Financial and Social Assistance - Child Care Answers

Family

Financial Assistance and Paying for Care

As a child care professional, families may look to you for advice about their child both inside and outside of the classroom. Feel free to use the below information to share with families via newsletters, emails, or other opportunities to support them as caregivers themselves. Indiana 2-1-1 is also an easy way to connect families to local organizations to meet their unique needs.

Your Guide to Family Assistance Resources in Central Indiana

Covered in this guide:

Locating and paying for quality child care
Support programs such as food and nutrition assistance, housing, transportation, public assistance, and resources for immigrant families
Healthcare assistance

Local Community Resources

Indiana 2-1-1 is a free service that connects Hoosiers with help and answers from thousands of health and human service agencies and resources right in their local communities—quickly, easily, and confidentially. There are no eligibility requirements, income standards nor any other rules.

Indiana 2-1-1

child care professional at circle time with young girl

Programs and Support

Paying for Child Care

Many child care programs offer sliding scale fees, and there are other financial support options available to central Indiana families.

The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School learning will not be issuing Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers until 2027, but we recommend getting on the waitlist as soon as possible. To do this, fill out an application at Early Ed Connect.

Other options include On My Way Pre-K and Head Start/Early Head Start. Keep these programs in mind as you conduct your search and consider your budget.

Support Programs for Families

Aside from support paying for child care, central Indiana has many financial supports and resources that can make life a little easier. In addition to Indiana 2-1-1, findhelp is another great resource to search for options based on your need and zip code.

Food and Nutrition Assistance

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Formerly known as the food stamp program, SNAP provides benefits to qualifying households to afford an adequate diet and protect primarily low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities from hardship and hunger. SNAP also helps families bridge temporary periods of unemployment or family crisis. Need help applying? Gleaners Food Bank offers help applying, including in multiple languages. Call the SNAP hotline at 317-644-1280.

Apply at FSSA

Women, Infants & Children (WIC): WIC provides nutritious food, nutrition education (including breastfeeding promotion and support), and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge. WIC serves low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five who are at nutrition risk.

WIC Office Locator

Emergency Food Support

Compass, through the Indy Hunger Network, is a free, quick, and easy tool designed to show people where they can find food assistance in Indiana. Search the database to find assistance near you.

Community Compass™

There are several food banks and emergency food pantries in central Indiana that can provide assistance to you and your family. Many of the centers can provide you with free or low cost food, groceries, and other forms of nutritional assistance. In addition, many offer other forms of help, including information on local charities, government programs, SNAP, baby formula, and many similar basic needs.

Food Pantry List

Pregnancy and Infant Resources

Many organizations offer resources to new and expecting moms. Just a few include:

Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Healthy Families

HealthNet – Marion County families in zip codes 46107, 46201, 46203,46225, 46227
The Villages – Marion County families in zip codes 46077, 46202, 46208, 46214, 46222, 46224, 46228, 46234, 46254, 46260, 46268, and 46278
Marion County Health Department – Marion County families in all other zip codes
Healthy Families Indiana: Hendricks County
Family Support Services of West Central Indiana – Boone, Putnam, Montgomery, and Owen Counties
Child Adult Resource Services – Morgan, Parke, and Clay Counties

Visit Indiana 2-1-1 for a full list of resources for all Hoosiers, including those who provide baby clothing, diapers and wipes, formula, cribs, car seats, and more.

Domestic Violence Support

Domestic Violence Resources

24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.

Help is available. Speak with someone today.

Chat live online 24/7
Call 1.800.799.SAFE
Text “START” to 88788

Resources for Immigrant Families

The Immigrant Welcome Center offers a database of community resources that are available in multiple languages in areas such as food, employment, healthcare, housing, legal, transportation, and more.

IWC Connect

Other local resources include:

Exodus Refugee is a humanitarian program that provides protection and resources to refugees fleeing persecution and war.
Grassroots Projects provides direct support to under-resourced immigrant children, including a custom care package tailored to families’ basic needs, whether they’ve recently arrived or have been here for years. In addition, their Sponsor a Passion program helps children thrive through funding summer camps, tutoring, music lessons, and sports team fees.
La Plaza provides direct support to central Indiana Latino families. Learn more about their services and how they can support you through their website.
The Haitian Association of Indiana helps the Haitian community integrate into the local social structure and provide civic education by partnering with various resources.
Chin Community of Indiana connects, advocates, educates, and serves the Chin community in central Indiana.
The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) provides human services, educational, and vocational support to the Burmese and immigrant community in greater Indianapolis.

Transportation

IndyGo is the public transportation provider in central Indiana. Check out their website to track your bus, find fare information (including discounts and free passes), and employment opportunities.

Track My Bus at IndyGo

Commuter Connect offers free carpool matching. Reduce your stress, save money on gas and parking, minimize wear and tear on your vehicle, and help reduce air pollution in central Indiana by choosing one of these affordable and convenient transportation alternatives.

Indianapolis Public Schools provides services to students and families experiencing homelessness in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act, including transportation, free meals, and immediate school placement.

The Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) is designed to ensure that all qualifying veterans have access to care through convenient, safe, and reliable transportation.

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Housing Support

IndianaHousingNow.org allows you to not only find a rental home by city, county, or zip code; it also links to resources like rental assistance, energy assistance, shelters, and fair housing information.

The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP) is another good place to start for guidance if access to housing is a challenge for your family.

Keys to Housing Guide

Public Assistance Fraud

If you suspect fraud by a recipient, service provider, healthcare professional or employee for any of the assistance programs listed below, please contact the fraud hotline.

SNAP/food assistance
Medicaid and other state health care plans
TANF/cash assistance
Child Care Development Fund
Other FSSA public assistance programs

FSSA fraud hotline:

Call toll-free: 800-403-0864. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Select option 5. When prompted, enter your ZIP code
Email: ReportFraud@fssa.IN.gov
Mailing address:
FSSA Compliance Division
Room E-414
402 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Learn More

In your community

Local Community Centers

Community centers are a great resource as your local neighbor, with dozens of resources. While each community center offers different things, look for the following:

Financial coaching and tax support
Financial assistance
Career coaching and training
Youth and senior programming
Health and wellness resources
And more!

Find Your Community Center

Family Resources for

Healthcare Assistance

Medical bills are often a major hurdle for families with young children. Depending on your income level, there may be a number of opportunities available to help pay for healthcare and free up dollars to spend in other areas of your budget.

Covering Kids & Families

Covering Kids & Families (CKF) provides free help to families as they navigate the healthcare system in Indiana, including applying for Medicaid, health insurance, and accessing free or reduced-cost services.

CKF Appointments

Medicaid

There are a variety of Medicaid programs available depending on certain criteria, including pregnancy, age, and disability, among others. Visit in.gov/medicaid to learn more.

Medicaid Application

Indiana Access Pass

The Indiana Access Pass is a great way for families who qualify to visit several of the best Indiana museums and cultural institutions for $2 per person.

Apply Online