TOPIC: Childcare Vouchers and Subsidies
Below you will find information and resources for:
- Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Voucher
- Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Subsidy, also known as Childcare Subsidy
Brief Overview:The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) provides free or low cost child care to eligible families livingin New York City. Child Care is available for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years, while children withspecial needs can receive care through age 18. Child care is typically provided at ACS-funded child carecenters and registered family child care homes.
Care costs are decreased for eligible families in two different ways, through either a Voucher or a Subsidy. Families may only receive one or the other, but not both.
ACS Voucher:The Human Resource Administration issues vouchers to eligible families that may be used by parents as a form of payment for care from ACS-approvedchildcare providers in New York City.
ACS Voucher Eligibility:
- Clients must be currently receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), also known as Public Assistance or Welfare. Clients MUST apply for the voucher at the same Job Center where they applied for TANF benefits.
- HRA case worker will help identify providers that accept a voucher
ACS Subsidy:The Administration for Children’s Servicesprovides subsidies for childcare that can be used atcertain ACS approved group centers and homes of childcare providers.
.
ACS Subsidy Eligibility:
- Clients must be below an income limit determined by the family's gross income, with consideration of family size:
Family Size / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Monthly Gross Income / $3,555 / $4,151 / $4,416 / $5,170 / $5,924
- All caretakers must be working >20 hours/week; or enrolled in an approved training or education program (high school, GED, 2-year college)
- ESL programs do not qualify; Call ACS (212-341-0900) to confirm if education/training program is “approved.”
Remember:Some ACS Daycare centers are home-based centers, meaning they are run out of a house or location that is not a "traditional" day care setting. Often times, these centers can help a family complete the application but they do not always have the means to submit or process the application. In these situations, the family will need to mail the application directly to the ACS Office assigned to that borough.
When referring a patient to a resource, keep the following things in mind:
Providers:
1.How convenient is this site for the clients?
2. Does the client meet the income/benefits/etc. requirement? Confirm that parents are working 20 hours or more each week. (If parents are working “off the books,” a letter from the employer stating the agreement is needed.)
3. What forms and documentation are needed to apply/enroll? (e.g. I.D., proof of income, etc.)
4. Remind families that may be eligible for the ACS Voucher if they are on TANF (Public Assistance) or the ACS Subsidy if they have low income and meet the work requirements, but they will not be able to receive both.
Patients:
1. Remember to bring all necessary documents!
2. Call to confirm/check that you have the correct address/registration location. Some locations assist with filling out the ACS application and others do not.
3. Prepare for a long day if visiting a Job Center for the ACS Voucher.
Resources
Below are a few resources for the ACS Voucher and Subsidy programs. Some of these agencies help with the ACS process and others will not. Further agencies that accept ACS subsidies and vouchers can be found here:
Manhattan:
Bronx:
**Important note: Resource contacts change frequently. We HIGHLY recommend that you or the patient contact the resource prior to going to the resource location. It is important to know that there is generally a waitlist for the childcare centers.**
General Resources
Center for Children’s Initiative
322 Eighth Avenue, 4thFloor
New York, NY 10001
212-929-7604 (Main Line)
This office gives more information about the ACS subsidy and voucher as well as providing referrals to childcare centers.
Subsidy Resources– Manhattan
Rena Day Care Center
639 Edgecombe Avenue
New York,New York10032
(212) 795-4444
They help with the ACS process and provide childcare to families with ACS voucher and subsidies.
The United Federation Of Black Community Organization Child
474 W 159th St
New York, NY 10032
(212) 281-1950
They help with the ACS process and provide childcare to families with ACS voucher and subsidies.
Subsidy Resources – Bronx
Highbridge Advisory Council Family Services, Inc. Day Care Center
1181 Nelson Avenue
Bronx,NY10452
(718) 681-5216
Non-profit childcare center providing children up to age 5 with pre-school, special education, universal pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten. They have a sliding fee scale and assistance based on needs, in addition to helping with the ACS process.
Rising Stars Daycare
2170 University Avenue
Bronx, NY10453
(646) 750-9110
The contact for this home-based day care is Theresa.
She sends her parents to an agency to fill out the ACS paperwork:
Whedco
1220 Gerard Avenue
Bronx, NY 10452
(718) 588-5712
Paradise Palace Daycare
2225 Bronxwood Ave,
Bronx, NY 10469
917-819-9333
This is a home-based day care that accepts the ACS subsidy and voucher for children from 18 months to 12 years old. Its hours of operation are 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Voucher Application Resources – Manhattan
Human Resources Administration – Dyckman Job Center
4055 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10034
212-569-9543
212-569-9626
Monday – Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Voucher Application Resources – Bronx
Human Resources Administration – Fordham Job Center
2541-2549 Bainbridge Ave
Bronx,NY10458
718-220-6622
Client must meet the income and household guidelines for TANF. Child must be a legal immigrant or a US citizen. Parents will need to find work or enroll in a job training program in order to maintain the benefits, including the childcare voucher.Bring:Proof of income, proof of address, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and photo ID (for parents)
Human Resources Administration - Melrose Job Center
260 E 161st St
Bronx,NY10451
718-664-2143