Last updated: May 19, 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 pays an approved child care provider for part of your child care cost.
The fastest way to start is to check the official Child Care Assistance Program, use the CC08 application, and call the regional child care assistance office for your community before you submit documents. You should also search for a provider through the AKCCIS provider search or ask thread for help finding care.
Expect paperwork, provider checks, and possible costs you still owe. Your family contribution, provider rate, hours, and local openings can all affect what help you receive.
If you need child care urgently
If you may lose a job, training spot, or safe care arrangement, do three things today:
- 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 Child Care Program Office through the CCPO office.
If there is immediate danger to you or your child, call 911. If unsafe care is connected to abuse, stalking, or family violence, use local safety help before sending papers that could reveal your location.
Where to start
Do not start by calling every child care center in Alaska. Start by matching your situation to the right door. The PASS program has different paths for families on Alaska Temporary Assistance, families leaving that program, families applying based on work or school, and children in Office of Children’s Services protective services.
If you already receive ATAP
Ask your work services case manager about PASS I. Child care may be a support service connected to your ATAP work plan. You can also read the Alaska TANF guide for related steps.
If you work or study
Most single moms 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 your child has extra needs
Ask about Alaska IN! after or while you apply for PASS. It can help providers serve children with diagnosed special needs when extra support is needed.
How PASS child care assistance works
The State of Alaska says PASS is divided 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 child 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 other 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 Office of Children’s Services 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 your family size, gross income, child’s age, need for care, and whether you are working, in school, or in an approved training activity. The exact income line and family contribution come from the current state schedule posted on the child care forms page.
In many cases, the child must be under 13. If the child has a disability or special need, ask the office whether different support may apply. If immigration status is a concern in your household, ask the office what information is required for the child and what is not required for other household members. Do not guess on this point.
Single mothers should not assume they qualify only because they are single, and they should not assume they are too high income without checking. Alaska uses schedules that can change, and your household size matters.
How to apply without losing time
- Find or choose a provider first if you can. The provider must be able to take child care assistance. Ask the provider, “Do you currently accept Alaska PASS child care assistance?”
- Download the application. Use the official CC08 application for PASS II or PASS III.
- Check supporting forms. Self-employed parents, parents with changing work hours, and parents applying for Alaska IN! may need extra documents from the forms page.
- 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 a photo 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, Eagle River, Girdwood, JBER | Alaska Family Services | 907-644-5000 | ccaanc@akafs.org |
| Northern and Southeast regions | thread | 907-265-3100 or 855-479-2212 | ccathread@threadalaska.org |
The Child Care Program Office can also answer program questions at 907-269-4500 or 888-268-4632.
Documents checklist
Exact papers can vary by your job, school, income type, and provider. Use this as a starting list, then ask your office what else they need.
| What to gather | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and residency | ID, address proof, mail, lease, 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, license or 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. |
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. The State lists licensed child care homes, group homes, and centers, and also explains legally exempt providers such as approved relatives, in-home care providers, Department of Defense or Coast Guard certified providers, and tribal approval or certification. Read the provider type rules before relying on informal care.
Use the state provider search to look for licensed providers. You can also use the thread search tool or call thread at 800-278-3723 for help with referrals.
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 or special need
The Alaska IN! program can provide extra provider support for eligible families already participating in PASS I, PASS II, or PASS III. It is meant for children under 13 with a diagnosed special need or developmental disability when the provider needs extra support or accommodations.
For more disability-related help, use our Alaska disability guide.
If you need free or lower-cost early learning
Head Start and Early Head Start may help children from birth to age five through classroom or home-based services. Alaska’s official Head Start page lists programs across the state, and the federal Head Start Locator can help you find a program near you.
If you are Alaska Native or American Indian
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.
Costs, co-pays, and what PASS may not cover
PASS may lower your child care bill, but it may not erase it. Your monthly cost can include a family contribution, plus any difference between what the state will pay and what your provider charges. Provider rates, child age, hours, region, and care type can all matter.
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 you pay child care, see our 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, 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 state posts the child care hearing request form on the same child care forms page. For broader benefit problems, our benefits denial guide can help you organize papers and calls.
Do not ignore mail
If the office sends a notice, open it right away. Deadlines can be short. Missing a renewal or hearing deadline can stop help even when you might have fixed the problem.
Backup options while you wait
- Head Start or Early 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: Our Alaska emergency guide and Alaska community guide list more support paths.
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 child care 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 paga parte del costo al proveedor aprobado.
Empiece con la solicitud CC08, 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.
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 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.