ACS/HRA Child Care Vouchers in NYC: Eligibility & How to Apply

Using your HRA voucher at Little Scholars NYC

After successful verification, families can continue enrollment in our programs across Little Scholars centers with their ACS/HRA voucher. We proudly accept vouchers for:

• Infant (0–1 year)
• Toddler (1–2 years)
• Preschool (3–5 years)

Our HRA daycare services are offered at multiple locations throughout New York City. Explore our centers to find the one most convenient for your family. How to enroll:

1. Receive confirmation of your child care HRA voucher.
2. Decide on your preferred Little Scholars NYC location.
3. Finalize the schedule, start date, and pick-up arrangements.

Little Scholars is a new-generation daycare that helps families overcome financial barriers by providing access to high-quality childcare programs. HRA daycare allows families to give their kids a loving daycare center where they can learn in a safe environment.

What Are ACS-Funded Child Care Programs?

ACS-Funded Child Care Programs are services provided by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to eligible families who require childcare services. ACS provides funding for 300 of childcare centers, family childcare networks, and more than 250 Head Start programs. These programs are available to families who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as income level, employment status, and other factors that impact their ability to access child care.

The child care centers and family child care networks funded by ACS are required to meet the standards set by the New York State (NYS) and New York City (NYC) Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene. These standards ensure that childcare programs are safe and provide a high-quality learning environment for children. The standards cover areas such as health and safety, staff qualifications, and the curriculum used by the childcare programs.

ACS-Funded Child Care Programs provide families with access to affordable childcare services, which can help parents or guardians remain employed or pursue educational opportunities. By offering these services, ACS aims to support families in providing a stable and nurturing environment for their children.

Little Scholars is among the best daycares in Brooklyn that meet the standards set by the New York State (NYS) and New York City (NYC) Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene. By providing access to high-quality childcare programs, Little Scholars, the new-generation daycare and learning center, together with ACS, helps families overcome financial obstacles and provides children with a safe and supportive learning environment in a loving care daycare center.

ACS or HRA Voucher: Which One Applies to You?

There is one voucher program in NYC but three different ways to access it, depending on your family’s situation. Which path you take determines where you apply and how long you wait.

Path A: You are on Cash Assistance
Apply through your HRA Benefits Access Center, not through MyCity. You do not go on a waitlist. This is the fastest route to an active voucher. Your full childcare cost is typically covered with no co-pay.

Path B: You are income-eligible but not on Cash Assistance
Apply through your MyCity account. If you meet the income and reason-for-care requirements listed above, your application will be accepted. As of 2026, new applicants in this path are placed on a waitlist due to limited city funding. Apply as early as possible; your place in the queue is set by the date you submit. Your co-pay will be based on your income and family size.

Path C: Your family has an open ACS child welfare case
If your family is receiving prevention, protective, or foster care services through ACS, you do not apply through MyCity or your HRA center. Your caseworker or case planner submits a referral directly to ACS’s Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Contact them to confirm the referral has been submitted.

Not sure which path applies to you? Contact us today to explore all three routes and find the fastest option for your situation.

HRA child care application: How to Apply

Which path you’re on determines where you apply. Cash Assistance families go through HRA. Everyone else applies through MyCity.

Track 1: Cash Assistance families (HRA route)

1. Contact your HRA Benefits Access Center (in person or via 718-557-1399)
2. Caseworker submits a childcare referral to the WHEDco voucher coordination unit
3. WHEDco contacts you to confirm placement
4. Contact Little Scholars to reserve your spot

Track 2: Income-eligible families (MyCity route)

1. Create or log in to your MyCity account at myc.nyc.gov
2. Submit a childcare assistance application (select “Child Care” under benefits)
3. Upload required documents (ID, proof of address, employment/training proof, child’s birth certificate)
4. Wait for ACS review — you’ll receive a letter with your eligibility determination
5. If approved, you receive a placement authorization; use the VEU Placement Portal to select Little Scholars
6. Contact Little Scholars to confirm your start date

Where to check your application status

You can check your application status through the same portal you used to apply:

Cash Assistance (HRA route): Contact your HRA Benefits Access Center directly or call 718-557-1399.

MyCity route: Log in to your MyCity account at myc.nyc.gov. Your application status and any document requests will be visible there.

Note: Application processing times, requirements, and conditions may change. Always refer to official sources for the most current information.

By the deadline specified in your yearly recertification packet, please turn in all of your recertification materials when it’s time to recertify. Your child care assistance benefits will be terminated if you are unable to successfully recertify by the end of your eligible period.