Opportunities to Financially Support Your Program
Although families provide you funds via tuition, you can explore a number of opportunities for additional assistance funding your child care. Read more below for contacts and information.
All Resources
Funding Your Child Care Business
Vouchers
Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
As a child care provider, you can apply for CCDF funding if you meet certain standards of health and safety, called Provider Eligibility Standards (PES). If Indiana unlicensed providers complete the Provider Eligibility Standards, they may receive CCDF payments if they provide care for up to five unrelated children. Once you submit all the required written documentation for PES, you will schedule an eligibility inspection. Upon passing, you will be eligible to receive funds.
Scholarships
On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK)
You may be eligible to participate in the On My Way Pre-K Scholarship Program. OMWPK is a state-funded program that provides access to high quality pre-k programs for low income families. Its goal is to offer families a wide range of choices, so all eligible school-based and community-based providers are invited to apply.
If your child care program meets the program’s criteria, you will be eligible to receive grants equal to the cost of enrollment for each child in your program who receives a scholarship.
Meal Reimbursement
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
CACFP is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care programs.
You may be eligible to receive a cash reimbursement if you serve nutritious meals and snacks and complete annual trainings. CACFP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Find a CACFP sponsor from the list of food sponsors.
Incentives
Paths to QUALITY™
Paths to QUALITY™ is a free, voluntary resource for Indiana child care programs. It offers providers knowledge, training, and coaching, all focused on helping you provide quality child care, preschool, and school-age care. As an early childhood professional, you receive incentives as you advance through each level of care. You can use some incentives to promote or reinvest in your child care program, and other incentives benefit you directly.
Grants and Loans
COVID Relief
A number of grant programs continue to be available to support programs struggling with COVID-related challenges, including:
- Child Care Closure Assistance Grants for the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
- Emergency Relief Grants for CCDF-eligble providers
- Indy Chamber Rapid Response Hub
- KHEPRW Pandemic Community Resource Bank