Bergen County Head Start

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 New Jersey

New Jersey Superior Court Family Part handles family law in each of its 15 vicinages. The Office of Child Support Services operates under DHS. Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Trenton are the largest cities. Legal Services of New Jersey coordinates six regional LSC-funded programs covering all 21 counties.

More Childcare Assistance in New Jersey

• NJ Child Care Subsidy Program — NJ Child Care Subsidy Program provides state-funded childcare assistance to low-income working parents, parents in school, and parents in jo
• Head Start - Camden County — Head Start in Camden County provides free early childhood education and comprehensive family support services for income-eligible families w
• Head Start - Hudson County — Head Start in Hudson County provides free early childhood education for income-eligible Jersey City and Hudson County families with children
• YMCA of Greater Newark - Childcare — YMCA of Greater Newark provides before-school care, after-school programs, preschool, and summer day camp at multiple Newark-area locations.
• NJ Pre-K Expansion (Abbott Preschool) — NJ Pre-K Expansion provides free, high-quality preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds in 31 former Abbott districts and expanding to additional sc
• Grow NJ Kids — Grow NJ Kids is New Jersey's quality rating and improvement system for childcare providers. Helps parents identify high-quality, rated progr

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.