Community Action Head Start – Des Moines

Childcare Assistance · Iowa · Free

Free preschool and Early Head Start programs for income-eligible central Iowa families operated by Community Action of Central Iowa. Fathers can enroll children ages 0-5 through the 16th Street office with photo ID, income documentation, and children's birth certificates and immunization records. Programs include meals, developmental screenings, and family support. Free for eligible families. Polk County sites operate on the school-year calendar.

Contact & Details

Address: 1801 16th St, Des Moines, IA 50314

Phone: 515-246-6555

Hours: Mon-Fri varies

About Childcare Assistance for Fathers

Childcare assistance for US fathers includes the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy, Head Start and Early Head Start, state pre-K programs, and sliding-scale nonprofit childcare. CCDF subsidies are administered by each state's lead agency (usually the Department of Human Services or a dedicated office) and help families pay for childcare while parents work, attend school, or participate in training. Eligibility is typically up to 85% of state median income. Head Start serves children 3–5 from families below the Federal Poverty Level; Early Head Start covers birth to 3. State pre-K is free or low-cost in most states and offered through public schools and partner providers. Many community action agencies run sliding-scale childcare for working parents. For single dads, CCDF subsidies and Head Start are the two most consistent free options. This directory includes each state's CCDF office, local Head Start programs, and resource and referral agencies.

Childcare Assistance in Iowa

Iowa district courts hear family cases in all 99 counties, with the Child Support Recovery Unit under the Department of Human Services managing enforcement. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City are the largest metros. Iowa Legal Aid is the statewide LSC-funded program, with every county having a self-represented litigant coordinator.

More Childcare Assistance in Iowa

  • Iowa Child Care Assistance — State program helping eligible working families in Iowa pay for child care through subsidies to licensed and registered providers. Fathers c
  • Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral — Statewide network helping Iowa families find quality licensed and registered child care providers near home or work. Fathers can call for fr
  • Iowa Head Start — Federal-state early childhood education program providing free preschool, health screenings, and family support for income-eligible Iowa fam
  • Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool — Free preschool for 4-year-olds in participating Iowa school districts, designed to prepare children for kindergarten with research-based cur
  • Siouxland Head Start — Free early childhood programs operated by Community Action of Siouxland for income-eligible families in the Sioux City area. Head Start serv
  • Operation Threshold Head Start – Waterloo — Free preschool and early childhood education for income-eligible northeast Iowa families operated by Operation Threshold community action ag

Childcare Assistance — Common Questions

What is a childcare subsidy?
A state-administered program (funded by federal CCDF) that pays a portion of childcare costs for working, training, or school-attending low-income parents. Apply through your state's lead agency. Eligibility typically up to 85% of state median income. Benefits go directly to the provider.
What's the difference between Head Start and pre-K?
Head Start is a federal program for children 3–5 from low-income families (below the Federal Poverty Level) with comprehensive services (health, nutrition, parent involvement). State pre-K is state-funded preschool, usually through public schools, with broader eligibility.
Can fathers apply for childcare assistance alone?
Yes. Childcare assistance is gender-neutral. Single fathers with custody qualify on the same terms as any other parent. If you share custody, you can still apply — you'll need the subsidy for the time the child is with you.
Where do I find quality care I can trust?
Every state has a Child Care Resource & Referral agency (CCR&R) that maintains a free database of licensed providers, quality ratings, and availability. Call your local CCR&R (find at childcareaware.org) for personalized referrals.