A child care voucher will help you cover most or all of the cost of child care at a qualified provider of your choice. Vouchers can be used at hundreds of center-based and home-based providers across the city. They may also be used to pay approved relatives, neighbors, or friends for child care. Vouchers can help pay for child care year-round for up to 24 hours a day. If you are determined eligible for child care assistance and select this option, you will receive a voucher that you can complete with the child care provider you pick. After your child is enrolled with the provider, the Administration for Children’s Services will pay the provider directly each month. For more information about vouchers, visit https://nyc.gov/childcarevouchers. This tool can help you locate child care programs in your community.

The Department of Education (DOE) provides a number of free or low-cost child care programs for families that qualify. These programs provide early care and education for children from six weeks up to five years old in center, home, or school based settings, all year round for up to ten hours a day. Eligibility is based on your family's income and needs. If you qualify and there is a seat available, your child can begin a program anytime during the year. If your first-choice program doesn’t have space, DOE will help you find other options. You can use the MySchools map at https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/ to learn more about programs in your neighborhood.

Early Head Start and Head Start programs are free high-quality early childhood education programs that support the whole family. Programs run for at least 8 hours per day, and offer a safe, positive learning environment for children to learn, play, and build the skills that get them ready for kindergarten and beyond. Early Head Start provides care for toddlers (2 year olds) and Head Start serves three and four-year-old children in centers. The best way to find out if your family is eligible for Head Start is to contact a program directly. Visit MySchools at https://www.myschools.nyc to find a program near you.