Family & Children

How family and children's help works in Atlanta

Help for families comes in pieces — grab each piece from its own place. Childcare costs: Georgia's CAPS program pays part of childcare for working families; Head Start and Georgia Pre-K are free for little ones if you qualify. Diapers and formula: diaper banks and WIC. After school and summer: Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, and city recreation centers run low-cost programs with scholarships most parents never know to request — ask.

If your family is in crisis — about to lose housing with kids, or a safety problem at home — say that clearly when you call anywhere; family cases move differently and often faster.

What to expect when you call: questions about your kids' ages, your zip code, and your income. Waitlists are real for childcare; get on several at once.