Free Government Child Care Assistance

If you are looking for free or affordable daycare near you, we will tell you how you can receive government assistance with child care.  If you are employed and low-income, you need affordable daycare. Affordable child care helps single mothers and low-income families.

With this help from the government,  low-income adults can go back to school to further their education or work.  Daycare is costly, and these subsidies help men and women continue supporting their families.

What do you do if you are working part-time or at minimum wage?  Gone are when one parent went to work while the other stayed home with the kids.  Today, most families need two incomes to survive.

Free Child Care For Working Families

The Childcare and Development Fund is instrumental in providing low-income families assistance to pay for childcare while a parent or primary caregiver works or attends school.

Many disadvantaged working families need free childcare subsidies.  The Human Services Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families with government subsidies for assistance.

This free childcare assistance helps young mothers return to school to get a better job, or a mother is already working.  Free childcare assistance is the most important thing necessary to help single mothers remain employed.  Placing a child in daycare can easily take up to 50% of your gross income, especially if you have more than one young child. 

Many women find it cheaper to stay at home unless they have a high-salaried job and try to live on their husband’s salaries. What if you are the only income your family has?  Good news! You may be eligible for childcare assistance.

US Poverty Guidelines

2022 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DC
No. of Persons in the family/household	Gross Family Income Allowed
1	$13,590
2	$18,310
3	$23,030
4	$27,750
5	$32,470
6	$37,190
7	$41,910
8	$46,630
For families/households with more than eight persons, add $4,720 for each additional.

*For stats on Alaska and Hawaii

Subsidies for Four Types of Free Early Learning Programs

Prekindergarten –  State-run pre-k programs help little ones from the ages serve children four years old on or before September 1. Pre-K prepares children to succeed in school by teaching essential communication, developmental skills, and discipline.  Children can attend half or full-day sessions.

Head Start – Though Head Start funding has been cut over the years, it is still around, helping low-income families give their young children opportunities to develop critical emotional and developmental skills that prepare them for school.   

Childcare subsidies – U.S. states receive federal funding to be given as subsidies to state childcare programs.  Eligible disadvantaged families may qualify for assistance with government and private childcare services.  Eligibility requirements are different in each state.

Military fee assistance programs – Child care fee assistance is available to military families that qualify financially—contact Child Care Aware of America for more information.

Free Baby Diapers for Low Income Families

Affordable Day Care for Military Families

Many military families struggle every day to care for their families. Single parents with children feel the added emotional and financial stress of paying for childcare or rent.  Operation Military Child Care Program provides assistance to pay for military families.

Child Care Aware® of America and the United States Military Services support the OMCC program.  They help provide fee assistance for Families of deployed military men and women.  To qualify, you must present verification of your orders with your application.  For more information, click on your branch of service below:

•  Army
•  Navy
•  Air Force
• Marine Corps

How to Apply and Qualify for Child Care Assistance

You may also go directly to your local Department of Social Service office to apply for childcare assistance. At the office, you’ll have an opportunity to talk with someone about your household situation and your needs so that you can make an informed choice about any services you want to receive.  You can even find out about Christmas toys for your children.

To Receive Childcare, you must

• qualify financially
• be the custodial parent of a child under 13
• work or attended school

Documents Needed to Apply for Childcare Assistance

When you go to your local Department of Human Services office to determine if you are eligible for free childcare assistance, bring the proper documentation, such as social security cards for you and the children, proof of income, or participation in a government assistance program.

Preparing will speed up the time it takes us to process your application for childcare assistance.  The Department of Social Services will also give you a list of agencies and individuals who work with the program to provide vouchers.  Don’t forget to ask about assistance with utilities.

There May be a Waiting List

In many cases, there is a waiting list for childcare assistance.  Contact the Division of Child Development in your state to get further information, to get placed on the list, or receive a referral to licensed and approved free daycare providers in your county.

What are the requirements:

• Be working no less than 30 hours a week.
• In school, no less than 20 hours a week.
• Or working and in school a combined 30 hours a week.

When you Choose a Facility, it must be a:

•  Licensed daycare
•  School Program
•  Licensed child care center run by the Department of Defense.
•  A home daycare registered with the state; with no more than six children

12 Financial Assistance Programs for Single Mothers

How Do I Qualify for Free Child Care?

You qualify for LIHEAP if you are receiving:

• Food Stamps/SNAP
• Receiving Medicaid
• Section 8 or Federal Public Housing
• Receiving TANF- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• A child in the National School Lunch Program
• Supplemental Security Income SSI

How to Get Free Childcare Assistance

If you are not eligible for free childcare, some offer discounts through a scholarship or sliding scale for low-income families who qualify financially. If your gross income is 135% below the Federal Poverty Guideline, you may be able to discount childcare services.

ASUO Child Care For Adults Attend College

ASUO offers child-care subsidies for students attending college.  Student fees fund this benefit; the subsidy offers financial help for child-care costs to eligible college students.

The subsidy is set at 20-50% of a  designated maximum amount for the fiscal year from July 1 to June 30.  Go to  ASUO Child-Care Subsidies, or call (541) 346-0618.  If one parent is a student,  there may be financial help for childcare fees.

Free Child Care Assistance Near You

Alabama
Alabama Department of Human Resources
50 Ripley Street
Montgomery, AL 36130-1801
General Phone: 334-242-1425

Alaska
Division of Public Assistance
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Suite 140
3601 C Street
Anchorage, AK 99524
General Phone: 907-269-4500

American Samoa
American Samoa Department of Human
and Social Services
5614 Tafuna
Pago Pago, AS 96799
General Phone: 684-633-1571

Arizona
Arizona Department of Economic Security
1789 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-542-1958
General Phone: 602-542-4248

Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Little Rock, AR 72203
General Phone: 501-682-8590

California
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 3410
Sacramento, CA 95814
General Phone: 916-322-6233

Colorado to Guam

Colorado
Office of Early Childhood
Colorado Department of Human Services
1575 Sherman Street, First Floor
Denver, CO 80203
General Phone: 303-866-5958

Northern Mariana Islands
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs
Capitol Hill, Caller Box 10007
1341 Ascension Drive
Saipan, MP 96950
General Phone: 670-664-2576

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Connecticut
Office of Early Childhood
Connecticut Department of Social Services
Hartford, CT 06145
General Phone: 860-424-5006

Delaware
Lewis Building
1901 North DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
General Phone: 302-255-9670

District of Columbia
810 1st Street, N.E
Washington, DC 20002
General Phone: 202-727-6436

Florida
Florida Department of Education
250 Marriott Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32399
General Phone: 850-717-8550

Georgia
East Tower, Suite 670
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30334
General Phone: 404-651-7432

Guam
Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services
123 Chalan Kareta
Mangilao, GU 96913
General Phone: 671-735-7300

Hawaii to Kansas

Hawaii Department of Human Services
Suite 606
820 Mililani Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
General Phone: 808-586-7187

Idaho
Boise, ID 83720
General Phone: 208-334-5656

Illinois
Division of Family and Community Services
Illinois Department of Human Services
Second Floor
100 South Grand Avenue, East
Springfield, IL 62762
General Phone: 217-785-2559

Illinois
Illinois Department of Human Services
Third Floor
401 South Clinton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607
General Phone: 217-785-2559

Indiana
Division of Family Resources
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
W-361, MS-02
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
General Phone: 317-232-1144

Iowa
Division of Adult, Children, and Family Services
Iowa Department of Human Services
Hoover State Office Building, Fifth Floor
1305 East Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
General Phone: 515-281-0429
Website

Kansas
Athene Building, Fourth Floor
555 South Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603
General Phone: 785-296-3349

Kentucky to Missippi

Kentucky
Department for Community-Based Services
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
CHR Building, Suite 3C-F
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
General Phone: 502-564-2524

Early Childhood Division – Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Education
1201 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
General Phone: 225-342-4147

Maine
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
11 State House Station
2 Anthony Avenue
Augusta, ME 04330
General Phone: 207-624-7900

Maryland
Division of Early Childhood Development
Maryland State Department of Education
10th Floor
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
General Phone: 410-767-7128

Massachusetts
Fourth Floor
51 Sleeper Street
Boston, MA 02210
General Phone: 617-988-6600

Michigan
Office of Great Start
Michigan Department of Education
608 West Allegan
Lansing, MI 48909
General Phone: 517-241-9492

Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Human Services
St. Paul, MN 55155
General Phone: 651-431-000

Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Human Services
Jackson, MS 39205
General Phone: 601-359-4555

Missouri
Children’s Division
Missouri Department of Social Services
205 Jefferson Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
General Phone: 573-751-6793

Montana
and Human Services
Helena, MT 59620
General Phone: 406-444-1828

Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68509
General Phone: 402-471-9208

Nevada

Nevada
Division of Welfare and Supportive Services
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
1470 College Parkway
Carson City, NV 89710
General Phone: 775-684-0630

New Hampshire
Division for Children, Youth, and Families
New Hampshire Department of Health
and Human Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
General Phone: 603-271-8153

New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Human Services
6 Quakerbridge Plaza
Trenton, NJ 08625
General Phone: 609-588-2163

New Mexico
New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
P.O. Drawer 5160
1120 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87502

New York
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
South Building, Room 309
52 Washington Street
Rensselaer, NY 12144
General Phone: 518-474-9454

North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Health
and Human Services
2201 Mail Service Center
820 South Boylan Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27603
General Phone: 919-527-6530

Dakota
Capitol Building, Department 325
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505
General Phone: 701-328-2310

Ohio
Office of Family Assistance
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services
4200 East Fifth Avenue
Columbus, OH 43219
General Phone: 614-466-1213

Oklahoma
Department of Human Services
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
General Phone: 405-521-3561

Oregon
Early Learning Division
Oregon Department of Education
775 Summer Street, N.E.
Salem, OR 97301
General Phone: 503-947-1400

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Sixth Floor
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126
General Phone: 717-346-9320

Puerto Rico
and Development
San Juan, PR 00902
General Phone: 787-724-7474

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Human Services
57 Howard Avenue, Third floor
Cranston, RI 02920
General Phone: 401-462-1390
http://www.dhs.ri.gov

South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Social Services
Columbia, SC 29202
General Phone: 803-898-9020

South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Social Services
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
General Phone: 605-773-4766

Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Human Services
Citizens Plaza State Office Building
400 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243
General Phone: 615-313-4770

Texas
Workforce Development Division
Texas Workforce Commission
Room 440-T
101 East 15th Street
Austin, TX 78778
General Phone: 512-463-6022

U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services
3011 Golden Rock
Christiansted, VI 00820
General Phone: 340-773-2323

Utah
Utah Department of Workforce Services
140 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
General Phone: 800-622-7390

Child Development Division – Vermont
Department for Children and Families
Vermont Agency of Human Services
Buildings 2 and 3 North
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671
General Phone: 802-241-1224

Virginia
Virginia Department of Social Services
801 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
General Phone: 804-726-7398

Washington
P.O. Box 40970
Olympia, WA 98504-0970
General Phone: 360-725-4665

West Virginia
Bureau for Children and Families
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Room B-18
350 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301
General Phone: 304-558-7980

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
201 East Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53708-8916
General Phone: 608-261-8684

Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Family Services
Hathaway Building, Third Floor
2300 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82002
General Phone: 307-777-7564