What’s Child Care?
ACS's Division of Early Care and Education oversees the largest municipal childcare system in the country and provides quality child care and Head Start services to approximately 120,000 children and their families during the course of the year. ACS does not directly operate childcare programs. Most children are served through contracts with hundreds of private, non-profit organizations that operate childcare programs in communities across the city. Children - ages two months through 12 years - are cared for either in group childcare centers that are licensed by the Department of Health or in the homes of childcare providers that are registered by the Department of Health. ACS also issues vouchers to eligible families that may be used by parents to purchase care from any legal childcare provider in the City.
Click here to learn more and find out if your family is eligible for Child Care.What’s Head Start?
Head Start offers educational programs for children age 3 to 5, and a wide variety of opportunities and support services for their families. Since 1965, we’ve joined with millions of low-income parents, from hundreds of different backgrounds, to help children succeed in school, and succeed in life. The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) sponsors more than 250 Head Start centers in neighborhoods throughout New York City. Every one of them offers a safe, caring environment where both children and parents come to learn and grow and achieve. And every Head Start program is absolutely free.
Click here to learn more about Head Start and find a center near you.
