Childcare in Fort Worth: Options, Costs and Checks

Choose care around your actual week

Write down the earliest drop-off, latest pickup, days needed and intended start date before contacting caregivers. Include travel time after work and identify who can collect your child if you run late. Ask each provider to confirm an opening for your child’s age and those exact hours.

For center or home care, ask which regulatory category applies. Texas HHSC lists child care centers, licensed and registered child care homes, listed family homes, and school-age or before- and after-school programs among the operations it regulates. Ask a provider claiming an exemption to explain its status; HHSC determines whether a program requires regulation or qualifies for an exemption. [4]

For a nanny or occasional sitter, agree on duties, references, emergency contacts, transport permission and backup arrangements. Ask about infant or child CPR and first-aid training appropriate to your child. Put expectations about meals, medication, visitors and outings in writing.

Compare written costs before paying a deposit

Request a quote for your child’s age and schedule. Ask whether the provider charges by the hour, day, week or month, and list registration fees, deposits, meals, supplies and transportation separately. Confirm whether you pay during absences, holidays and provider closures.

Use the same dates and hours when comparing offers. Ask when the provider can change tuition, whether a deposit is refundable, and how much notice you must give to leave. For a caregiver working in your home, specify whether the quoted amount includes extra duties or care for siblings.

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County says most CCMS clients contribute toward care through fees based on a percentage of monthly gross family income. Ask CCMS for your assessed Parent Share of Cost and ask the provider to explain any other charges before you commit. [1]

Check scholarship eligibility and timing

Tarrant County CCMS lists county residency, primary custody, the child’s citizenship or legal immigration status, income and other requirements. Children must be under 13, or under 19 with a disability. CCMS also lists an asset limit below $1 million and requires payment in full of outstanding Texas recoupments. [2]

CCMS lists eligible activities such as work, school, training and job search. Its published weekly participation requirements are 25 hours for single-parent families and 50 hours for two-parent families. Ask CCMS how it applies those requirements to your circumstances, particularly if you are looking for work or serve as a legal caregiver. [2]

Begin the application through Texas Child Care Connection. Keep scholarship timing separate from a provider’s offer of a place: Workforce Solutions publishes a wait estimate, so ask CCMS about current processing and arrange interim care if needed. Confirm approval and the care start date before relying on assistance in your budget. [1] [2]

Review inspections, supervision and insurance

Workforce Solutions advises parents to check a provider’s inspection record. Match the record to the location you intend to use, and ask the director about cited problems and corrective steps. During a visit, discuss who supervises your child during meals, naps, outdoor play and staff changes. [1]

Ask for current liability insurance information and any notice explaining absent coverage. HHSC specifies insurance requirements for licensed, registered and listed operations, identifies exceptions, and directs inspectors to evaluate required parent notification when an operation lacks insurance. Do not assume a permit confirms current coverage. [5]

Before enrolling, walk through your child’s allergy, medication, toileting or accessibility needs with the person who will provide care. Ask how staff communicate incidents, authorize pickup and contact you during an emergency. Record agreed accommodations in the care agreement.

Tarrant County scholarship monthly income limits

Match the arrangement to your needs

Your hiring checklist

1. Record your child’s age, required days, start date and pickup deadline.
2. Confirm an age-appropriate opening and the exact hours offered.
3. Review the provider’s regulatory status and inspection record.
4. Request an itemized fee schedule and refund and withdrawal terms.
5. Discuss supervision, emergency procedures and your child’s specific needs.
6. Ask for insurance information and review any coverage notice.
7. Confirm Friday, holiday and backup care before finalizing your arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for care?

Get written quotes for your child’s age and exact schedule. Compare tuition plus deposits, supplies, transportation and closure-day charges. If you seek scholarship assistance, ask CCMS to confirm your parent contribution before you build your budget around it. [1]

Can I qualify for assistance while looking for work?

CCMS lists job search as an eligible activity and says unemployed applicants may qualify. It determines eligibility through application and verification. Ask how job-search rules and participation requirements apply to your household. [2]

Does FWISD after-school care cover Fridays?

Coverage depends on the campus. FWISD describes most programs as Monday through Thursday, with select campuses offering free or parent-paid Friday programming. Confirm your campus’s arrangements before booking separate care. [3]

Is Texas Rising Star the same as a license?

Texas Rising Star is a quality-rating program for providers participating in the workforce scholarship program. Check a provider’s certification alongside its regulatory status and inspection history, and visit before deciding. [1] [4]