Best Childcare Assistance in Massachusetts — 18 resources

About Childcare Assistance for Women

Childcare assistance for mothers is delivered primarily through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG/CCDF), Head Start, Early Head Start, and state pre-K. CCDF subsidies are administered by each state's lead agency (usually the Department of Human Services) and help families pay for licensed care while parents work, attend school, or participate in training — eligibility 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 plus pregnant women. Child Care Aware (1-800-424-2246) and state Resource & Referral agencies match families to providers. This directory includes each state's CCDF office, Head Start programs, and R&R agencies.

Childcare Assistance in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts handle divorce, custody, paternity, and child support in each of its 14 counties. The Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division runs enforcement. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell are the largest cities. Greater Boston Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and Jane Doe Inc. (MA DV/SA coalition) serve women.

18 Resources

1. Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care — Free

EEC at 50 Milk Street administers Massachusetts's childcare subsidy program, the Child Care Financial Assistance program for income-eligible working mothers and TAFDC recipients, plus licensing for all Massachusetts childcare programs. Mothers apply through one of 14 Child Care Resource and Referral agencies. Call 617-988-6600 Mon-Fri 8:45am-5pm. Free for income-eligible Massachusetts families.

617-988-6600 · 50 Milk St, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 · Mon-Fri 8:45am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Child Care Resource and Referral Network — Free

Massachusetts's 14 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies — Child Care Network of Cambridge and Somerville, Community Action Pioneer Valley, Quality Resources of Central Massachusetts, and 11 others — administer EEC childcare subsidies and provide free referrals to licensed providers in every Massachusetts city and town. Call 800-345-6274 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm to find your CCR&R.

800-345-6274 · Statewide Resource · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Head Start — Massachusetts — Free

Head Start serves Massachusetts children ages 3-5 and Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children 0-3, with free programs in nearly every Massachusetts city operated by 30+ grantees including Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Community Action Pioneer Valley, and South Shore Community Action Council. Locator at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov; call 866-763-6481 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

866-763-6481 · Statewide — Multiple Locations · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Community Action Agencies — Childcare — Free

MASSCAP coordinates Massachusetts's 23 Community Action Agencies — including ABCD (Boston), Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Worcester Community Action Council, Valley Opportunity Council (Holyoke), and others — that operate Head Start, voucher childcare, and family support programs. Call 617-357-6012 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to find the agency serving your town.

617-357-6012 · Statewide Network · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

5. ABCD Head Start & Children's Services — Free

Action for Boston Community Development at 178 Tremont Street operates 50+ Head Start and Early Head Start sites across Boston neighborhoods (Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston, Allston-Brighton, Charlestown, and more) serving 2,500+ Boston children annually. Programs run Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm and include meals, health screenings, and family support. Call 617-348-6000.

617-348-6000 · 178 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111 · Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm · Visit Website

6. Springfield Day Nursery

Square One (formerly Springfield Day Nursery), now at 246 Lower Westfield Road in Holyoke and across multiple Springfield locations, operates licensed early education and out-of-school-time programs for infants through school-age children. EEC voucher accepted; private-pay sliding-scale fees. Call 413-739-5437 Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm to inquire about openings.

413-739-5437 · 246 Lower Westfield Rd, Holyoke, MA 01040 · Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm

7. Neighborhood Villages — Free

Neighborhood Villages in Boston works to transform Massachusetts's early education system through pilot programs, policy advocacy, and direct support to family childcare providers in the Boston area. Especially relevant for Massachusetts mothers and providers interested in early-education reform. Call 617-752-8160 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

617-752-8160 · Boston, MA 02118 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

8. Worcester Community Action Council — Childcare — Free

WCAC at 484 Main Street in Worcester is the EEC-contracted Child Care Resource and Referral agency for Worcester County, administering childcare vouchers and providing free referrals to licensed providers across Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster, Milford, and 60 other Worcester County communities. Call 508-754-1176 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm.

508-754-1176 · 484 Main St, Suite 420, Worcester, MA 01608 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

9. Cape Cod Child Development

Cape Cod Child Development, headquartered in Eastham, operates Head Start, Early Head Start, and licensed childcare programs across Cape Cod from Bourne to Provincetown, plus the Cape Cod CCR&R administering EEC vouchers for Barnstable County. Call 508-240-3310 Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm. Mix of free Head Start and sliding-scale private-pay programs.

508-240-3310 · P.O. Box 1090, Eastham, MA 02642 · Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm

10. ChildCare.gov — Free

ChildCare.gov is the federal hub for understanding childcare quality, subsidies, and provider types — with state-specific pages linking Massachusetts mothers directly to EEC's Child Care Financial Assistance program and the 14 Massachusetts CCR&Rs. Free public resource.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Office of Child Care (ACF) — Free

ACF's Office of Child Care administers the federal Child Care and Development Fund that flows to Massachusetts EEC and underwrites the state's childcare subsidy program. Useful for Massachusetts mothers tracking federal childcare policy developments and Massachusetts implementation. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Head Start Locator — Free

Head Start Center Locator is the official federal directory for finding the 200+ Head Start and Early Head Start sites across Massachusetts. Free for Massachusetts mothers under 100 percent FPL (with some over-income slots available); applications go through the local grantee like ABCD or Pioneer Valley CAA.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Early Head Start — Free

Early Head Start serves Massachusetts pregnant women and children 0-3 with center-based, home-based, and family childcare options — typically integrated within larger Head Start grantees like ABCD (Boston), Valley Opportunity Council (Holyoke), and Cape Cod Child Development. Free for income-eligible Massachusetts families.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Child Care Aware of America — Free

Child Care Aware's 1-800-424-2246 helpline routes Massachusetts callers to one of the 14 state CCR&Rs that handle EEC vouchers and free provider referrals. Useful when a Massachusetts mother doesn't know which CCR&R covers her town. Free for callers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Zero to Three — Free

Zero to Three's resources on early childhood development inform many Massachusetts Early Head Start programs and the Healthy Families Massachusetts home-visiting program. Useful background reading for Massachusetts mothers navigating infant and toddler development with a pediatrician or Early Intervention provider.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. USDA Child & Adult Care Food Program — Free

Massachusetts DESE administers CACFP, reimbursing licensed Massachusetts childcare providers and family childcare homes for nutritious meals served to children — meaning most EEC-licensed providers serve free or low-cost meals. Useful for Massachusetts mothers comparing childcare programs on the basis of food quality.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. Boys & Girls Clubs of America — Free

Massachusetts has 30+ Boys & Girls Clubs serving ages 6-18 in Boston (Charlestown, Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, South Boston), Worcester, Springfield, Fall River, Lowell, Brockton, and other Gateway Cities — offering low-cost after-school and summer programming. Free or low-cost membership; locator at bgca.org.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

18. National Association for Family Child Care — Free

NAFCC accredits Massachusetts family childcare providers operating in homes — an important quality marker beyond the basic EEC license. Useful for Massachusetts mothers comparing family childcare options near their home or workplace. Locator at nafcc.org.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many childcare assistance resources are in Massachusetts?
Women's Corner tracks 18 childcare assistance resources for women in Massachusetts.
Are childcare assistance resources in Massachusetts free?
16 of the 18 listed childcare assistance resources in Massachusetts are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Massachusetts have childcare assistance resources?
Listings span cities including Boston, Holyoke, Worcester, Eastham.
What are some examples of childcare assistance resources in Massachusetts?
Featured entries include Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Child Care Resource and Referral Network, Head Start — Massachusetts, Community Action Agencies — Childcare, ABCD Head Start & Children's Services.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
9 of 18 Massachusetts childcare assistance listings include phone numbers.
How do I get help paying for daycare?
Apply for CCDF (Child Care and Development Fund) subsidies through your state's child care assistance agency — eligibility is typically up to 85% of state median income for working or in-school parents. Wait lists exist in some states. Head Start (ages 3–5) and Early Head Start (0–3) are free for income-qualifying families and include education, meals, and family services.
What's the difference between Head Start and daycare?
Head Start is a free federally-funded program for low-income kids ages 3–5 that includes early education, free meals, health and dental screenings, and parent involvement — typically 3–6 hours/day during the school year. Daycare/CCDF subsidies cover full-day, year-round care at licensed providers. Many families use both: Head Start morning + wrap-around CCDF-funded daycare.
Can I get childcare while I'm in school or job training?
Yes — CCDF subsidies cover parents in education and job training programs, not just employed parents. The CCAMPIS federal program funds free on-campus childcare at hundreds of colleges. WIOA-enrolled trainees often receive childcare support through their American Job Center case manager. TANF includes childcare as part of work activities.
Are there options for night-shift or weekend childcare?
Limited but growing. Search Child Care Aware (1-800-424-2246) for 'non-traditional hours' providers in your state. Some states have specific non-traditional-hour subsidies. Family Child Care homes are often more flexible than centers. The military Child Care Aware program serves National Guard, Reserve, and DoD-eligible families with 24/7 backup care.