Paying for Child Care

Child Care is Expensive!

It shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision, but for many families, cost of care is an important factor in choosing care. Costs can vary dramatically due to location, size of the program, the age of the child, and the resources made available for the children and staff – among other factors.

Many programs offer sliding scale fees, and there are several financial support options available to Central Indiana families, such as Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers, 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.

Navigating support for your family

Child Care Answers can support you throughout the entire process, from understanding eligibility requirements to applying for and choosing a child care program that will accept your voucher or scholarship–we are here to help!

Connect with a SpecialistBrighter Futures Indiana

CCA sees possibilities and is quick to act for the benefit of families and children. 

Gail Thomas Strong

Vice president, Community Engagement, WFYI

Paying for care

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) helps low-income families obtain child care so they can work, attend training, or continue their education. The purpose of CCDF is to provide low-income families with the financial resources they need to locate and afford quality child care as well as increase the availability of these programs.

Paying for care

On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK)

On My Way Pre-K provides grants for four-year-olds from low-income families, so they may have access to high-quality pre-K programs the year before they begin kindergarten. The grants are available in all of Indiana’s 92 counties. The program is flexible and is built around the needs of families, offering options for full-day or partial-day programs.

Apply for OMWPK

Paying for care

Head Start and Early Head Start Programs

Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children under five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Paying for care

Military Child Care Assistance

If a member of your family is a part of the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force, Child Care Aware of America helps servicemen and women find and afford child care that suits their unique needs. Through the fee assistance programs, families are eligible to receive a monthly subsidy to help offset the cost of child care in their communities.

Child Care Aware

Paying for care

Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship Fund

For families that work in essential businesses, a Build, Learn, Grow scholarship will cover up to 80% of your child care costs for children ages birth-12 years. One adult in the household must work in an essential business such as health care, human services, education, retail, restaurant and food service, and many others. A full, detailed list can be found here. A family of four making up to $105,997 qualifies for at least some form of scholarship. Check out the eligibility requirements in the link below.

Indiana’s Build, Learn, Grow program is extending scholarships for qualified families through March 2022!

Build, Learn, Grow

Featured Resource

Your Guide to Paying for Care

Your one-stop-shop to paying for child care. Dive deeper into the programs available to Indiana families, how to apply, and more!

Additional Financial Supports

Beyond the resources included in this guide, many child care programs offer sliding scale fees, based on income. Several child care programs across the state are also able to provide scholarships for families seeking financial help. As you consider early education and school-age programs, don’t forget to ask about discounts!

Adjustable Rates

Some child care programs offer adjustable rates dependent upon the income of the family and/or the number of children enrolled in the program. Check with your child care provider to see what is available–ask if they offer a multi-child discount for enrolling more than one child per family. They may also offer a sliding fee scale based upon income, and/or scholarships for families that exceed the income requirements of programs like CCDF.

Employer Incentives

Some employers offers discounts to their employees for choosing preferred child care programs. Check with your employer to see if any discounts are available. Connect with our Relationship Growth Specialist if you employer is interested in supporting more family-friendly policies like this!

Tax Credits & Spending Accounts

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
EITC is a benefit for certain people who work and have low-to-moderate wages. A tax credit reduces the amount of tax you owe, which may lead to a bigger tax refund.

Dependent Care Flex Spending Account (FSA)
With a Dependent Care FSA, your employer takes contributions out of your paycheck before taxes and places them in your account. You then use the money in the account to pay for child care expenses. This allows you to save money that you would have otherwise been taxed. Check with your employer’s Human Resources department for more details.

Financial Assistance in Other Needs

If your family’s monthly gross income meets certain criteria you may be eligible for assistance in areas beyond child care. Our Family Assistance Guide provides additional information about programs for which you might quality, including WIC, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, free-or-low-cost health care, among others.