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Child Care

     

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  • Start here- Childcare Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency Search
    • Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies help parents understand their childcare options and locate childcare and after-school care. They also educate about subsidized childcare. Families not involved with DTA who are eligible for Income Eligible childcare apply through CCR&Rs to be added to the state's subsidized childcare waitlist. They also offer advice on choosing quality child care and parenting information.

    • For parenting support and resources (including family workshops, play groups, literacy programs, and more) see Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Programs (CFCEs)

     

     


     Patient Handouts from the CRC

    • Patient Handout- Subsidized Child Care in MA (9/22)

      • See also: Partners Social Determinants of Health handout- briefer than above, but available in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian. See CARMA then Social Services/Community Resources

     

    Subsidized Child Care Programs

    DTA Child Care Services

    TAFDC

    DTA child care is free or low-cost child care for families currently on TAFDC or in the 12 month period after receiving TAFDC. Eligible families get first priority for child care vouchers and slots and do not have to put their names on a waiting list. DTA child care is for families who are working, looking for a job, in an approved education or job training program, or disabled. You apply through your TAFDC case worker.

    SNAP Path to Work program - Employment and Training (SNAP ET)

    Parents enrolled in a “SNAP Path to Work” program can now get a child care referral for eligible kids under age 13. The referral allows the family to connect to free child care via a voucher. The voucher lasts for 12 months - even if the family begins working during that time. At the end of the 12 months these families can transition to income-eligible child care vouchers without a waitlist. More on our SNAP page. (New as of June 2022.)

    Income-eligible Child Care

    Financial Assistance for Families, Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)

    Financial Assistance Policy Guide - Department of Early Education and Care

    Income-eligible child care is subsidized child care for low-income non-TAFDC families who are working, looking for work, in an education or job training program, or disabled. The amount a family pays for child care depends on income and family size.

    Child care is provided for children under 13 and for older children with special needs.

    Children must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, with proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status. The immigration status of the parent or caregiver does not matter.

    Important note about waitlists- Income eligible child care runs a waitlist. Some families get priority. Some priority families get help right away. For those who are not in a priority category the waitlist can be several years long. Non-priority families only get help if there are no priority families on the waiting list.

    Priority categories:

    • children in foster care referred by DCF
    • children of homeless families
    • children of military personnel deployed to a war zone
    • children of teen parents (younger than 20)
    • children living with grandparents or guardians
    • children of parents with disabilities, where the disability prevents the parent from caring for the child
    • children with special needs
    • brothers and sisters of children already getting income-eligible child care
    • children who have to switch from one type of subsidized child care to another, such as:
      • children who were getting DTA child care but are no longer eligible
      • relocated children who got subsidized care in their former community
      • children who left subsidized care within the past 3 months for an approved reason such as summer break and now want to reenroll
      • children who "aged out" of the subsidized program they were in and need a different program, or need summer-only care

     

    Income limits:

    For a family without a disabled child or parent - Gross family income cannot be more than 50% of the state median income (SMI) when you apply. Families in the program remain eligible until their gross family income reaches 85% of the state median income.

    For a family with a disabled child or parent- Gross family income cannot be more than 85% of the state median income (SMI) when you apply. Families in the program remain eligible until their gross family income reaches 100% of the state median.

    Families headed by caretakers (non-parents) are exempt from the income limits.

    Subsidy- see the Parent Co-Pay Amount - what families are responsible to pay for full- or part-time care depending on income and family size.

     

     

    Homeless Child Care

    Homeless child care gives child care assistance to families living in homeless shelters so that homeless parents have time to look for permanent housing, go to school or job training, or work.

    Note: Because of funding cuts, homeless families living in shelter who were not referred by the DTA and are not taking part in an Employment Services Program (ESP) might not be eligible for child care assistance. Please check with your shelter worker or Child Care Resource & Referral agency

    Other homeless child care programs:

     

    Teen Parent Child Care

    Teen parent child care programs provide free child care and support services to income-eligible teen parents who are in high school, a GED program, job training, or working. Teens not receiving TAFDC for themselves or their children must be living with their parents.

    Teen parents receiving TAFDC should speak with their worker about child care.

    Teen parents not receiving TAFDC should contact their local Childcare Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency for other teen child care programs.

     

    Early Education

    Head Start / Early Head Start

    Head Start and Early Head Start are free early childhood programs for pregnant women and for children from birth to age 5. These programs help children from low-income families get a healthy start and become ready for school. Both programs give children and their families a wide range of educational and social services.

    Note: in spring 2022, the federal government announced that SNAP recipients are now categorically eligible for Head Start programs- meaning they qualify without having to meet separate criteria.

    More information: Head Start FAQ from MassLegalServices.org

    Smart From the Start (Boston)

    Smart from the Start’s school readiness program is a free program that supports kids up to age 5 and their families in Boston. For low-income families with children up to age 5, pregnant people, fathers and caregivers. Children and guardiands become familiar with a classroom setting and enhance socialization skills. Parents learn songs, activities and games to play during playgroup and at home. Variety of offerings include Fathers' groups, family support, GED/ESOL, baby swim, infant massage, Mental Health Services, Parent-Child summer camp and more. Sites include Mattapan, South Boston, South End, Charlestown, Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. See the smartfromthestart.org/boston/ website for more information. (MGH Community News, October 2021.)

     

    After School Programs Local YMCAs and Boys' and Girls' Clubs often have afterschool options.

    • Boston Youth Sanctuary- therapeutic after-school for youth with trauma histories (must live and go to school in Roxbury, Dorchester, or Mattapan).

     

    See also: Early Intervention

  • MGH Back-Up Childcare Center 
  • MGB Employee Access to Bright Horizons for the 2022 Calendar Year -For the 2022 calendar year each MGB employee has a total of 15 days to be split up between children as needed to use Bright Horizons (in-home care, backup child care centers, traditional care, etc.) 
    • Creating an account- All employees/families must create a Bright Horizon's account and complete all the registration materials required. Visit Bright Horizons to get started. If prompted, enter username: Partners and password: Benefits4You. For more information about our partnership with Bright Horizons, visit Ask My HR. 

 

In the News - tools to explain service gaps

 

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