A strong start,
around South Paris.
Find childcare assistance, Head Start, early childhood programs, after-school care, family support, and benefits for kids in or around South Paris.
Find childcare and family support
Childcare and family resources around South Paris
Local listings and statewide options. Contact the organization before visiting.
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This doesn’t mean help isn’t available. Try all support, explore another town, or use the help below.
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Community Concepts Head Start
17 Market Square, South Paris, ME 04281
Free Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Oxford and Franklin counties, with center-based and home-based options.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Families in Oxford or Franklin counties may qualify based on income or other eligibility categories; contact CCI to check eligibility. Foster children and families on public assistance are automatically eligible.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP)
Statewide support
Helps eligible families pay for child care so parents can work, go to school, or participate in job training. Apply online through Baxter; call for assistance.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; toll-free 1-877-680-5866
- Who this helps
- Most parents must be working, in school or job training; some retired legal guardians may qualify under program rules. Income limits apply (varies by family size). Apply online at Baxter or call for assistance.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Child Care Choices (Provider Search)
Statewide support
Search regulated child care programs statewide by location and provider type. Results can include expired or conditional licenses.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Online 24/7; call 211 for phone assistance
- Who this helps
- Open to all Maine families. No requirements to search. Financial assistance available through CCAP for eligible families.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Families Home Visiting
Statewide support
Free home visits for expectant parents and parents of newborns. Professional visitors provide parenting support, child development info, and resource connections.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- By appointment
- Who this helps
- Free visits are available to pregnant people and primary caregivers of babies up to 3 months; parents under 21 with babies up to 6 months; and adoptive or kinship families with an infant under 12 months. Ask the local program about placement timing.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Help Me Grow Maine
Statewide support
Help Me Grow Maine is a free statewide service connecting families with children birth to age 8 to child development resources, free developmental screenings, and community services. Multilingual support available.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Free for all families with children birth to age 8 and pregnant individuals. No income requirements.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Parent Federation
Statewide support
Maine Parent Federation provides information, referrals, peer-to-peer support, and training to parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs. Statewide services help families navigate systems of care.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- No-cost statewide information, referral, peer support, telephone support, and training for parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs.
Confirm details with the organization.
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The Kinship Program
Statewide support
Free statewide support for adoptive, foster, and kinship families, including grandparents raising grandchildren. AFFM's Kinship Navigators connect families with support, training, legal resources and peer support across Maine.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Who this helps
- Open to all adoptive, foster, and kinship families in Maine. Services are free regardless of child welfare involvement.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Early Intervention for ME & Preschool Support
Statewide support
Developmental help for young children. Families of children under three can request a free initial assessment; preschool referrals use the state’s town and school lookup.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Families can refer a child under three without a pediatrician’s referral. A full evaluation determines eligibility. For ages three to five, check the state’s current town or school contact.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Child Care Choices
Statewide support
Maine's statewide child care resource and referral service helping families find licensed childcare providers, understand childcare options, and access financial assistance for childcare costs.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Any Maine family seeking childcare information or referrals. The Child Care Affordability Program provides financial assistance to eligible families based on income, family size, and work or education status.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine WIC Program
Statewide support
Food benefits, nutrition guidance and breastfeeding support for eligible pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under five. Start with your local WIC clinic.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Appointment times vary by local clinic. Call the office serving your county.
- Who this helps
- WIC serves eligible Maine residents during pregnancy and after birth, infants, and children younger than five. Parents and guardians can apply for children in their care. MaineCare, SNAP or TANF can establish income eligibility; WIC still checks the other program requirements.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Children's Trust Parenting Education
Statewide support
The Maine Prevention Council Network offers free parenting education through local councils across Maine for parents and caregivers.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Parents and caregivers across Maine can look for classes. Class options vary, with groups from prenatal through age 18 and options for different family needs.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Cribs for Kids in Maine
Statewide support
Cribs for Kids in Maine works with local partners to provide safe sleep education and free portable cribs, such as Pack 'n Plays, for families who need a safe place for their baby to sleep.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Families who need a safe place for their baby to sleep can ask a local partner about support.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Car Seat Distribution Sites
Statewide support
Maine partner sites offer car seat checks and car seats for families who meet the program rules.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Families can request car seat checks at partner sites. To receive a seat, caregivers must show participation in eWIC, MaineCare, TANF, or SNAP, plus proof of Maine residency.
Confirm details with the organization.
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MaineCare (Medicaid) Enrollment
Statewide support
MaineCare provides free and low-cost health insurance to Mainers who meet income and household requirements. MaineCare is health coverage for eligible Maine residents. Covered services vary by coverage group and may include medical, dental, prescription, and behavioral health care.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Phone: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM-4:00 PM; DHHS offices: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Income-based eligibility. Adults up to 138% FPL, children and pregnant women at higher thresholds. Apply online through My Maine Connection, by phone, or at your local DHHS office.
Confirm details with the organization.
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TANF Cash Assistance & ASPIRE Program
Statewide support
Maine's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program provides monthly cash benefits to families with children. The ASPIRE program helps TANF participants build skills for employment through job training and education supports.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Phone: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Families with dependent children living at home and pregnant individuals may qualify; financial and other eligibility rules apply.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Statewide support
Maine's Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to children age 18 and younger at approved summer sites in areas with many low-income children.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Any child age 18 or younger can get free meals at an approved site. Sites are in areas with many low-income children.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Free State Park Day Use for Seniors and Young Children
Statewide support
Maine residents age 65 or older receive free day-use admission at Maine State Parks. Children under 5 are free. Children ages 5 to 11 usually pay $1 per day, but Fort Knox has a different child rate. Children under 12 are free at Colonial Pemaquid.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Maine residents age 65 or older receive free day-use admission. Children under 5 are free. Children ages 5 to 11 pay the posted child rate, with a different rate at Fort Knox. Children under 12 are free at Colonial Pemaquid.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Every Kid Outdoors Fourth Grade Pass
Statewide support
U.S. fourth graders, including homeschool students at the equivalent grade level, can get a free pass for participating federal recreation sites.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- The pass is for U.S. fourth-grade students, including homeschool students at the equivalent grade level.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Free Childhood Vaccines (Maine Immunization Program)
Statewide support
Maine children ages 0 to 18 can receive recommended vaccines through the Universal Immunization Program, regardless of insurance. Vaccine doses are at no cost, though a provider may charge an administration fee.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Children in Maine ages 0 to 18 may receive recommended vaccines, regardless of insurance status.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Care Coordination for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Statewide support
Maine CDC helps families coordinate care for children and youth with special health care needs. Coordinators can help families find services and move through complex care systems.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Maine residents with children from birth to age 21 who have, or may be at risk for, long-term chronic medical, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require ongoing or specialized care.
Confirm details with the organization.
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No-Charge School Meals in Maine Public Schools
Statewide support
Maine public schools serve breakfast and lunch at no charge. Some tuition-approved private schools must also provide no-charge meals to their publicly funded students.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Students at Maine public schools can get school meals at no charge. A tuition-approved private school must provide no-charge breakfast or lunch to its publicly funded students if it has at least 60% publicly funded students, participates in the National School Lunch Program, and serves that meal.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Child Support Services
Statewide support
Maine DHHS can establish paternity, determine, collect, or enforce child support, and locate parents. Some custodial parents may have a $35 annual federal fee for a case if the family has never received TANF cash assistance and DHHS has paid out at least $550 in child support for that case during the federal fiscal year.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Parents who need help establishing paternity, determining, collecting, or enforcing child support, or locating a parent may apply. Parents receiving TANF get child support services automatically.
Confirm details with the organization.
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$500 Alfond Grant for Maine Babies
Statewide support
The Alfond Grant provides $500 for eligible Maine babies’ future higher education expenses. Children born as Maine residents on or after January 1, 2013 are deemed eligible after FAME receives state birth records.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Call to confirm current hours.
- Who this helps
- Children born on or after January 1, 2013 and reported as Maine resident births are deemed eligible when FAME receives state records. Children not reported as Maine resident births may qualify by proving residency at birth. Children born outside Maine may also qualify if a NextGen 529 account is opened by their first birthday while they are Maine residents.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Federal Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit
Statewide support
A federal tax credit for families with qualifying children.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM local time
- Who this helps
- Qualifying children and dependents must meet IRS rules for the tax year. The taxpayer or spouse filing jointly, and each qualifying child, must have a Social Security number valid for employment in the United States. Other IRS rules and income limits apply.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Maine Dependent Exemption Tax Credit
Statewide support
Maine's Dependent Exemption Tax Credit is a state tax credit for qualifying children and dependents.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Who this helps
- Maine residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents may qualify for a child or dependent who meets the federal Child Tax Credit rule for the tax year you are filing. Income phaseouts apply. The credit is refundable for residents and part-year residents. Nonresident claims are prorated.
Confirm details with the organization.
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Free Fishing for Kids Under 16
Statewide support
Maine residents and nonresidents under 16 may fish without a license. Fishing seasons, limits, and special rules still apply.
Hours & eligibility
- Listed hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Who this helps
- Maine residents and nonresidents under 16 may fish without a license.
Confirm details with the organization.
Listings may include nearby communities. Contact the organization to confirm its current location, hours, and who it serves.
Find the right fit for your family.
Availability and program requirements can be very different from one provider to another.
Match the daily routine
Ask which ages are served, the hours of care, transportation options, and whether there is a waitlist.
Check the full cost
Ask about fees, meals, supplies, and whether the provider accepts childcare assistance.
Share what your child needs
Discuss allergies, communication, accessibility, and developmental support before deciding on a program.