Many state and local child care subsidy agencies have been redesigning their policies to better meet the needs of the families they serve and to create more efficient and fiscally responsible systems. These strategies reflect states’ growing understanding of the dynamic nature of low-income families’ lives and of the challenges they face as they move toward stable employment. This report synthesizes findings from various research projects conducted by the Urban Institute (and other organizations) and lays out a range of policy strategies states are implementing to help eligible families access and retain child care subsidies.