Find Childcare and Family Cost Supports

Help with childcare costs mostly comes through state programs funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund, with different rules in each state.

• Start at childcare.gov, the federal site that links to each state’s childcare assistance program and provider search.
• Contact your local childcare resource and referral agency (Child Care Aware of America lists them). They know which providers accept subsidies and have openings.
• Ask about Head Start and Early Head Start, free programs for eligible families with young children.
• Check tax credits: the Child and Dependent Care Credit and, where offered, state credits can offset costs. Free tax help (VITA) can help families claim them.