District of Columbia Resources

Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in District of Columbia.

• Child
  Care
• Health &
  Social Services
• Financial
  Assistance
• Children with
  Special Needs
• Additional
  Resources

• Child Care

  Find out about the ins and outs of child care in your area. What is required to become a provider in your area? What requirements are there for a background check? Does your state offer any quality improvement programs?

  Child Care and COVID-19

  Your state’s hub for information, resources and guidance around child care and COVID-19

  Website

  Child Care Licensing

  Your local child care regulatory office

  Phone: (202) 727-1839

  Website

  Phone: (202) 727-2993

  Inspection Reports

  Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

  Website

  Child Care Fact Sheet

  Basic facts about child care in your area

  District of Columbia Child Care Information

  Information and resources for parents looking for child care in District of Columbia

  Website

  Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

  Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

  Phone: (202) 727-1839

  Website

  Criminal Background Checks

  Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

  Website

  Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Capital Quality

  Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

  Website

  Early Childhood Share DC

  A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)

  Website

• Health and Social Services

  Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

  Child Protective Services

  To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

  Phone: (202) 671-7233

  Website

  Child Support

  Child support application and procedures for your state

  Phone: (202) 442-9900

  Website

  Medicaid Eligibility

  Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

  Phone: (202) 727-5355 or contact your local office

  Website

  Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – DC Healthy Families

  Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

  Phone: 1(800) 620-7802 or (202) 639-4030

  Website

  District of Columbia Department of Health

  State government programs to promote the health of DC citizens

  Website

  District of Columbia COVID-19 Website

  General information about COVID-19 in your area 

  Website

  DC Department of Human Services

  State government programs and services for children and families

  Phone: (202) 671-4200

  Website

  Department of Behavioral Health

  State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

  Phone: 1(888) 793-4357 

  Website

  Car Seat Basics

  Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

  Website

• Financial Assistance

  Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

  Child Care Assistance

  Child care financial assistance programs

  Phone: (202) 727-0284

  Website

  DC Head Start

  A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

  Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

  Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

  A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

  Phone: (202) 442-9397

  Website

  Find Your Local WIC Clinic

  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

  Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

  Phone: (202) 727-5355

  Website

  Find Your Local Office

  Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

  Federal nutrition program

  Phone: (202) 727-5355

  Website

  Find Your Local Office

  Low Income Energy Assistance Program

  Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

  Phone: Dial 3-1-1 (in DC only)

  Website

• Children with Special Needs

  Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

  Easterseals (Serving DC, MD, VA)

  Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

  Phone: (301) 588-8700

  Website

  The Arc DC

  Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

  Phone: (202) 617-3266

  Website

  Early Intervention – Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program

  Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

  Phone: (202) 727-3665

  Website

• There are currently no organizations listed

If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.