Child Care Resources

Child Care Provider Online Search - COMPASS
Search by: location; child's age; program type; setting type (school based, child care center, home-based); hours or schedule available; quality by STAR rating or accreditation; and apply for the Child Care Works subsidized child care program.

Pennsylvania's Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs)
ELRCs provide a single point of contact for families to help them find child care that meets their needs.

Pittsburgh offers a number of child care services to assist parents during nontraditional hours, emergency situations and when school is not in session. 

Angels' Place
Provides single parents who are low-income, full-time students with early education and day care help needed to complete their education.

Jeremiah's Place
Provides emergency child care services for children ages 0–6 for a few hours or days based on the needs of each individual family. All services provided by Jeremiah's Place are free, available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and most importantly, judgment-free.

Emergency child care needs can include: Hospitalization • Funeral • Homelessness • Domestic violence • Military deployment • Job interview • Unsafe child care • Emergency respite

Jeremiah's Place will now act as an intake organization for similar short-term child care spots at three additional agencies: Providence Connections in the Northside, Heritage 4 Kids Early Learning Center in Braddock, and Hilltop Community Children's Center in Knoxville/Hilltop. Families interested in accessing these crisis/short-term spots should call Jeremiah's Place.

The Get-Well Room | The Children's Center of Pittsburgh | UPMC Magee
The Children's Center of Pittsburgh offers a Get-Well Room for sick kids. It provides a warm, caring place for children ages 6 months through 12 years who have colds, mild fevers, occasional vomiting, diarrhea or pain and fever from shots. Designed by UPMC infectious disease experts, a registered nurse manages the Get-Well Room program.

YMCA - Child Care Programs and Services
The YMCA has always focused on meeting the social, emotional and academic needs of our young learners so they can grow into the changemakers of tomorrow—and today is no different.

Alliance For Infants and Toddlers
Early Intervention Service Coordination Agency for children with developmental concerns.

Child Care Expense Assistance
PA 211 service programs and agencies that offer child care assistance.

Child Care Health Form
Childcare programs may require this health form to be completed by your child's doctor before entering childcare.

Family Centers of Allegheny County
Strong families are the cornerstone of strong communities. At the Family Centers of Allegheny County, parents meet other parents, kids learn and play, and families get the support and resources they need.

Travelers Aid: Mobile Moms Program
Designed to assist pregnant women with transportation to prenatal appointments and other related appointments. There is no residency (the program does utilize the Allegheny County Port Authority Transit system) or income requirement, and no charges or fees.

Child Care Works

The state and federal governments fund this program. The subsidized child care program helps families whose household income is no more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline.

How it works: Children ages birth to 12 receive a voucher to attend a child care program based on the family's or household's school or work schedule. A small copay is always required from the family; this is called the family copay. The ELRC will pay a part of your child care cost as well. This is called a subsidy payment.

Early Head Start

Early Head Start is primarily a federally funded program. Children living in families earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply.

How it works: Early Head Start serves pregnant women and families with children from birth to age 3. It operates like preschool Head Start, following a set of federal Performance Standards which assure that every child receives high quality services that help them grow physically, academically and socially and that families obtain needed services to help them become self-sufficient. The program may be offered as center-based or home-based services and is free to those who are eligible.

Head Start

Head Start is primarily a federally funded program. Children living in families earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply.

How it works: Head Start provides education, health and social services to families with children ages 3, 4 and 5. Head Start programs help children develop academic and social skills that prepare them for school and life. While enrolled in a high-quality Head Start preschool program, children receive nutrition, health and supports that help them grow mentally, physically and socially. Families are also offered support to help them obtain services for a variety of needs such as employment or housing. The preschool Head Start program is free to those who are eligible.

PA Pre-K Counts

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is primarily a state-funded program. Children living in families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply.

How it works: This program provides quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to at-risk three- and four-year olds at no cost to families. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is offered in school districts, Keystone STARS 3 and 4 child care programs, Head Start programs, and licensed nursery schools.

The poverty guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Eligibility for subsidized child care is often determined by household income based on a percentage of the federal poverty level. The chart below shows the percentages for the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.