, complaint history, hours, transportation rules, illness rules, and CDC billing experience.
- Use Great Start to Quality to search for licensed child care and quality information.
- Check the Michigan licensing bureau if you need licensing information.
- If you have a serious concern about a licensed child care setting, use the official complaint page.
- Ask the provider whether they accept CDC, how they bill, and what balance you may still owe.
If your child has a disability, medical needs, therapy appointments, or behavior support needs, ask each program how they handle inclusion and care plans. Our disability help guide has more Michigan support paths.
Other child care options in Michigan
MI Tri-Share for working parents
MI Tri-Share is for eligible employees of participating employers. The cost of licensed child care is split three ways: one-third paid by the employee, one-third by the employer, and one-third by the State of Michigan. The current program uses regional facilitator hubs. Income rules use a federal poverty level range and can change, so check with the hub before you rely on it.
Tri-Share works best when your employer is already enrolled or willing to talk with the hub. If you lost work or hours because of child care, also see our job loss help page.
Free PreK for 4-year-olds
The Great Start Readiness Program is Michigan’s free PreK program for eligible 4-year-olds. For the 2025-26 school year, Michigan says all families have access to free PreK through GSRP, with priority for families at or below 400% of the federal poverty limit when seats are limited. Ask your local district, ISD, or free PreK program about hours and wraparound care.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start serve pregnant parents and children from birth to age 5. Federal rules give eligibility to children from families with low income. Children in foster care, children experiencing homelessness, and children from families receiving TANF, SSI, or SNAP are categorically eligible regardless of income. Local programs may have waitlists, so apply early and ask what documents they need.
Local help and backup care
Some counties, schools, churches, Community Action agencies, United Ways, and local nonprofits may have short-term scholarships or referrals. Use the GSC search to find your local Great Start Collaborative or Family Coalition. Our local resources page can help you think through nearby backup options.
If child care costs are part of a bigger household crisis, also check our housing help, legal help, WIC guide, and real grants guide.
Reality checks before you apply
- Approval is not instant. Michigan Legal Help says the CDC application process takes around 45 days, so apply early.
- CDC may not cover the full provider price. Ask for the provider’s private rate and your expected balance.
- Your provider cannot bill until the provider assignment is done and the authorization notice is issued.
- Messages in MI Bridges matter. Missing a document deadline can cause a denial or delay.
- Open child care slots can be hard to find, especially for infants, evening care, weekend care, and rural areas.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Read the notice first. Look for the reason, the deadline, and what proof MDHHS says is missing. If a pay stub, schedule, address, or household size is wrong, upload proof and call your local office.
If you disagree with a denial, reduction, closure, or long delay, you can ask about a hearing. Michigan Legal Help has a hearing request tool. This article is not legal advice, so contact legal aid or a benefits advocate if the decision would make you lose work, school, or safe care.
For a plain-language overview of CDC rules, Michigan Legal Help also has a CDC overview. If you need help finding a non-CDC child care option, ChildCare.gov can point you to general child care resources.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling MDHHS about a CDC delay
“Hi, I applied for Child Development and Care on MI Bridges. I need child care so I can work or attend school. Can you tell me what documents are missing, the deadline, and whether my MDHHS-4025 provider form has been received?”
Calling a child care provider
“Hi, I am applying for Michigan CDC child care help. Do you accept CDC? Do you have openings for my child’s age and schedule? What is your private rate, and what balance might I owe after CDC pays?”
Calling a Tri-Share hub
“Hi, I work in Michigan and need help paying for licensed child care. My employer may be interested in MI Tri-Share. Can you tell me if my employer participates, what income rules apply, and how HR can start?”
Calling Head Start or PreK
“Hi, I am looking for a Head Start, Early Head Start, or free PreK seat. My child is age __. Are you taking applications, what documents do I need, and do you have full-day or wraparound options?”
Resumen en español
En Michigan, el programa principal para ayuda con cuidado infantil se llama Child Development and Care, o CDC. Puede pagar parte del costo si usted necesita cuidado para trabajar, estudiar, completar GED o ESL, o participar en una actividad aprobada. Solicite por MI Bridges y revise sus mensajes con frecuencia.
Si gana demasiado para CDC, pregunte por MI Tri-Share si su empleador participa. Para niños de 4 años, revise el programa gratis de PreK GSRP. Para bebés, niños pequeños y niños hasta 5 años, busque Head Start o Early Head Start. Si necesita ayuda rápida, llame al 211.
FAQs about Michigan child care assistance
What is the main child care assistance program in Michigan?
The main program is the Child Development and Care scholarship, often called CDC. It can pay part of approved child care costs for eligible families.
Where do I apply for CDC in Michigan?
Apply through MI Bridges. You can also ask your local MDHHS office about paper forms and help with the application.
Does CDC pay the full child care bill?
Not always. CDC pays based on state rates, provider type, child age, quality level, and approved hours. You may still owe a balance to the provider.
Can I use a relative as my child care provider?
Sometimes. Michigan allows some license-exempt related and unrelated providers, but they must meet program rules and background or training steps before payment.
Do I have to cooperate with child support to get CDC?
No. Michigan removed the child support cooperation requirement for the child care subsidy program effective February 25, 2024.
What if my CDC application is denied?
Read the notice, fix any missing proof quickly, and ask MDHHS about your hearing rights if you disagree. Michigan Legal Help may have forms and guidance.
What can I try if my income is too high for CDC?
Ask about MI Tri-Share if you are employed and your employer participates. Also check free PreK, Head Start, local scholarships, and 211 referrals.
Is GSRP free for every 4-year-old?
Michigan says all families have access to free PreK through GSRP for the 2025-26 school year, but priority applies when seats are limited. Ask your local program about space.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 19, 2026, next review August 19, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.