What is a Voucher?

A child care voucher permits families eligible for subsidized child care to access child care services outside of the ACS-funded program. Funding for vouchers is extremely limited, and the wait for a voucher can be very long. If you would like to be placed on the voucher interest list, call 311.


How Can I Apply for Subsidized Child Care?

Families interested in subsidized child care should apply to be evaluated by ACS. Contact programs in your area to discuss availability, program requirements and the needs of your child. You are encouraged to visit the programs in order to choose the best care available. For contact information for ACS-funded child care programs or family child care networks in your area call 311. For information on programs not funded by ACS, call the NYC Child Care Resource and Referral Consortium at 888-469-5999.


HRA Child Care

The City of New York pays for child care, for eligible public assistance families, eligible families who have left public assistance for employment, and other eligible families.

Parents are eligible, if they are:

In an approved work-related activity, such as work experience, job search, training/education, or substance abuse treatment; or employed and their public assistance (PA) case is still open, or employed and eligible for public assistance, but choose child care in lieu of public assistance, or employed and PA case is closed within one year, and they meet income and other eligibility criteria for Transitional Child Care (TCC), and children are under 13 years of age, or under 19 if they are disabled or have special needs.

The City of New York will pay for any child care that is registered or licensed by the Department of Health or that meets state health and safety standards.

For more information about programs & eligibility go to the Administration for Children’s Services Division of Child Care and Head Start.


ACD Child Care

ACS's Division of Child Care and Head Start oversees the largest municipal childcare system in the country and provides quality child care and Head Start services to approximately 75,000 children and their families during the course of the year. ACS does not directly operate childcare programs. Most children are served through contracts with hundreds of private, non-profit organizations that operate childcare programs in communities across the city. Children - ages two months through 12 years - are cared for either in group childcare centers that are licensed by the Department of Health or in the homes of childcare providers that are registered by the Department of Health. ACS also issues vouchers to eligible families that may be used by parents to purchase care from any legal childcare provider in the City.