Child Care & Head Start

NYC Administration for Children's Services: The City's child welfare agency, dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families

Find a program near you using CityMap

type your address and select the borough in the upper right-hand corner in the NEW SEARCH box
Then select “Day Care Center” or “Head Start Program” from the drop-down box of “Show Nearest” box
click on the arrow or hit “enter” -- the printable map will then be populated with programs nearby as well as create a listing of these programs

ACS's Division of Child Care and Head Start administers the largest publicly-funded childcare system in the country, serving approximately 120,000 infants, toddlers, and school-aged children. This includes the Head Start program, a federally funded, family–centered child development program for low-income children ages 3-5, that promotes intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth in order to develop each child’s potential for successful living. Head Start also offers family members opportunities and support for growth and change.

Child Care Program

Head Start Program

Find out if you qualify for
subsidized child care

Market Rates for Voucher Providers

The market rates have been revised effective 07/01/2009. View market rate charts and information (PDF)

For Child Care and Head Start providers:

The Universal PreKindergarten Qualification Tool for the 2009-2010 School Year is now available

All programs with an ACS Child Care or Head Start contract should complete and submit a Qualification Tool to provide UPK services to 4 year old children during the 2009-2010 school year. Once approved, you will be sent a Budget Template to complete and submit. This Qualification Tool will also be emailed out to all ACS contracted programs. For questions regarding the Qualification Tool, please email upkatacs@dfa.state.ny.us

Click on links below to download both the informational section and the Qualification Tool to be completed. (Note: Right-click on a link to save the document to your desktop)

2009-2010 Universal Prekindergarten program information (in PDF format)
2009-2010 Universal Prekindergarten program information (in Word format)
2009-2010 Universal Prekindergarten Qualification Tool (in Excel)

Apply For Public School Kindergarten

Parents can still apply for the children to attend public school Kindergarten. Currently, schools are accepting applications on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. Interested parents should apply at every school they are interested in their child attending (including zoned school). Proof of the child’s age (birth certificate or passport) and proof of NYC residency (i.e. utility bill, current property tax bill for the residence) are needed to apply. For a full listing of acceptable documentation, school location and additional information, please visit the Department of Education’s website at: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/default.htm

After school services will be available through the Department of Youth and Community Development’s “Out-Of-School-Time” programs. Fall registration is anticipated for June/July. Information about the OST Programs can be found at DYCD’s website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/afterschool/programs.shtml

Child Care Strategic Plan and Head Start Annual Report

Community Needs Analysis

Children’s Services conducted a community needs analysis to examine the availability of public and private early care and education (ECE) services for all young children (ages 0-5 years) and families in New York City, but especially for children eligible for ACS’ subsidized services. This Summary Report, “Charting the Course for Child Care and Head Start: Community Needs Analysis of Early Care and Education in New York City,” highlights the main findings related to the provision of ECE services across the City, the boroughs, and individual neighborhoods.

Community Needs Analysis Summary Report - Revised (in PDF format)

Full Community Needs Assessment Report - August 2008 (in PDF format)

2007-2008 ACS Head Start Annual Report - July 2009 (in PDF format)

Rethinking Child Care

The Administration for Children’s Services puts forward its vision to reform New York City’s early child care system. This major initiative is called “Rethinking Child Care: An Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development in New York City." Read Press Release and Exceutive Summary

Archives:

2001 Strategic Plan (in PDF format - 2.4 MB)