From Southwest Virginia to Statewide Opportunity
Ready Together VA Helps Working Families Afford Child Care
Virginia is expanding an innovative approach to help working families pay for child care. Ready Together VA brings employers and the Commonwealth together to share child care costs with eligible families.
The program grew from a pilot launched here in Southwest Virginia. EO, serving as the Ready Region Southwest lead, worked with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, corporate partners, child care providers, and families to test this cost-sharing approach.
How Does Ready Together Work?
Through Ready Together, child care costs are shared among:
- The participating employer
- The Commonwealth of Virginia
- The family, through a copayment based on household income
By sharing the cost, the program aims to make quality child care more affordable and help parents remain in the workforce. It also helps employers attract workers, reduce absences, and retain employees.
Southwest Virginia Helped Lead the Way
The Southwest Virginia pilot showed how public and private partners can work together to address child care challenges.
Families played an important role by sharing their experiences with child care costs, limited openings, work schedules, and other barriers. Their feedback helped partners understand what families need and informed the development of the statewide program.
The pilot also provided lessons about working with employers, supporting participating child care providers, and creating a program that works for both families and businesses.
Now Expanding Across Virginia
In 2026, the Virginia General Assembly established Ready Together VA as the state’s Employee Child Care Assistance Program. The Governor signed the legislation into law, and Virginia’s state budget includes $25 million for the program.
The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation will administer Ready Together VA in partnership with employers, Ready Regions, child care providers, community organizations, and state leaders.
The program will begin with an initial implementation phase in selected Virginia communities. Awards are expected in late February 2027, with family enrollment planned to begin in May 2027. Virginia will start with a limited number of participants so partners can learn what works before growing the program.
Who May Qualify?
Ready Together VA is intended for working families who:
- Work for a participating employer
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Use an eligible participating child care provider
Households with incomes at or below 100% of Virginia’s state median income may qualify. Families already using child care will not automatically be excluded.
Participation will depend on whether the family’s employer and Ready Region take part in the initial phase. Additional eligibility and enrollment information will become available as the program design is finalized.
Why This Matters
Affordable and dependable child care supports children, families, businesses, and communities. Ready Together VA will help Virginia learn how employer contributions and state funding can work together to expand access to quality care.
The expansion of Ready Together also shows the value of local innovation and family voice. An approach piloted here in Southwest Virginia is now helping shape child care solutions across the Commonwealth.
Stay Informed
Families should watch for updates from EO, Ready Region Southwest, participating employers, and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.
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