Parents struggling to afford child care will get more help soon.

On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a major expansion of the state's Care 4 Kids program, which offers child care assistance at participating providers across Connecticut.

One of those providers is the Alliance for Community Empowerment Early Learning Center in Bridgeport. Behind all the fun and games there, children are learning critical skills.

“Pre-math, pre-language, pre-science,“ said Barbara A. Baldwin, Alliance’s Early Learning director.

But all that comes at a high price for parents.

“Child care can go up to almost $300, $400 dependent a week,” Baldwin said. “To shuffle between food, rent, and child care, sometimes that bill is the last thing they want to pay.”

That’s why state leaders on Thursday announced that Care 4 Kids is expanding to cover more kids.

“Twenty-nine percent of families in Connecticut with children under 5 will have support with their child care costs,” said Beth Bye, the Connecticut Department of Early Childhood commissioner.

Starting Jan. 1, Care 4 Kids will accept an extra 1,500 children. The average family will also save an estimated $200 per month on fees, which will now be capped at 7% of their income.

Eligibility for the program remains the same: a family of four can make up to $94,792 per year (965% of the state median income). But now, if parents get a modest raise (earning up to $123,795 per year, or 85% of SMI), they won’t get kicked off the program.

“I am really grateful for Care 4 Kids because it gives me the opportunity to work,” said Ashley Plaza Torres, who has two children in the program.

In addition to the Care 4 Kids changes, the state is adding 900 new state-funded early care and education spaces for young children through the School Readiness and Child Day Care program by maximizing existing state funds.

Bye said the expansion will cost $17 million over the next three years. The money is coming from leftover federal dollars and extra grants.

But it’s not just the cost of child care. For many parents, just getting a spot is a challenge.

There are still long waiting lists for infants and toddlers, but a change in state allows more children in each classroom now. Providers are also able to offer higher salaries to child care workers.

More providers accept Care 4 Kids now, too, which means more relief for struggling parents.

“So many of these parents, because of the high cost of child care, can’t afford child care,” said Baldwin.