Help Paying for Child Care
Many Indiana families are eligible for financial help paying for early childhood programs. Below, you can check CCDF, On My Way Pre-K and Head Start / Early Head Start. These programs have varying eligibility, but all help families give their children solid educational starts.
Beyond the resources below, many providers offer sliding scale fees, based on income. Several providers across the state are also able to provide scholarships for families seeking financial help. As you consider early education and school-age programs, don’t forget to ask about discounts!
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Indiana county is served by a CCDF intake office. To find yours, visit Child Care Finder’s agency map today.
CCDF Qualifications:
- Parents/foster parents who are working or going to school or have a referral from Department of Child Services (DCS) or a referral from TANF/IMPACT.
- Be within income guidelines.
- Have proof of identity for all family members
- Be a resident of the county where you are applying for assistance
- Children receiving care must be 12 years of age or younger unless they have special needs.
- The child receiving assistance must be a U. S. Citizen or qualified legal alien.
To find an early childhood or school-age program that matches your family’s needs and accepts CCDF vouchers, call the Brighter Futures Indiana staff at 1-800-299-1627, open a chat conversation below during normal business hours, visit Child Care Finder online or reach out to your local child care resouce and referral agency.
Reimbursement rates for CCDF vouchers vary by county. Early childhood providers who achieve higher levels on Indiana’s Paths to QUALITY system are reimbursed at higher rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Indiana county is served by a CCDF intake office. To find yours, visit Child Care Finder’s agency map today.
Families must be living in one of the 20 pilot counties (Allen, Bartholomew, DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Floyd, Grant, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, Kosciusko, Lake, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, Vanderburgh and Vigo counties) and must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Child must be 4 but not yet 5 years old by August 1, 2018.
- Child must be a resident of Indiana.
- Parents/guardians in the household must be working, going to school or attending job training.
- Families must earn less than 127 percent of federal poverty level (FPL). FPL information is available by clicking here.
** Family applications in Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties will be accepted up to 185 percent FPL; however, all families at or below 127 percent must be enrolled first before families at higher income levels will be considered.
To participate in On My Way Pre-K, programs must meet CCDF eligibility requirements. Community-based and public (including charter) schools must be rated at level 3 or 4 on Paths to Quality. Private or non-public schools must be accredited by a regional or national approved State Board of Education accrediting body. All programs must be located in a pilot county.
Visit the On My Way Pre-K search on Child Care Finder to explore participating programs. If programs from your county do not appear, please click on the “your location” tab in the upper right hand corner of the webpage and enter your zip code. For more provider information call the Brighter Futures Indiana staff at 1-800-299-1627.
Brighter Futures Indiana is brought to you through a partnership with The FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning and Early Learning Indiana.
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