My first child is not due until March and once he is born, I will be on maternity leave for 6 weeks and then will have to return to work. I have been searching the web and also reviewing by word of mouth how to find reliable daycare for him. One of my biggest issues is that the pricing that i am seeing for the per week rate is unreal! I wish I made the amount of money that they are asking for! Does anyone know of anywhere that I can contact to see about getting financial assistance for childcare? I am a first time mom, so i have no idea where to start. Any leads would be great! Thank you so much for your help!
Episcapal Children Services is really good. They will give you ideas on centers, they will also give you tips on what to look for in a center. I also believe they provide tuition help if you qualify. They are in the phone book. Hope this helps
Call the Pasco County Department of Children and Families. ###-###-####) Ask them for the # to call to see about getting assistance with child care.
I don't know about where you live, but here in St. Petersburg, I get assistance with childcare expenses thru an organization called Coordinated Child Care. They base your "parent fee" on your income, and whatever the daycare you choose charges. You can probably find them on the net by doing a search for Coordinated Child Care and your county. I pay about $75 a week for my daughter's daycare (she just turned 4) and they normally charge $110. In some cases you might not save much, but every little bit helps. It's definitely worth looking into. Good luck!
Start with CCC - Coordinated Child Care - I believe they have programs to offer some assistance as well as provide a list of home day care providers (who are less expensive most of the time) as well as day care centers that take infants.
Sorry this response is so late, but I just fell upon this site. But I live in St. Petersburg and I am on Coordinated Childcare. It really helps me out a lot considering I'm paying for 2 toddlers and an infant! I'm not sure where you stay, but I do know that Coordinated Childcare covers all of Pinellas County. Good Luck!
I am not sure where you are located but in Valdosta, Ga we have childcare assistance where you go to the department of family and children services to fill out an application. The problem with that is there is a waiting list and it is long. There is a childcare facility that I would reccommend you too which is Vision of Hope. They are the cheapest place I know of and all my kids went there. They actually teach the kids things.
School Readiness program is finally opening enrollment for Hillsborough County call the Neighborhood Service Center at ###-###-#### and they can direct you futher. Good Luck
Congratulations N. on your upcoming birth! :)
Being a mom of twins, I completely understand what you mean about the price of daycare...that is why I'm a stay at home mom. Financially better for me to stay at home, than waste my paycheck on childcare. If you can afford to stay at home, that of course would be the "ideal" situation...of if your hubby or significant other did, but you have to be realistic. I don't know if the company you or your other source of income has the capability of having it taken out of your paycheck. Like paying for medical bills and supplies. For example: My husband works for T-Mobile and they have a program where they give you say $2K for medical expenses, and every paycheck it is taken out for that purpose. He has it for child care are well. Does that make sense? I can't remember what it is called off the type of my head....something along the lines of "Flexible Spending" or the like. That may be an option.
The other option might be a "nanny" or a college student that has a very flexible schedule. Short of family or a close friend, is all I can think of right now. I haven't found anything on the internet for finacial assisance, but maybe the government has some "FREE" money for a grant or something. Just an idea. :)
Sorry, I couldn't be of more help. If you find something, please share, so we can also know about financial assistance, for us moms that don't work outside of the home.
Take care,
God Bless,
J. D
Pensacola, FL
Mom to Ashleigh & Austin ~ 2 1/2
I don't know where you live but I live in Okaloosa county and our local Family and Children Services (or Child Services) helped me with something called 3rd party. It is awesome! My daycare is 18 a week for two kids! I was paying over $200 and I am a single mom. So check with your health department or Child Services. Not all daycares participate but our elementary school and the daycare the kids were already attending did. Good luck.
you need to contact social services (DCF) to see about qualifying for assistance with childcare - be aware, they will try for child support from daddy if he is not in the picture.
Try your local Dept. of Children and Families. They should have childcare on a sliding scale depending on your income level.
Try contacting Episcopal Children Services. Their website is esc4kids.org
