Across the United States, the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) provides critical subsidies that help low-income families afford child care while parents work or attend school. In FY 2023, the average monthly subsidy payment per child was approximately $810, supporting care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and beyond in both home-based and center-based settings. 

Nationally, these subsidies support an estimated 994,000 families and 1.623 million children, representing roughly 8.3% of potentially eligible young children. The program, funded through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and related mandatory funding, remains the primary federal mechanism for child care assistance.

With funding able to unlock new enrollment opportunities for child care providers, it’s important to understand the scope of subsidies available and used in each state since behavior varies widely and margins may be thin. Thus, Playground evaluated the latest published data from the Office of Child Care to determine CCDF participation rates in each state. 

Using subsidy programs to grow your business? Book a free demo with Playground to see how to eliminate manual compliance reporting.

Key findings

• 15.5% of young children use CCDF funds in this state. Mississippi has the highest rate of CCDF usage across children under five. A total of 25,900 children across the state use the funds, or an average of 1.73 children across 15,000 families. New Mexico has the second highest CCDF usage at 14.86% of children under five, followed by Alabama at 14.27%.

• Over 140,000 families in California use CCDF funds to pay for child care. CCDF funds support the most families in California, where 232,500 children receive some funding. This represents 11.14% of the early childhood population, putting California in ninth place for highest CCDF usage relative to its large population.

• Nevada families are least reliant on CCDF subsidization. Only 3.97% of young children in Nevada benefit from CCDF funding. This includes 6,800 children across 4,100 families. New Hampshire and Hawaii have similarly low usage rates at 4.30% and 4.52% of young children covered, respectively.

• CCDF-reliant families are largest in Minnesota. Minnesota has the highest concentration of children using CCDF funds at 1.94 per family. The 20,600 children benefiting make up 6.30% of the total early childhood population in the state. Ohio has the second largest child-per-family use rate at 1.93, followed by Utah at 1.88. 

• Tennessee has the most infant care subsidized by CCDF. Tennessee has roughly 50% higher than average prevalence of infant-care subsidization, with 7.06% of CCDF fund recipients being under age one. Across all children, Tennessee has one of the lowest subsidy usage rates nationwide at just 5.38% of the resident population.

CCDF use by families in each state

States are ranked based on the percentage of pre-kindergarten children that live in the state that participate in the CCDF program to help pay for child care. 

1. Mississippi

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 15.51%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 15,000

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 25,900

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.73

   • Total children under 5 in state: 167,015

2. New Mexico

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 14.86%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 9,800

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 15,500

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.58

   • Total children under 5 in state: 104,293

3. Alabama

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 14.27%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 23,400

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 41,100

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.76

   • Total children under 5 in state: 288,019

4. Pennsylvania

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 12.92%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 50,700

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 85,700

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.69

   • Total children under 5 in state: 663,339

5. Delaware

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 12.50%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 4,300

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 6,800

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.58

   • Total children under 5 in state: 54,398

6. West Virginia

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 12.46%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 6,500

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 10,900

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.68

   • Total children under 5 in state: 87,453

7. Oklahoma

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 12.14%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 18,000

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 29,100

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.62

   • Total children under 5 in state: 239,611

8. Georgia

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 11.81%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 41,900

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 73,400

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.75

   • Total children under 5 in state: 621,750

9. California

   • Percent of children using CCDF: 11.14%

   • Number of families using CCDF funds: 143,800

   • Number of children using CCDF funds: 232,500

   • Average children per family using CCDF: 1.62

   • Total children under 5 in state: 2,086,820

10. Indiana

• Percent of children using CCDF: 10.96%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 24,700

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 44,000

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.78

• Total children under 5 in state: 401,558

11. Connecticut

• Percent of children using CCDF: 10.58%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 13,700

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 19,100

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.39

• Total children under 5 in state: 180,561

12. Rhode Island

• Percent of children using CCDF: 10.24%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 3,300

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 5,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.64

• Total children under 5 in state: 52,718

13. Florida

• Percent of children using CCDF: 10.06%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 76,200

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 112,900

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.48

• Total children under 5 in state: 1,122,270

14. North Dakota

• Percent of children using CCDF: 9.46%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 2,700

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 4,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.63

• Total children under 5 in state: 46,488

15. Arkansas

• Percent of children using CCDF: 9.38%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 11,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 16,600

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.50

• Total children under 5 in state: 176,908

16. Kentucky

• Percent of children using CCDF: 9.11%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 14,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 24,100

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.71

• Total children under 5 in state: 264,633

17. Wisconsin

• Percent of children using CCDF: 9.03%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 16,200

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 27,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.72

• Total children under 5 in state: 307,874

18. Illinois

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.96%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 34,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 59,200

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.71

• Total children under 5 in state: 661,026

19. New York

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.77%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 53,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 90,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.71

• Total children under 5 in state: 1,035,708

20. Oregon

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.33%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 10,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 16,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.63

• Total children under 5 in state: 198,150

21. Texas

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.29%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 92,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 158,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.72

• Total children under 5 in state: 1,913,591

22. Wyoming

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.16%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 1,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 2,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.56

• Total children under 5 in state: 30,651

23. Vermont

• Percent of children using CCDF: 8.10%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 1,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 2,200

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.38

• Total children under 5 in state: 27,168

24. Maine

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.85%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 3,000

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 4,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.57

• Total children under 5 in state: 59,898

25. South Carolina

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.84%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 15,400

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 22,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.45

• Total children under 5 in state: 285,830

26. Ohio

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.71%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 26,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 50,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.93

• Total children under 5 in state: 654,683

27. Maryland

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.44%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 16,700

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 25,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.54

• Total children under 5 in state: 346,836

28. Nebraska

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.30%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 4,800

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 8,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.83

• Total children under 5 in state: 120,499

29. Kansas

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.30%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 7,300

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 12,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.70

• Total children under 5 in state: 169,830

30. New Jersey

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.15%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 24,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 37,100

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.54

• Total children under 5 in state: 518,528

31. Michigan

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.14%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 22,200

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 37,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.70

• Total children under 5 in state: 529,459

32. Arizona

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.11%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 18,300

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 27,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.52

• Total children under 5 in state: 391,142

33. Virginia

• Percent of children using CCDF: 7.03%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 21,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 33,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.59

• Total children under 5 in state: 476,744

34. Louisiana

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.64%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 12,300

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 18,300

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.49

• Total children under 5 in state: 275,636

35. North Carolina

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.62%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 26,200

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 39,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.50

• Total children under 5 in state: 594,739

36. Missouri

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.52%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 15,700

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 22,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.45

• Total children under 5 in state: 348,416

37. Utah

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.39%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 7,800

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 14,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.88

• Total children under 5 in state: 229,881

38. Minnesota

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.30%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 10,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 20,600

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.94

• Total children under 5 in state: 326,995

39. Iowa

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.26%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 6,500

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 11,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.75

• Total children under 5 in state: 182,063

40. Massachusetts

• Percent of children using CCDF: 6.05%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 14,500

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 20,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.43

• Total children under 5 in state: 342,145

41. Washington

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.87%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 15,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 24,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.62

• Total children under 5 in state: 417,322

42. Montana

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.78%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 2,200

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 3,200

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.45

• Total children under 5 in state: 55,363

43. Idaho

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.77%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 3,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 6,400

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.78

• Total children under 5 in state: 110,908

44. Colorado

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.53%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 10,600

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 16,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.58

• Total children under 5 in state: 303,775

45. South Dakota

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.47%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 2,000

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 3,000

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.50

• Total children under 5 in state: 54,886

46. Tennessee

• Percent of children using CCDF: 5.38%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 15,900

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 22,100

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.39

• Total children under 5 in state: 411,032

47. Alaska

• Percent of children using CCDF: 4.87%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 1,500

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 2,200

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.47

• Total children under 5 in state: 45,211

48. Hawaii

• Percent of children using CCDF: 4.52%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 2,500

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 3,500

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.40

• Total children under 5 in state: 77,420

49. New Hampshire

• Percent of children using CCDF: 4.30%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 1,900

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 2,700

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.42

• Total children under 5 in state: 62,779

50. Nevada

• Percent of children using CCDF: 3.97%

• Number of families using CCDF funds: 4,100

• Number of children using CCDF funds: 6,800

• Average children per family using CCDF: 1.66

• Total children under 5 in state: 171,163

Data and methodology

Data comes from FY 2023 CCDF Data Tables (Preliminary) from the Office of Child Care, originally published in January 2026. Supplementary population data for 2023 comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey.