The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) federal program helps families get child care so that they may work, attend training or continue their education. It aims to increase the availability, affordability and quality of child care. In Indiana, CCDF is managed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) in the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Read more about the CCDF family guide here.

To apply for the CCDF voucher program, you can visit Early Ed Connect or contact your local intake agent.

On My Way Pre-K awards grants to 4-year-olds from low-income families so that they may have access to a high-quality pre-K program the year before they begin kindergarten. Families who receive a grant may use the grant at any approved On My Way Pre-K program. Grants will be awarded until all available slots have been filled – families are encouraged to apply early to secure their grant.

Learn more about the program.

Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children under five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Head start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in many areas such as language, literacy and social-emotional development.

Early Head Start programs serve infants, toddlers and pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. Early Head Start programs were established in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter to a child’s growth and development.

To find a Head Start or Early Head Start Program near you, call 866-763-6481 (toll-free) or visit the online Head Start finder.