New survey: How the Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy helps families

Published April 22, 2025

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A new survey of families who received the Best Starts subsidy shows the benefits of affordable child care for families.

Our partners at Cardea surveyed 124 households who received the Best Starts Child Care Subsidy, which helps families cover the cost of child care. They asked questions about financial stress, emotional well-being, impact to relationships, and ability to pursue career and education goals.

Families shared that the subsidy overwhelmingly improved their well-being, ability to pay for basic needs, their relationships, and pursue goals.

“Due to our limited income, [the subsidy] made it easier for my husband and I to work but also afford childcare now, as well as pay our bills. [The subsidy] made it possible for my child to receive great, safe, and quality care,” shared one survey respondent.

Other highlights from the survey:

Subsidy participants doubled their use of child care hours, from an average of 15 to an average of 30 hours, after joining the subsidy program (for children ages 6 and under).
Most participants reported that the subsidy program helped with pursuing career (86%) and education (77%) goals.
90% of respondents said the subsidy helped to improve their relationships with spouses, partners, friends, or community and 88% said the subsidy helped free up time to spend with their children.
After participating in the subsidy program 87% of respondents said they were better able to afford four or more areas of basic needs, including food, housing, diapers and formula.