Best Childcare Assistance in Nevada — 14 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 Nevada

Nevada family courts handle divorce, custody, and support, with Clark County (Las Vegas) operating the state's largest family court. The Child Support Enforcement Program operates under DWSS. Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and North Las Vegas are the major metros. Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Washoe Legal Services, and the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence serve women.

14 Resources

1. Nevada Child Care Resource & Referral — Las Vegas — Free

Nevada CCR&R at 3910 S Maryland Pkwy in Las Vegas is the Southern Nevada hub for Child Care and Development Fund subsidies, free provider referrals, and quality-rating information on Clark County licensed centers and family homes. Call 702-856-4232 to start a CCDF subsidy application or to be matched with childcare for working or in-school mothers.

702-856-4232 · 3910 S Maryland Pkwy Suite C, Las Vegas, NV 89119 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Children's Cabinet — Reno — Free

The Children's Cabinet at 1090 S Rock Blvd in Reno administers Northern Nevada's CCR&R, CCDF childcare subsidies for income-eligible working families, and a wide range of family-support services across Washoe County and beyond. Call 775-856-6200 to start a subsidy application or to be referred to a licensed northern Nevada provider.

775-856-6200 · 1090 S Rock Blvd, Reno, NV 89502 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Head Start — Washoe County — Free

Washoe County School District Head Start provides free preschool to income-eligible 3- and 4-year-olds and Early Head Start for pregnant women and children under 3 at sites across Reno and Sparks. Call 775-328-2740 for enrollment information; applications open in spring for the following school year.

775-328-2740 · Reno, NV · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website

4. YMCA of Southern Nevada — Childcare

YMCA of Southern Nevada operates licensed childcare and after-school programs at multiple Clark County branches, with school-age before- and after-school care and summer day-camp programs. Financial assistance is available for income-eligible families. Call 702-877-9622 to find the nearest YMCA childcare site.

702-877-9622 · Multiple Las Vegas locations · Mon-Fri 6:30am-6pm · Visit Website

5. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada — Free

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada operates clubhouses across Clark County offering safe, affordable after-school and summer programming for kids ages 6-18, with reduced or sliding-scale fees for low-income families. Call 702-367-2582 to find your nearest club and current openings.

702-367-2582 · Multiple Las Vegas locations · Mon-Fri after school-7pm · Visit Website

6. ChildCare.gov — Free

ChildCare.gov is the federal portal explaining how CCDF subsidies work in Nevada (administered through Nevada CCR&R in Las Vegas and Children's Cabinet in Reno) and links to Nevada's quality-rating system, Silver State Stars, so mothers can verify a provider's rating before enrolling.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. Office of Child Care (ACF) — Free

The federal Office of Child Care funds Nevada's childcare subsidy program through the Child Care and Development Fund — the money that flows to Nevada CCR&R and Children's Cabinet to subsidize care for working mothers in Clark, Washoe, and rural Nevada.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Head Start Locator — Free

Head Start Locator tool finds Nevada Head Start and Early Head Start programs — operated by Clark County School District, Washoe County School District, Acelero in Las Vegas, and several rural grantees — that provide free preschool to income-eligible families.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Early Head Start — Free

Early Head Start serves Nevada pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers under 3 through home-based and center-based programs in Clark, Washoe, and rural Nevada. Especially valuable for first-time Nevada mothers and women in recovery seeking parenting support.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Child Care Aware of America — Free

Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246 routes Nevada calls to local CCR&R agencies — Nevada CCR&R for Las Vegas/Clark and Children's Cabinet for Reno/Washoe and rural Nevada — for free help finding licensed, quality-rated childcare and applying for Nevada CCDF subsidies.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Zero to Three — Free

Zero to Three publishes research-based resources on infant and toddler development — useful for Nevada parents enrolled in Early Head Start, Healthy Families Nevada home visiting, or those navigating early-intervention services through Nevada Early Intervention Services (NEIS).

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. USDA Child & Adult Care Food Program — Free

CACFP reimburses Nevada childcare centers and family-home providers for serving USDA-aligned meals and snacks to enrolled children — a quality marker for Nevada mothers comparing providers. Most Head Start and licensed centers participate.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Boys & Girls Clubs of America — Free

Boys & Girls Clubs national site links Nevada parents to BGC Southern Nevada (Clark County) and BGC Western Nevada (Carson, Lyon, Storey) — both providing safe, affordable after-school and summer programs with academic support, sports, and arts.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. National Association for Family Child Care — Free

NAFCC operates the national accreditation system used by some high-quality Nevada home-based providers. Useful when Nevada mothers prefer a small family-home setting over a center-based program and want to verify accreditation status.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many childcare assistance resources are in Nevada?
Women's Corner tracks 14 childcare assistance resources for women in Nevada.
Are childcare assistance resources in Nevada free?
13 of the 14 listed childcare assistance resources in Nevada are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Nevada have childcare assistance resources?
Listings span cities including Las Vegas, Reno.
What are some examples of childcare assistance resources in Nevada?
Featured entries include Nevada Child Care Resource & Referral — Las Vegas, Children's Cabinet — Reno, Head Start — Washoe County, YMCA of Southern Nevada — Childcare, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
5 of 14 Nevada 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.