In New Hampshire, center-based care for an infant and a four-year-old averages roughly $30,000 a year. That’s about a quarter of a typical family’s income, and far above the 7% the federal government considers affordable. The Child Care Scholarship Program is the state’s primary tool for closing that gap. A federal–state partnership, it helps working families with low and moderate incomes afford care by capping what eligible families pay at no more than 7% of their income and paying their chosen provider directly, which stretches a family’s paycheck while giving providers a reliable source of income
Protecting the NH Child Care Scholarship keeps child care affordable for working families, supports local providers, and strengthens the state economy.
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Share Your Story
How Does Child Care Impact You?
Child care challenges affect families, employers, and communities across New Hampshire. Your story can help lawmakers understand the real impact of our state's child care shortage and the
urgent need for solutions.
We want to hear from you if:
•You've struggled to find affordable, quality child care for your children
•You've had to make difficult choices between work and caring for your family
•You've turned down a job opportunity or promotion because child care wasn't available
•You're a business owner or manager who has lost employees or struggled to recruit workers due to child care issues
•You've seen how lack of child care affects your workplace, your community, or your family's economic security
Please share a brief description of your situation and how child care challenges have affected you, and the impact on your family, your career, or your business.
Need help? Contact Lauren Martin (Community Engagement Coordinator) for help taking action or Trina Ingelfinger (Early Care and Education Policy Director) with policy questions.
About the
Program
Demand for the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program has grown. Since the state expanded eligibility in 2024, the number of children receiving care through the scholarship has risen 75%, the most in the program’s history. But the state’s own investment hasn’t kept pace. Funding declined about 2% between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, leaving the program reliant on a temporary federal backstop that can’t sustain it for long.
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