Last updated 5 months ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.
ChildCare.gov serves as a trusted partner for families navigating the complex world of child care. This official U.S. government website provides free tools, valuable information, and direct connections to local resources, making it easier to find suitable child care arrangements that are convenient, affordable, and ensure children’s safety, health, and development.
This guide walks you through using ChildCare.gov effectively, showing you how to find local providers, understand different care types, assess program quality, and discover financial assistance options.
What ChildCare.gov Offers
ChildCare.gov is structured around several key sections that help families find what they need:
- Learn about Child Care and More
- See State And Territory Resources
- Paying for Child Care
- Choosing Quality Child Care
- Supporting Children’s Health and Well-Being
- Understanding How Child Care is Regulated
The site is managed by the Office of Child Care, part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This ensures information is backed by federal expertise and aligns with national child care objectives.
ChildCare.gov’s core offerings include:
- Connecting families to state and territory-specific child care information
- Providing comprehensive consumer education on various child care topics
- Offering resources on financial assistance programs
- Providing guidance on supporting child health and development
The extensive Consumer Education section serves as the backbone for answering common questions parents have, from understanding different types of child care settings to learning about safety regulations and quality indicators.
Finding Local Child Care
One of ChildCare.gov’s most valuable functions is connecting families with child care resources specific to their location. Access this localized information through the See State and Territory Resources feature on the homepage. Simply select your state or territory from the dropdown menu or interactive map to be directed to a dedicated page with relevant links.
These state-specific pages typically provide:
- Local search tools for finding licensed child care centers and providers
- Information on state child care licensing requirements, including how to access inspection reports
- Details on local financial assistance programs
- Resources related to child development, health services, and social services
- Contact information for local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies
When you navigate from ChildCare.gov to a state-specific portal, the experience varies. State websites differ in design, features, and how they provide access to information like inspection reports or search filters. ChildCare.gov functions as a reliable directory, but the final steps in finding and evaluating local providers often occur through these state-managed systems.
State Portals: What to Expect
Different states provide varying resources through their child care portals:
California
- Primary Portal: MyChildCarePlan.org
- Licensing Agency: California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division
- Search Features: Search by zip code/city, filter by ages, type of care, vacancies, language, hours, special needs accommodations, and subsidy acceptance
- Inspection Reports: Available through the CDSS Facility Search, providing five years of information, including complaint investigations
Florida
- Primary Portal: Child Care Provider Search (CARESsearch)
- Licensing Agency: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Child Care Regulation
- Search Features: Provider profiles include name, address, license number, type of care, capacity, operating hours, and services
- Inspection Reports: Three-year inspection history available directly within provider profiles, with violations marked with a red dot
Ohio
- Primary Portal: Ohio Child Care Search
- Licensing Agency: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS)
- Search Features: Robust filtering by location, program type, quality rating, operating hours, services (meals, transportation, etc.), accreditations, and special designations
- Inspection Reports: Information on licensing status, quality ratings, and inspection results available through the search portal
State Child Care Portal Quick Guide
| State | Primary Search Portal URL | Licensing Agency | Key Search Features | How to Find Inspection Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | MyChildCarePlan.org | CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division | Zip code/city, ages, type, vacancies, language, hours, special needs, subsidies. | Via CDSS Facility Search for 5 years of information & Complaint Reports. |
| Florida | CARESsearch | FL Dept. of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Child Care Regulation | Provider name, address, license #, type, capacity, hours, services. | Directly in provider profiles on CARESsearch (3-year history, red dots for violations). |
| Ohio | Ohio Child Care Search | OH Dept. of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) | County/city/zip, program type, quality rating, hours, services (meals, transport, etc.), accreditations. | Available within search results/program details on the portal. |
| Your State | Find via ChildCare.gov State Resources | Refer to your state’s portal | Varies by state | Varies by state; check state portal or licensing agency website |
Understanding Child Care Options
ChildCare.gov provides detailed descriptions of various child care settings, helping parents understand available options and make choices that suit their family’s needs. The main resource page for this information is Types of Child Care.
Here’s a breakdown of common child care options:
Child Care Centers
These facilities typically provide care for groups of children, often in classrooms separated by age, within a commercial building. They’re managed by a center director and can be operated by individual owners, for-profit companies, government agencies, schools, or non-profit organizations. Most offer full-time care.
Centers provide structured environments with peer interaction, a wide range of equipment and activities, and multiple adult caregivers. Most states require licensing to ensure they meet basic health and safety standards, though some exemptions may exist for programs run by public schools or certain faith-based or part-time programs.
Learn more: Child Care Centers
Family Child Care Homes
Family child care is provided for a small group of children within the caregiver’s own residence, offering a home-like atmosphere. Benefits include consistent caregivers, potentially more flexible hours (including evenings and weekends), the ability to keep siblings together, and sometimes lower costs than centers.
State licensing regulations typically limit the number of children in these homes and set health and safety requirements, including training and background checks. Some in-home providers might be legally exempt from licensing depending on local rules, particularly if they care only for related children or a very small number of unrelated children.
Learn more: Family Child Care Homes
Head Start and Early Head Start
These free, federally funded programs promote school readiness for children from families meeting income eligibility requirements. Early Head Start supports pregnant women and families with children up to age 3, while Head Start serves children between 3 and 5 years old.
Both programs offer comprehensive services beyond child care, including connections to medical and dental care and strong family involvement components. Eligibility is primarily income-based, but programs also support children with special needs, those in foster care, and children experiencing homelessness.
Learn more: Head Start and Early Head Start
Prekindergarten Programs (Pre-K)
Prekindergarten programs serve children between 3 and 5 years old, primarily preparing them for kindergarten. These programs often operate only during the school year and may be part-day. They can be offered by public schools, places of worship, nonprofit organizations, and child care centers.
Some state-funded programs are free or low-cost for eligible families. Licensing requirements vary by state—some need a child care license, while others might be exempt if regulated by another agency, such as the public school system.
Learn more: Prekindergarten Programs
School-Age Child Care Programs
These programs offer engaging experiences for children when they’re not in school, including before/after school care, school vacation programs, and summer camps. They provide structure, enrichment, and supervision while parents work, and can be located in various settings including schools, community centers, and child care facilities.
Licensing requirements differ by state, with some requiring child care licenses and others having exemptions for programs affiliated with schools or faith-based organizations.
Learn more: School-Age Child Care
Child Care Options for Military Families
Military families have access to specific programs designed to meet their unique needs. Options include military-run programs on installations worldwide (searchable via MilitaryChildCare.com) and fee assistance for civilian care when on-base options aren’t available.
Learn more: Child Care Options for Military Families
Informal In-Home Child Care
This type of care is provided in the child’s or caregiver’s home by someone the family knows, such as a relative, friend, neighbor, babysitter, or nanny. It offers flexibility, often lower costs (especially for multiple children), convenience, and a familiar environment.
Most informal providers aren’t licensed or regulated, meaning they aren’t typically monitored for health and safety standards and may not have undergone background checks or essential training. Parents need to take extra steps to ensure safety in these arrangements.
Learn more: Informal In-Home Child Care
Comparing Your Child Care Choices
| Type of Care | Typical Setting | Group Size/Ages | Key Benefit | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Centers | Commercial building, classroom-style | Groups, often age-separated | Structured environment, wide range of activities | May have less flexibility in hours compared to home-based options |
| Family Child Care Homes | Provider’s private residence | Small, mixed-age groups | Home-like setting, potential for flexible hours | Licensing and oversight vary; provider may be sole caregiver |
| Head Start/Early Head Start | Centers, schools, community agencies | Age-specific (EHS: 0-3, HS: 3-5) | Free, comprehensive services for eligible families | Eligibility is income-based |
| Prekindergarten Programs (Pre-K) | Public schools, centers, places of worship | Typically ages 3-5 | Focus on kindergarten readiness, some free/low-cost | Often part-day or school-year only |
| School-Age Child Care | Schools, centers, community organizations, homes | School-age children (often up to 13) | Care during out-of-school time, enrichment activities | Licensing varies; availability may depend on school schedules |
| Child Care for Military Families | On-base facilities, approved civilian providers | Varies by program type | Tailored to military life, potential fee assistance | Availability on installations can be limited |
| Informal In-Home Child Care | Child’s home or caregiver’s home | Varies, often individual or few children | High flexibility, trust with known caregiver | Generally not licensed or regulated; safety checks are parent’s responsibility |
Ensuring Health and Safety: Understanding Regulation
A primary concern for parents is their child’s health and safety while in care. ChildCare.gov provides extensive information on how child care programs are regulated to meet these critical needs. Visit the How Is Child Care Regulated page for comprehensive information.
The Importance of Child Care Licensing
Child care licensing is the fundamental process used by state and territory governments to establish and enforce minimum health and safety requirements that programs must meet to operate legally. Federal law mandates that states and territories set up and enforce these licensing requirements, creating a baseline of protection for children nationwide.
Key aspects typically covered by licensing include:
- Comprehensive criminal background checks for all staff and adult household members in family child care homes
- Ongoing staff training requirements (CPR, first aid, safe sleep, etc.)
- Sanitation and hygiene standards
- Emergency planning protocols
- Building and playground safety regulations
- Health standards for children and caregivers
- Monitoring and inspection systems to ensure compliance
While licensing sets a crucial minimum standard for health and safety, it doesn’t guarantee the overall quality of a program’s educational or developmental offerings. Find more information at Child Care Licensing and Regulations.
Key Regulatory Areas
ChildCare.gov breaks down critical areas of regulation:
Monitoring and Inspections
State licensing staff conduct regular, on-site visits to ensure licensed programs meet requirements. Federal law mandates that states make monitoring and inspection reports publicly available online. These reports include visit dates, violations identified, corrective actions, and information on substantiated complaints.
To find inspection reports, select your state on ChildCare.gov and review the “Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources” page for links to your state’s system. Learn more at Monitoring and Inspections.
Staff Background Checks
Federal law requires comprehensive criminal background checks for everyone working in licensed child care programs, including directors, teachers, caregivers, support staff, volunteers with unsupervised access to children, and adults living in family child care homes.
These checks must be completed before hiring and repeated at least every five years. They include FBI criminal history checks, sex offender registry searches, and state-level checks of criminal, sex offender, and child abuse registries. Learn more at Staff Background Checks.
Supervision: Ratios and Group Sizes
States establish standards for child-to-staff ratios and maximum group sizes, varying by care setting and children’s ages. Lower ratios and smaller groups allow for more individual attention, particularly crucial for infants and young children.
For example, a 1:10 ratio for 4-year-olds means one staff member can supervise no more than ten children. Group size is the maximum number of children allowed in one classroom or with one provider, regardless of staff numbers. Learn more at Ratios and Group Sizes.
Health and Safety Requirements
Licensed programs must follow various rules protecting children’s well-being, including:
- Sanitation practices (handwashing, diapering, cleaning)
- Healthy routines (physical activity, rest, safe sleep)
- Children’s health requirements (exams, immunizations, medication policies)
- Staff health standards
- Building and playground safety
- Emergency preparedness plans
Learn more at Health and Safety Requirements.
Staff Qualifications and Training
Each state sets minimum qualifications and ongoing training requirements for child care staff. Federal law mandates specific training topics for staff in programs receiving federal assistance, including:
- First aid and CPR
- Disease prevention
- Safe sleep practices
- Child abuse prevention and reporting
- Medication administration
- Food safety and allergy response
- Emergency preparedness
- Safety protocols (indoor, outdoor, transportation)
- Child development
Learn more at Staff Qualifications and Required Trainings.
Identifying Quality Child Care
While licensing ensures basic health and safety, many parents seek programs offering more—environments actively promoting learning, development, and overall well-being. ChildCare.gov helps families understand and identify quality indicators at Choosing Quality Child Care.
Quality child care extends beyond minimum standards. It features supportive relationships between children and caregivers, positive environments offering varied learning opportunities, and programming that supports school readiness and brain development during crucial early years.
“Look, Listen, and Ask” Tip Sheets
ChildCare.gov offers practical guides to help parents evaluate potential programs during visits:
- Look: Observe the physical environment, safety measures, learning materials, and interactions between staff and children.
- Listen: Note how teachers communicate with children, the general atmosphere, and whether children sound happy and engaged.
- Ask: Prepare questions about program operations, staff qualifications, health and safety policies, supervision, behavior guidance, parent communication, and fees.
Specific tip sheets are available for different child care settings:
- Choosing a Quality Child Care Center
- Choosing a Family Child Care Home
- Choosing Quality Before-School and Afterschool Care
- Choosing a Quality School Vacation or Summer Program
Understanding Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS)
Many states have implemented Quality Rating and Improvement Systems to help parents identify programs exceeding basic licensing requirements. These systems typically use symbols (often stars) to indicate quality levels, with higher ratings signifying more advanced benchmarks.
QRIS typically assess:
- Provider and staff education and training
- Curriculum and learning activities
- Enhanced health and safety practices
- Staff-child ratios and group sizes
- Family engagement
- Administrative practices
Participation in QRIS varies—some states mandate it for all providers, while in others it’s voluntary or required only for programs receiving government funding. Even with high QRIS ratings, parents should still verify current licensing status and review inspection reports.
Learn more at Child Care Quality Ratings.
Help with Child Care Costs
The cost of child care is a significant concern for many families. ChildCare.gov provides information about various programs designed to make care more affordable at Paying for Child Care and Get Help Paying for Child Care.
Child care financial assistance comes through a complex patchwork of federal, state, local, and private programs—there’s no single application for all types of aid. Families often need to explore multiple avenues to find suitable assistance.
Types of Assistance Available
Government Programs
- Child Care Financial Assistance (CCDF): The primary federal funding source for child care subsidies, administered by states to help eligible low-income working families. Find your local program through your state’s resource page on ChildCare.gov.
- Head Start and Early Head Start: Federally funded programs providing comprehensive services at no cost to eligible low-income families with children from birth to age five.
- State-Funded Prekindergarten: Many states offer publicly funded Pre-K programs, some at low or no cost to eligible families.
Local and Provider Assistance
- Local Scholarships: Some nonprofit organizations or individual providers offer financial aid programs.
- Sibling Discounts: Many programs offer reduced fees for families enrolling multiple children.
- Military Discounts: Some civilian providers offer discounts for active military service members.
Work and Education Benefits
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Many employers offer FSAs allowing pre-tax income to be used for child care expenses.
- Employer Resources: Some companies provide on-site child care or partnerships with nearby programs offering employee discounts.
- College/University Child Care: Many institutions offer on-campus care at discounted rates for students, faculty, and staff.
Support for Tribal, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Families
- Tribal Child Care Financial Assistance: Many Tribes receive federal grants to provide child care assistance to Tribal families.
- Head Start for American Indian and Alaska Native Children: Over 150 specialized programs serve these communities with culturally relevant services.
- Assistance for Indigenous People of Hawai’i: Organizations like PATCH provide resources for child care assistance.
Tax Benefits
- Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: Helps working families who paid for child care for qualifying dependents.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Helps low to moderate-income workers and families receive tax breaks.
- Free Tax Help: The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free help claiming these credits.
Special Focus: Military Family Assistance
Military families have specific financial assistance programs, detailed at Military Child Care Financial Assistance:
- MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC): The official DoD gateway for finding military-run and approved programs worldwide, which typically use income-based sliding fee scales.
- Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN): Provides fee assistance for civilian care when on-base options aren’t available, with separate programs for each service branch.
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): Allows eligible military families to set aside pre-tax earnings for dependent care expenses.
- State/Territory Assistance: Low-income military families may also qualify for general child care financial assistance in their duty location.
Finding Help to Pay for Child Care
| Type of Assistance | Who Might Be Eligible | How to Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Subsidies (CCDF) | Low-income families, working or in school/training | ChildCare.gov state resource pages (“Financial Assistance for Families” tab) |
| Head Start / Early Head Start | Low-income families with children birth to age 5 | ChildCare.gov state resource pages (“Child Development and Early Learning Resources” tab); Head Start Locator |
| Federal Tax Credits | Working families with qualifying expenses; low/moderate income | IRS.gov; consult a tax professional |
| Military Fee Assistance | Active duty military families | MilitaryChildCare.com; ChildCare.gov military financial aid page |
| Employer Dependent Care FSA | Employees whose companies offer this benefit | Employer’s Human Resources department |
Supporting Your Child: Health, Development, and Special Needs
ChildCare.gov extends beyond logistics to support families in nurturing their child’s overall health and development, with dedicated guidance for families of children with disabilities.
General Child Health and Development Resources
The website offers information, programs, and services supporting parents at Child Health and Development, covering nutrition, healthcare access, and parenting tips.
Navigating Child Care for Children with Disabilities
ChildCare.gov provides comprehensive information at Services for Children with Disabilities, empowering parents with information about legal rights, specialized services, and support networks.
Key resources include:
- Understanding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Information about this federal law ensuring free appropriate education for children with disabilities, with links to the official IDEA website.
- Support Services:
- Developmental Screening resources through the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program
- Early Intervention Services (IDEA Part C) for infants and toddlers
- Special Education Services (IDEA Part B) for children 3-21
- Links to the Center for Parent Information and Resources
- Financial Supports:
- Information about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children with disabilities
- General financial assistance resources
- Parent Support:
- Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs)
- Access to the Parent Center Network
- Additional state-specific support services
- Military Family Resources:
- Military OneSource for 24/7 support
- Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and the EFMP & Me Tool
- Branch Military Parent Technical Assistance Center
Making ChildCare.gov Work for You
Accessibility and Plain Language
As an official government website, ChildCare.gov follows the Plain Writing Act of 2010, using clear, concise language the public can understand. The site also strives to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, making it usable by people with disabilities through features supporting screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Contacting ChildCare.gov and Reporting Concerns
ChildCare.gov provides several ways to get help or report issues:
- General Contact: Email [email protected] or call (202) 690-6782. Visit the Contact Us page for the mailing address.
- Reporting Health or Safety Violations: Find state-specific reporting information at Health and Safety Reporting.
- Reporting Suspected Child Abuse: Call the ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453 (available 24/7) or visit ChildHelpHotline.org.
ChildCare.gov serves as an essential starting point for navigating the complex child care landscape, connecting you with local resources tailored to your family’s specific needs.
Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.