The Department of Public Health and Social Services, Division of Children’s Wellness, Bureau of Child Care Services, is announcing the return to standard child care assistance policies under the Child Care and Development Fund, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

These temporary waivers were introduced to support families during declared states of emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Mawar.

The waivers allowed families to receive child care subsidies based on enrollment rather than attendance and covered out-of-pocked costs such as co-payments and overages.

As Guam transitions from two years of emergency recovery to regular operations, these temporary waivers no longer align with the short-term recovery needs.

What Families Should Know:

  • Families will resume paying their assigned co-payments and any overages if a provider’s rate exceeds the CCDF subsidy maximum.
  • Subsidy payments will match the lower of either the provider’s rate or the CCDF maximum rate.

Families currently receiving assistance are encouraged to review these upcoming changes and plan accordingly. 

Resources and detailed infographics are available at: https://guamchildcare.com/.

“Now that conditions are returning to normal, we remain focused on supporting Guam’s families and advancing our mission to ensure safe, reliable child care. While some measures will change, our commitment to those affected stays strong. We encourage those affected to stay informed, plan ahead and reach out if you need help. When we work together, our island community stays strong.”