MASSACHUSETTS CHILD CARE
for residents of Massachusetts
Massachusetts child care programs offer free child care, low-cost child care, and preschool programs
to eligible low-income families with children. Different child care assistance programs
have different eligibility requirements. Parents or guardians may choose the type
of child care program that is best for their child, including day care centers, family
child care, in-home child care, or preschool programs. Most Massachusetts child care and preschool programs
offer family support services and referrals.
Click on a Massachusetts child care program name for more information:
The Massachusetts DTA child care services program gives child care assistance to eligible TAFDC and former
TAFDC families as soon as they need it. The DTA child care
assistance program is for families who need child care because they are working, looking for a job, attending
an approved educational or job training program, or disabled. Once you are approved for DTA child care services, you will get a child care voucher so that you may enroll your child in the program you choose.
Income-eligible child care is available
to low-income non-TAFDC families in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. To be eligible for this reduced cost child care, you must be working, in an education
or job training program, or disabled. Eligible families in Massachusetts are usually put on a waiting list to receive child care
vouchers or contracted slots. The fee you will pay for child care is based on your
income and family size.
Community Partnerships for Children offer financial help to working families in Massachusetts to make quality preschool programs more affordable. Parents pay a fee based on a sliding scale according to their income and family size.
Teen Parent Child Care programs provide free child care and support services to teen parents who
are in high school, a GED program, job training, or working. They encourage teens
to become self-supporting and responsible parents.
Early Intervention (EI) is a program to help infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or are at risk for such problems. Early Intervention teams work with families of at-risk children to figure out what services are needed and the best way to provide those services.
Head Start and Early Head Start are free early childhood programs for pregnant women and for children from birth to age 5. The goal of these child care and preschool programs is to help children from low-income families get a healthy start and become ready for school. Both programs give children and their families a wide range of educational and social services.
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