For Families

Our main goal is to help you find the best child care available for your son or daughter. We have assembled information that will help you select the right child care for your family. Please take a look at our checklist for selecting a child care provider, and review the guidelines for determining if you are eligible for the Arkansas Early Childhood Credit.

Why Early Childhood Matters

“Why Early Childhood Matters” -  This DVD is great for parents raising young children who are “getting ready for school”.  You will explore the importance of early childhood development and ways you can create and support programs for your child’s school readiness.   For every dollar invested in early childhood education there is a sevenfold rate of return. Early Childhood is one of the best investments we can make for our own children and the children of Arkansas.

This DVD is made available through a partnership with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, ASU Childhood Services and the DHS/Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. Want more information on the importance of early childhood education, just place your order for a free 10 minute DVD, “Why Early Childhood Matters”.

Child Care Checklist

There’s a lot to remember when you’re interviewing child care providers. The Child Care Checklist can help.This handy checklist includes questions you will want to ask yourself as well as the facility director and teachers at each site to help you make the choice that’s right for you and your family.
Download the Child Care Checklist (PDF) – 1.5 MB

Arkansas Early Childhood Tax Credit

Act 1268 of 1993, established a refundable credit for taxpayers who place their children or dependents in a facility that had a certified childcare program. The credit is equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Federal Child Care Credit. The Arkansas Early Childhood Credit differs from the Federal Child Care Credit because it is refundable and any excess of the credit over the tax liability can be returned as an overpayment. To be able to claim the Early Childhood Credit, a qualified individual must meet all the requirements for claiming the Federal Child Care Credit and have incurred child care expenses at an Arkansas licensed or registered facility that is certified at Better Beginnings level 2 or Better Beginnings level 3 by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education.

Each December a list of facilities certified at Better Beginnings level 2 and Better Beginnings level 3 will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Individual Income Tax Division. The Individual Income Tax Division will distribute the Early Childhood Certification Form, AR 1000 EC, to each qualifying child care facility. The child care facility is to distribute the Early Childhood Certification Form, AR 1000 EC to the persons who have had dependents enrolled in the facility that year.