ACS Child Care Voucher Waitlist Reopens for More Than 10,000 NYC Children

On October 5th, 2026, the Mayor and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) announced that over 10,000 NYC children who have been on the waitlist for an ACS childcare voucher will be invited to apply for vouchers.  Being invited to apply for a voucher does not guarantee eligibility; ACS is prioritizing vouchering families whose income is below 300% of the federal poverty level, families experiencing homelessness, and families with a child who has special needs. If eligible, families can receive free or low-cost childcare at any program that accepts the voucher.

There are about 29,000 families on the ACS voucher waitlist which has been accumulating since early 2025, when ACS paused issuing new vouchers for many families due to funding shortages. 

Next Steps

ACS will be sending both letters and emails to families on the child care voucher waitlist, inviting them to submit an application through mycity.nyc.gov.  Families are advised to closely monitor their mail and email and to submit the application within 60 days from the date ACS contacts them.

Letters are expected to be sent out next week, starting with families whose children have been on the waitlist the longest. Priority will be given to families that met one of the three federally required priority categories at the time they were added to the waitlist.

Update to Child Care Website

In addition to opening up the waiting list, the mayor’s office introduced a new navigation tool on its website, NYC Child Care, to help families find licensed child care programs that will accept ACS vouchers.  The new search tool will help families identify more options readily available to them and help child care providers fill empty seats.

The press release from the Mayor’s Office can be found here.

Information about the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can be found here.