Wyoming runs its publicly funded child care subsidy as the Child Care Subsidy Program, administered by the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS). If your household income is within the program's gross-income limits, at least one parent is working or in school or training, and your child is under thirteen, you likely qualify. Wyoming is one of the few states without a state-funded public pre-K, so for many families the Child Care Subsidy and federal Head Start are the main sources of help.
The Child Care Subsidy pays most of your tuition directly to your chosen provider, and you pay a monthly co-pay on a sliding scale. Wyoming does not publish a consumer-facing star rating; its Quality Counts system focuses on provider quality coaching rather than a public score. This guide covers the 2026 income limits, what families actually pay, and the step-by-step application through your local DFS field office.
Reviewed by: a credentialed early-childhood reviewer (pending assignment).
The Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) sets statewide Child Care Subsidy policy: who is eligible, what counts as a qualifying activity, the co-pay schedule, and the maximum rates paid to providers. Local DFS field offices handle intake, eligibility, and provider payment, and DFS also licenses child care centers and family child care homes through its Early Childhood programs. Wyoming's Quality Counts system supports provider quality improvement, and federal Head Start and Early Head Start serve eligible preschool-age children in place of a state pre-K program.
Wyoming Child Care Subsidy eligibility requires a qualifying activity, Wyoming residency, a child under age thirteen (or older with a documented disability), and household income within the limits. The parent, or both parents in a two-parent household, must be working or in approved education or training.
Wyoming sets eligibility on a gross monthly income table, generally up to the federal ceiling of 85 percent of State Median Income, though most families served fall well below it. Approximate monthly limits for 2025-2026, per Department of Family Services policy:
| Family size | Approx. monthly income limit | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $4,200 | $50,400 |
| 3 | $5,200 | $62,400 |
| 4 | $6,300 | $75,600 |
| 5 | $7,300 | $87,600 |
| 6 | $8,300 | $99,600 |
Families receiving Wyoming POWER (the state's TANF program) and certain transitional cases receive priority for the Child Care Subsidy, per Department of Family Services rules.
Wyoming families pay a monthly co-pay set on a sliding scale by the Department of Family Services, based on family size and gross income. The subsidy covers the rest up to the state maximum reimbursement rate, and the co-pay is paid to the provider. Approximate monthly co-pay ranges for 2025-2026:
If your provider charges more than the state maximum reimbursement rate, you may owe the difference on top of your co-pay, so confirm the provider's rate before you enroll.
The Wyoming Department of Family Services reimburses Child Care Subsidy providers at a maximum rate set by a market-rate survey, varying by child age and provider type, with infant care reimbursed at the highest rate. Licensed centers and licensed family child care homes carry higher reimbursement than license-exempt care. Wyoming's Quality Counts system supports providers with coaching and professional development rather than assigning a public star rating, so when comparing options, ask a provider directly about its licensing status, staff training, and Quality Counts participation.
Wyoming generally serves eligible working families through the Department of Family Services without a long statewide waitlist, though availability can shift with federal Child Care and Development Fund money. The bigger challenge in much of rural Wyoming is provider supply: many counties have very few licensed infant and toddler seats, and some communities are child care deserts. Apply through your local DFS field office early and respond quickly to any document request.
Locate the Wyoming Department of Family Services field office for your county through dfs.wyo.gov. Each field office handles Child Care Subsidy applications, eligibility, and provider payment for its area.
Submit your Child Care Subsidy application through your local DFS field office or the state online system. The application asks for family composition, household income, and your qualifying work, school, or training activity.
Provide photo identification for each adult, birth certificates or proof of age for each child, proof of Wyoming residency, recent pay stubs or a signed employer letter, school or training documentation if applicable, and a current work or class schedule.
Once eligible, choose a provider that accepts the Child Care Subsidy: a licensed center, a licensed family child care home, or eligible license-exempt or relative care. The Department of Family Services pays the provider directly at the maximum rate, and you pay your monthly co-pay to the provider.
Provider participation in the Wyoming Child Care Subsidy is voluntary. To accept the subsidy, a provider must hold the appropriate Wyoming license or eligible license-exempt status, enroll with the Department of Family Services, accept the maximum reimbursement rate, and meet attendance reporting requirements. Some higher-cost centers in Cheyenne, Casper, and Jackson decline subsidy when their posted tuition exceeds the state rate, which can make an approved family's search harder in higher-demand areas.
Wyoming families may appeal a denial or termination of the Child Care Subsidy through the Department of Family Services. Many denials are reversed when the family provides missing pay stubs, a corrected schedule, or updated household composition. If an appeal does not succeed, options include reapplying when income or hours change, applying to Head Start or Early Head Start, seeking Wyoming Department of Education preschool special-education services if your child has an identified need, or asking your employer about a Dependent Care FSA.
The Wyoming Child Care Subsidy can sharply reduce daycare costs for eligible working families, and DFS generally serves applicants without a long waitlist. The honest tradeoff is supply, not eligibility: because Wyoming has no state-funded pre-K and few licensed seats in many rural counties, finding care can be the hardest part. Apply through your local DFS field office early, ask providers about licensing and Quality Counts participation, and consider Head Start at age three or four to extend your coverage.
Wyoming sets Child Care Subsidy eligibility on a gross monthly income table, generally up to the federal ceiling of 85 percent of State Median Income, though most families served fall well below it. Approximate monthly limits for 2026 are roughly $4,200 per month for a family of two, $5,200 per month for a family of three, and $6,300 per month for a family of four, per Wyoming Department of Family Services policy.
Wyoming families pay a monthly co-pay set on a sliding scale by the Department of Family Services, based on family size and gross income. Co-pays commonly range from a small minimum at the lowest-income tier to roughly $200 to $400 at the upper end of eligibility, paid to the provider. The subsidy covers the rest up to the state maximum reimbursement rate.
The Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) administers the Child Care Subsidy Program statewide using federal Child Care and Development Fund money and state funds. Local DFS field offices handle intake, eligibility, and provider payment, and DFS also licenses child care providers through its Early Childhood programs.
Quality Counts is Wyoming's quality rating and improvement system for child care providers, supported by the Department of Family Services. Wyoming does not publish a consumer-facing star rating, so Quality Counts focuses on provider quality coaching and professional development. Families can ask a provider about its licensing status and Quality Counts participation when comparing options.
Wyoming is one of the few states without a state-funded public pre-K program. Preschool for low-income and eligible children is delivered mainly through federal Head Start and Early Head Start and through the Wyoming Department of Education special-education preschool services. Many working families combine a Head Start slot with the Child Care Subsidy for full-day coverage.
Wyoming allows Child Care Subsidy payment for some license-exempt and relative care, registered with the Department of Family Services after background checks, in addition to licensed centers and licensed family child care homes. Most subsidy funding flows to licensed providers, which carry the higher reimbursement rates.
Wyoming generally serves eligible working families through the Department of Family Services without a long statewide waitlist, though availability can shift with federal funding. The bigger challenge in much of rural Wyoming is provider supply. Apply through your local DFS field office early and respond quickly to any document request.
Photo identification for each adult; birth certificates or proof of age for each child; proof of Wyoming residency such as a lease or utility bill; recent pay stubs or a signed employer letter; school or training documentation if applicable; and a current work or class schedule. Your local Department of Family Services field office provides a checklist with the application.
What a center or family child care home actually costs across Wyoming in 2026.
See Wyoming costs → All statesCompare income limits, co-pays, and waitlists across every state subsidy program.
Compare states → BackgroundCCDBG, Head Start, and how every state's voucher program fits together.
Read the article → Free toolEstimate net out-of-pocket tuition after credits and subsidies for your zip code.
Try the calculator →Get our free daycare starter kit — the 27-question tour checklist, a cost-comparison worksheet, and what to ask about waitlists. One email, no spam.
Or jump in: tour questions · cost calculator · comparison checklist