NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For working parents across Tennessee, the cost of child care is a year-round concern — and relief may finally be on the way for thousands of families who have been waiting more than a year for help.
The state's child care assistance program, Smart Steps, is available to parents who work or attend school and earn up to 85% of the state median income, which is $70,236, according to the First Five Years Fund.
Last month, the state began reaching out to families on the waitlist, with about 150 families now beginning to receive assistance at a child care provider.
The average cost of center-based infant care runs roughly $1,094 a month — and even higher in the Nashville area — leaving some parents only able to afford part-time care.
WATCH: Tennessee Smart Steps child care waitlist opens for families
"When a child goes part-time or a specific schedule like that because of financial constraints, it's hard on the parents; it's hard on the children; teachers, they don't know who's coming, who's going," said Alyssa Garnett Arno, the CEO of St. Mary Villa Child Development Center.
Smart Steps is funded primarily by federal dollars, but that funding dropped from $319 million in 2024 to $276 million last year, contributing to the lengthy waitlist.
The state says it is prioritizing outreach to families in the greatest need, including military families, families experiencing homelessness, and children in protective services.
"As families are waiting to hear if they've received a spot off the waitlist, we encourage folks to reach out, check their spot," said Callon Baggett, assistant commissioner at the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
St. Mary Villa Child Development Center tries to make child care more affordable through scholarships, a sliding-scale tuition model, and by accepting Smart Steps assistance.
"Us being here is allowing them to be more financially stable for their family," the CEO said.
The CEO added that the long-term return on investment in early childhood care is significant, even if the benefits are not immediately visible to policymakers.
"The ROI on investment is immense, and unfortunately it's not immediate — that's the biggest thing lawmakers or rulemakers don't understand — is the money we invest now, we're saving money later," the CEO said.
**If you are on the Smart Steps waitlist**, make sure you have the following documents ready before the state contacts you:
- Proof of income
- Proof of residency
- Proof of work, school, or training
- Identification
- Child information
Once the state reaches out, families have just two weeks to respond.
"Know that we are working 100% of our time to make sure families get the care that they need in the way they want to receive it," Baggett said.
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