Childcare Subsidy
In 2025, $166,880 in subsidies were provided to 55 children (47) families.
The funds were distributed to 10 center-based programs and 7 Family Child Care Programs.
The Child Care Subsidy Program served infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
43 families served had an income between 80% - 125% of the Area Median Income (AMI). • 4 families had an income under 80% of the AMI. We expanded our eligibility criteria to include families under 80% when the Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG) were depleted in the fall.
In 2026 a grant of $200,000 has been made to MVCS to continue the program!
We are grateful to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services for helping develop and administering our childcare stipends.
Participating families shared the impact of being awarded a child care subsidy:
“Our family is deeply grateful for the child care subsidy that helps cover our two children’s preschool tuition. With both of us working in education, this support makes an enormous difference, allowing us to provide our kids with a high-quality early learning experience while maintaining financial stability for our family. The subsidy not only eases the monthly burden of tuition but also gives us peace of mind knowing our children are in a nurturing, developmentally rich environment each day. We are truly appreciative of this investment in our children’s growth and in working families like ours.”
“The Slough Farm Child Care Subsidy has had a profound impact on our family. With two preschool-aged children and the high cost of living on Martha’s Vineyard, balancing work and child care would be nearly impossible without this support. I am a teacher and my husband works in landscaping, and both of our jobs require consistent, reliable schedules. The subsidy has made it possible for us to continue working full-time, knowing that our children are in a safe, nurturing, high-quality early childhood program each day. This stability means we can show up fully for our students and clients, while also providing for our family. Without this assistance, the cost of child care would far exceed what we could manage, and one of us might have been forced to leave the workforce. Instead, we feel secure, supported, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to keep our family rooted and thriving here on the island.”