Yes. This program is a Harris County-specific program piloting a new approach to serving families with young children and to fund high-quality child care, as well as adding additional capacity in child care to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early REACH and the Workforce Solutions Financial Aid for Child Care Program are different programs that both seek to ensure families can afford and access child care. Please visit Financial Aid Child Care | Workforce Solutions – Workforce Solutions (wrksolutions.com) for more information on that program.

The key differences between programs are outlined in the table below:

This program is providing additional child care capacity across Harris County, especially in areas of Harris County that are child care deserts and have a high need, as indicated by a community’s Social Vulnerability Index. (If you use the link above, be sure to select Harris County.)

Early REACH is a program of Harris County and it is being implemented by BakerRipley and United Way of Greater Houston. United Way leads the recruitment of child care centers and works with them to improve the quality of care. BakerRipley is responsible for contracting and payment of child care centers, and recruiting and enrolling families and children.