Ccdd-2026 - child care and development block grant discretionary

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families $360.503 million on October 1, 2025, under the Child Care and Development Block Grant program (CFDA 93.575), a block grant supporting child care subsidies for low-income families and quality improvements across Wisconsin through September 30, 2028.

The award funds child care county contracts administered by Wisconsin's 72 counties, early childhood workforce development through TEACH and REWARD scholarship initiatives delivered by WI Early Childhood Association Inc., child care resource and referral services provided by Thriving Wisconsin Inc., child care pre-licensing support from WI Early Childhood Association Inc. and 4C-For Children Inc., the Wisconsin Pyramid Model for social-emotional development delivered by Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health Inc., shared services and employment assistance programs through WI Early Childhood Association Inc., and migrant child care services through United Migrant Opportunity Services/Umos Inc. Supporting services include Wisconsin Works (W-2) program administration through Maximus Inc., Forward Service Corporation, Ross Innovative Employment Solutions LLC, and America Works of Wisconsin Inc.

The block grant structure channels federal child care development funding to Wisconsin counties and designated non-profit service providers for direct delivery of child care assistance, workforce training, quality improvement, and family support services across the state. Sub-recipients pass through funding to county child welfare and human services departments, early childhood organizations, and employment services providers operating at the local level throughout Wisconsin.