Last updated: June 16, 2026
Bottom line
Alaska helps some working, training, and student parents pay for child care through the Child Care Assistance Program. In Alaska, this program is called Parents Achieving Self Sufficiency, or PASS. It is not a cash grant paid to you. If you qualify, the program helps pay an approved child care provider for part of your child care cost.
The best first steps are to check the official Child Care Assistance Program, use the CC08 application if you are applying for PASS II or PASS III, and ask your regional child care assistance office where to send papers. You can also search for a licensed provider through the AKCCIS Portal.
Expect paperwork, provider checks, and possible costs you still owe. Your family contribution, provider rate, care hours, provider participation, and local openings can all affect what help you receive.
If you need child care urgently
If you may lose a job, school spot, training slot, or safe care arrangement, take the fastest steps first. Do not wait until you have every paper.
- Call your regional child care assistance office and ask what is missing, where to send the application, and whether your chosen provider can accept PASS.
- Call Alaska 211 at 2-1-1 or 800-478-2221 for local child care, food, shelter, transportation, and family resources.
- If you are worried about the safety of a child care setting, contact the CCPO office at 907-269-4500 or 888-268-4632.
- If there is immediate danger to you or your child, call 911.
If unsafe care is connected to abuse, stalking, custody pressure, or family violence, use safety-aware help before sending papers that could reveal your location. The Alaska DV network can help connect survivors with local advocacy programs.
Where to start
Do not start by calling every child care center in Alaska. Start by matching your situation to the right door. PASS has different paths for families on Alaska Temporary Assistance, families leaving that program, families applying based on work or school, and children in protective services.
If you receive ATAP
Ask your work services case manager about PASS I. Child care may be a support service tied to your ATAP work plan. ASMOM’s Alaska TANF guide has related cash aid steps.
If you work or study
Most single mothers who are not on ATAP will ask about PASS III. You will need proof of income, activity, and child care need. The national child care guide explains common subsidy terms.
If you left ATAP
If your ATAP case closed with earned income, ask whether PASS II fits. You still need the application and must meet the program rules.
If your child has needs
Ask about Alaska IN! after or while you apply for PASS. It can help a provider serve a child with a diagnosed special need when extra support is needed.
How PASS child care assistance works
Alaska divides PASS into four categories. The right category depends on your public assistance case, work status, and child’s situation.
| PASS path | Who it is for | Where to start | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| PASS I | Families receiving Alaska Temporary Assistance Program benefits | Talk to your ATAP work services case manager or use the ATAP page. | Do not file the wrong route first if your ATAP worker can connect care to your plan. |
| PASS II | Families moving from ATAP after the case closes with earned income | Submit CC08 to your local child care assistance office. | You still must meet income and non-income rules. |
| PASS III | Families not eligible for PASS I or PASS II who need care for work, school, or training | Use the official forms and regional office for your area. | This is common, but approval is not automatic. |
| PASS IV | Children in OCS protective services | Ask the assigned OCS case manager. | The case manager is the key contact, not the regular application path. |
Who may qualify
For PASS II and PASS III, Alaska generally looks at family size, gross income, child’s age, need for care, and whether the parent is working, going to school, or taking part in approved training. The current income line and family contribution come from state schedules posted through the child care forms area.
In many cases, the child must be under 13. If the child has a disability or special need, ask whether Alaska IN! or another support may apply. For disability-related next steps, use ASMOM’s Alaska disability guide.
Single mothers should not assume they qualify only because they are single. They also should not assume they are too high income without checking the current schedule. Alaska uses rules that can change, and your household size and care need matter.
How to apply without losing time
- Choose a provider if you can. Ask, “Do you currently accept Alaska PASS child care assistance?”
- Use the right form. PASS II and PASS III families use the CC08 application. PASS I starts with the ATAP work services case manager. PASS IV starts with the OCS case manager.
- Check extra forms. Self-employed parents, parents with changing hours, and parents applying for Alaska IN! may need extra forms.
- Call your regional office. Ask where to send the application, whether email is allowed, and what proof is missing.
- Keep proof. Save a copy of every page, every email, and every date you called. Take photos of paper forms before you hand them in.
Tip
Apply even if you are still calling providers, but tell the office where you are in the provider search. A case can stall if the office cannot verify provider information.
Where to call or send questions
Alaska lists regional child care assistance grantees by community. Confirm your region on the state page before sending personal documents.
| Area | Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central: Cordova, Palmer, Valdez, Wasilla, Willow | Alaska Family Services | 907-373-4450 or 866-746-4080 | centralcca@akafs.org |
| Coastal: Aleutian Chain, Bristol Bay, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome | Alaska Family Services | 907-373-4450 or 866-746-4080 | coastal.cca@akafs.org |
| Anchorage, Bird Creek, Chugiak, Eagle River, Girdwood, JBER | Alaska Family Services | 907-644-5000 | ccaanc@akafs.org |
| Northern: Fairbanks, North Pole, Tok, North Slope, Y-K Delta, and nearby areas | thread | 907-265-3100 or 855-479-2212 | ccathread@threadalaska.org |
| Southeast: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Yakutat, and nearby areas | thread | 907-265-3100 or 855-479-2212 | ccathread@threadalaska.org |
The Child Care Program Office can answer program questions at 907-269-4500 or 888-268-4632, and its current public email is doh.ccpo.info@alaska.gov.
Documents checklist
Exact papers can vary by your job, school, income type, provider, and child care schedule. Use this as a starting list, then ask your regional office what else is needed. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help you build one folder for benefits, housing, child care, school, and legal aid.
| What to gather | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and residency | ID, address proof, lease, mail, shelter letter, or other accepted proof | The office must confirm who is applying and where you live. |
| Income proof | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support proof, self-employment records | Income is used for eligibility and family contribution. |
| Activity proof | Work schedule, school schedule, training hours, class enrollment | Approved care hours are tied to your need for care. |
| Provider information | Provider name, address, rates, schedule, and approval status | PASS usually pays only approved participating providers. |
| Special needs documents | Diagnosis, IFSP, IEP, or provider support details if requested | These may support an Alaska IN! request. |
| Notices and case numbers | Denial letter, renewal notice, authorization, or upload receipt | These help with follow-up calls and appeals. |
Finding a provider that works with PASS
A provider opening is not the same as a provider that can be paid by PASS. Ask both questions. Alaska says not all providers participate as Child Care Assistance providers, and participation is voluntary.
Read the state provider type rules before relying on informal care. Alaska has licensed providers and approved legally exempt providers, but an informal babysitter may not qualify for PASS payment.
Use the state provider search in AKCCIS to look for licensed child care. You can also use the thread search tool or call thread at 800-278-3723 for provider referrals. Ask about location, hours, openings, ages served, transportation, waitlists, fees, and whether the program takes PASS.
Watch out
Some legal care settings do not qualify for child care assistance payments. If a provider is not licensed, approved, certified, or otherwise allowed to participate, you may have to pay the full cost yourself.
Special situations to ask about
If your child has a disability
The Alaska IN! program can provide extra provider support for eligible families already taking part in PASS I, PASS II, or PASS III. The child must be under 13, have a diagnosed special need or developmental disability, use a participating provider, and need extra services that cost the provider more.
If you need early learning
Head Start and Early Head Start may help children from birth to age 5 through classroom or home-based services. Alaska’s official Head Start page says there are programs serving families and children across Alaska. The federal Head Start Locator can help you search by location.
If you are Alaska Native
Some tribal organizations operate child care or family assistance programs. Ask your tribe, village organization, regional nonprofit, or tribal TANF office whether child care help is available. Rules can be different from the state PASS program.
If safety is part of the issue
If child care, custody, work, or housing is connected to abuse, stalking, threats, or control, ask a domestic violence advocate or legal aid office before sending addresses or changing routines. This article is general information only and is not legal or safety advice.
Costs, co-pays, and what PASS may not cover
PASS may lower your child care bill, but it may not erase it. Alaska’s PASS II and PASS III materials describe a sliding fee scale and explain that families may owe a monthly contribution based on family size and income. Families may also owe charges above the state payment rate or costs for care outside approved hours.
Before you enroll, ask the provider to write down the full rate, registration fees, late fees, supply fees, and what happens if PASS does not cover the full amount. Then call your regional office and ask how your family contribution is calculated.
For help with food or medical costs while paying child care, see ASMOM’s Alaska SNAP guide, Alaska WIC guide, and Alaska health guide.
Tax help is separate from PASS. The federal child and dependent care credit may help some working parents at tax time, but it has its own rules. Use IRS Publication 503 or a trusted free tax site before you count on it.
If your case is delayed, denied, or confusing
First, ask for the reason in writing. A delay may be caused by missing income proof, unclear work hours, provider paperwork, or a provider who is not approved. A denial may be based on income, activity, child age, residency, documents, provider status, or another rule.
Use the notice, not a guess. Ask the office which rule or document caused the problem. If you disagree, ask how to request review or a hearing. The CC08 application explains that a family may request a hearing if the local office denies, reduces, suspends, or ends benefits.
For broader benefit problems, ASMOM’s denied benefits guide can help you organize papers, call notes, and deadlines.
Do not ignore mail
Open notices right away. Missing a renewal, document deadline, or hearing deadline can stop help even when you might have fixed the problem.
Backup options while you wait
- Head Start: Apply for a free early learning spot while you wait for PASS or a provider opening.
- ATAP support: If you need cash help and work support, apply through Alaska Connect or ask DPA about ATAP.
- Food help: SNAP can free up grocery money. Check the official SNAP page.
- WIC: WIC helps pregnant women, postpartum parents, babies, and children under 5 with food and referrals. Use the official WIC page.
- Health coverage: Denali KidCare covers eligible children and pregnant women. Start with Denali KidCare.
- Local help: ASMOM’s Alaska emergency guide and Alaska community guide list more support paths.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming PASS is cash paid to you. It is a child care subsidy paid toward approved care.
- Choosing a provider before asking whether the provider accepts PASS.
- Missing mail, email, renewal notices, or requests for proof.
- Forgetting to report changes in work, school, income, address, or provider.
- Using unsafe child care because an approved provider is hard to find. Ask for help searching.
- Giving out a new address or schedule when domestic violence or stalking is a concern. Ask a safety advocate first.
Phone scripts
Calling the child care office
“Hi, I am applying for PASS child care assistance. I live in [community]. Can you tell me which office handles my application, what documents are missing, and whether I can send them by email?”
Calling a provider
“Hi, I need child care for [age] on [days and hours]. Do you have openings, and do you currently accept Alaska PASS child care assistance? What would I owe if PASS does not cover the full charge?”
Calling thread
“Hi, I need help finding a provider near [home or work]. I am applying for PASS. Can you help me find providers with openings who may accept child care assistance?”
Calling after a denial
“Hi, I received a denial or notice dated [date]. Can you explain the exact reason, what document or rule it is based on, and the deadline to request a review or hearing?”
Resumen en español
Alaska tiene ayuda para pagar cuidado infantil para algunas familias que trabajan, estudian o están en entrenamiento. El programa se llama PASS. No es dinero en efectivo para usted; si califica, el programa ayuda a pagar parte del costo al proveedor aprobado.
Empiece con la solicitud CC08 si aplica para PASS II o PASS III, llame a la oficina regional de cuidado infantil, y confirme que el proveedor acepta PASS. Si su hijo tiene una discapacidad o necesidad especial, pregunte por Alaska IN!. Si necesita ayuda local mientras espera, llame a Alaska 211.
Si hay violencia, amenazas, acoso o riesgo para su seguridad, use un teléfono seguro si puede y hable con un defensor antes de compartir su dirección o rutina.
FAQs about Alaska child care assistance
Does Alaska have child care assistance for single mothers?
Yes. Alaska has the Child Care Assistance Program, called PASS. It can help eligible families pay approved providers for child care while a parent works, studies, trains, transitions from ATAP, or meets another covered situation.
Is PASS a cash grant?
No. PASS is a child care subsidy. If approved, payment usually goes to the approved child care provider. You may still owe a family contribution or provider charges above the state payment amount.
Can I use a relative for child care?
Sometimes. The relative or in-home caregiver must meet Alaska’s approval rules to be paid through child care assistance. Ask the child care office before you rely on a family member for paid care.
What if I am on ATAP?
If you receive Alaska Temporary Assistance, ask your work services case manager about PASS I. Your child care may be handled as a support service connected to your ATAP work plan.
What if my child has a disability?
Ask about Alaska IN!. It can provide extra support for eligible child care assistance families when a child under 13 has a diagnosed special need or developmental disability and the provider needs extra help.
What should I do if I am denied?
Ask for the reason in writing, compare it with your documents, and ask about review or hearing rights. Keep copies and act before the deadline on your notice.
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 June 16, 2026, next review September 16, 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.