Financial Assistance

A number of programs in Evanston offer publicly funded programs (free) both center based and home visiting, scholarships, and sliding scale fees to enable families to afford high quality early learning experiences for your child.  

Publicly Funded Programs:

Preschool for All (PFA)
(for children 3-5 at risk of academic failure – either low income, from families with low income according to the federal poverty guidelines)

• D65 Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center: 1500 McDaniel Ave.
• Infant Welfare Society of Evanston: 2200 Main St. 
• Learning Bridge Early Education Center: 1840 Asbury Ave. 
• Puerta Abierta Spanish Immersion Preschool: 933 Chicago Ave.
• Reba Early Learning Center: 740 Custer Ave. 
• Toddler Town Daycare: 1501 W. Howard St.   

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
(For children with caregivers who are either employed or in an eligible educational activity & have family income below allowable limits) 
Childcare Network of Evanston offers eligibility assistance and Action for Children oversees the CCAP program for our area. Action for Children will provide the necessary application forms if your family qualifies. Reach them through their website–actforchildren.org–or call 312-823-1100  Child Care Assistance Eligibility Calculator

• Evanston Robert Crown Center: 2100 Ridge Ave. 
• Infant Welfare Society of Evanston: 2200 Main St. 
• Learning Bridge Early Education Center: 1840 Asbury Ave. 
• McGaw YMCA Children’s Center: 1420 Maple Ave. 
• Puerta Abierta Spanish Immersion Preschool: 933 Chicago Ave. 
• Reba Early Learning Center: 740 Custer Ave. 
• Swift Childcare Early Education Centers: 8260 Elmwood, Skokie 
• Toddler Town Daycare: 1501 W. Howard St. 
• Total Child Preschool: 516 Church St. 

Many programs also offer private scholarships:

• Baker Demonstration School
• Barberoux School
• Cherry Preschool
• Covenant Nursery School 
• Roycemore
• Northminster
• Unity Preschool
• School for Little Children

Early Head Start (Center based)  
(for children 0-3 from families with low income according to the federal poverty guidelines)

• Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, Baby Toddler Nursery: 2200 Main Street
• Infant Welfare Society of Evanson, Teen Baby Nursery: 2010 Dewey
• D65 Joseph E. Hill Family Center: 1500 McDaniel Ave.
• Swift Childcare Early Education Center: 8260 Elmwood, Skokie

Early Head Start (Home visiting)
(for children 0-3 and pregnant women from families with low income according to the federal poverty guidelines)

• Childcare Network of Evanston: 1335 Dodge Ave. 
• Family Focus: 2010 Dewey Ave.

Head Start (Center based)
(for children 3-5 from families with low income according to the federal poverty guidelines)

• McGaw YMCA at Family Focus: 2010 Dewey Ave. 
• D65 Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center: 1500 McDaniel Ave.

Head Start (Home visiting)
(for children 3-5 from families with low income according to the federal poverty guidelines)

• Childcare Network of Evanston: 1335 Dodge Ave. 
• D65 Joseph E. Hill Family Center: 1500 McDaniel Ave. 

Prevention Initiative (Center based)
(for children 0-3 and prenatal parents determined to be “at risk” of academic failure) 

• D65 Joseph E. Hill Family Center: 1500 McDaniel Ave.   

Prevention Initiative (Home Visiting/Family Support)
(for children 0-3 and pregnant women from families with low and moderate income)  

  • Infant Welfare Society of Evanston: 4121 Oakton (located in Skokie but also serving Evanston families)