Introducing
Arkansas Tri-Share
Allowing EMPLOYERS to attract and retain talent, FAMILIES to pay up to 66% less in childcare, and PROVIDERS to afford the true cost of high-quality care.
Parents have CHOICE in selecting their child’s caregiver.
Companies have CHOICE in their capacity to contribute.
Arkansas’s cost-sharing child care solution
How does it work?
What is ArkansasTri-Share
Arkansas Tri-Share Child Care Program assists qualifying employees employed full-time by participating employers, with child care costs. Through this innovative new approach, the employer, the employee, and Arkansas Tri-Share share child care expenses, each contributing a portion of the cost. Tri-Share assists qualifying employees with an income above 85% of Arkansas’s State Median Income and below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Why limit it between 85% - 165% of the State Median Income?
This income group is the ALICE population - Asset-limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. This group makes too much to qualify for Federal Public Assistance but struggles month to month to cover the costs of housing, food, transportation, health care, technology, and childcare. Arkansas Tri-Share reduces childcare costs by up to 66% allowing families to pay for other essentials.
With Arkansas Tri-Share, everyone wins.
Families
Families enjoy the reduced cost of childcare, increased participation in the workforce, and less stress thanks to stable, reliable childcare.
Industries
Employers utilize tax credit for Employer-Provided Child Care Services, enjoy workforce reliability and productivity, and the ability to attract talent with this unique employee benefit.
Child Care Providers
Providers can stabilize their business as more families can afford the true cost of the highest-quality of care.
When high-quality care is available and affordable, families can work, students can learn, communities can support industries, and businesses can attract and retain talent.
Are we eligible?
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Families may be eligible for Arkansas Tri-Share if:
an adult in the home works for one of our Partner Industries
you have a child or children in daycare in Arkansas
you make between 85% and 164% of the 2025 State Median Income (see chart below)
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Businesses may participatei n Arkansas Tri-Share if:
your place of business is in Arkansas
you employ families with children ages birth to 5 years old
you will offer this benefit to all eligible employees
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Providers may be eligible to accept Arkansas Tri-Share if:
you're rated as 4, 5, or 6 Stars on the Arkansas Better Beginnings scale
OR
you are Nationally Accredited by one of Arkansas’s approved accrediting agencies
OR
you are working towards national accreditation by one of Arkansas’s approved accrediting agencies
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Donors are valued and appreciated! Do you understand the current childcare crisis? Do you recognize the struggle of the ALICE population? Would you like to help us expand our program to serve more families?
We’d love to talk!
Contact us below or donate at the link above.
Family Income Eligibility Limits
*FY 2025 State Median Income Source
**percentage of childcare tuition contribution from Arkansas Tri-Share
How is income eligibility set?
We aim to capture the ALICE population that makes too much to qualify for federal assistance but not enough to afford high-quality child care.
Our lower limit represents 85% of Arkansas’s 2024 State Median Income, the point at which Federal Benefits for child care stop.
Our upper limit represents 165% of Arkansas’s 2024 State Median Income (477% of the Federal Poverty Line).
Below you’ll see a sample income eligibility scale for an Arkansas family of 4 with two children in child care.
TOOTRiS and Industry Partnerships Work
WCIV ABC News 4 Charleston Watch
Mercedes Benz Vans
“Now that you know your children are being taken care of and you can afford to take care of them, you’re more readily available to come to work. You’re not calling out. You’re able to work your whole shift because your children are in a greater child care option than they had before.”
WSFA 12 News Montgomery
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Offering childcare benefits is a game changer. “This is essential for us to attract and retain talent.”
“It’s going to raise the bar for everyone to deal with family needs, to put families first, to provide childcare option for their workforce. That’s really unprecedented.”
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Infants
Arkansas Tri-Share supports working families with infants in child care. Infant spots in a room with 4 babies can cost upwards of $1800 per month but our families will pay as little as $600 per month for the same spot.
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Toddlers
Arkansas Tri-Share supports working families with toddlers in child care. Toddler spots in a room with 6 toddlers can cost upwards of $1800 per month but our families will pay as little as $600 per month for the same spot.
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3-Year-Olds
Arkansas Tri-Share supports working families with 3-year-olds in child care. Preschool spots in a room with 10 students can cost upwards of $1500 per month but our families will pay as little as $500 per month for the same spot.
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4-Year-Olds
Arkansas Tri-Share supports working families with 4-year-olds in child care. Preschool spots in a room with 10 students can cost upwards of $1500 per month but our families will pay as little as $500 per month for the same spot.
Ready to be part of the solution?
Learn how.
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Families
Do you have children in child care? Do you or another adult in the home work for one of our Industry Partners? Does your household income fall between 85% and 165% of the State Median Income?
You may be eligible.
Apply below.
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Businesses
Are you an employer in Arkansas looking to attract more talent? Do you value your employees with young children and want to provide them with benefits? Would you like to be part of the solution?
You may be eligible.
Apply below.
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Providers
Are you a licensed child care provider in Arkansas? Are you interested in becoming eligible to accept Arkansas Tri-Share students? Would you like support and grants to improve the quality of your program?
We’d love to help!
Apply Below
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Donors
Are you a private donor or foundation eager to be part of the solution? Do you understand the direct relationship between affordable childcare and labor market participation?
We’d love to talk!
Contact us below or donate at the link above.
