ACS Child Care Options

Families have a choice between vouchers and contracted care.

EarlyLearn (Contracted Care)

EarlyLearn is New York City’s contracted early care and education program managed by the New York City Department of Education (DOE). The program serves children ages 0 to 4. Visit EarlyLearn NYC on the DOE website to understand your options, find a program that is right for your family, and enroll your child.

Vouchers

ACS is reaching out to families currently on the voucher waitlist, inviting them to apply for a child care voucher. Effective April 26, 2022, ACS is changing the way families can express their interest in applying for care: interested families must use the Child Care Contact Link. Once ACS has reached out to and assessed eligibility for all families currently on the waitlist, ACS will contact families who have submitted their information through the Child Care Contact Link with information about how to apply for child care. Please note after April 26, ACS will no longer accept the Voucher Waitlist Request Form. If you previously submitted that form to ACS, please look out for an invitation letter and application packet in the mail - we are in the process of sending notifications out now and over the coming months. If you have questions, you can contact our CFWB Call Center at 212-835-7610.

Types of Child Care Providers Eligible for Voucher Payment

• Center-Based, Group Child Care Program permitted or registered by Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or NYS Office of Children & Family Services.
• Family or Group Family Child Care Provider licensed or registered by NYS Office of Child and Family Services
• Legally-Exempt (not licensed), School-Based Group Child Care Program including preschools, school age and summer camp programs.
• Legally-Exempt (not licensed), Informal Child Care Provider (Friend, Relative, or Neighbor)
  • If you are planning to use a legally-exempt/informal child care provider such as a friend, relative or neighbor OR a legally-exempt group program (without a license or registration), please be aware that enrollment forms must be reviewed and approved by the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo), New York City’s Legally-Exempt Enrollment Agency

For Assistance Locating Child Care Programs and Providers

Contact the Child Care Resource & Referral Consortium at 1-888-469-5999

Visit DOHMH NYC Child Care Connect.