For parents & families

Find child care that fits your family

Child care in Owen County can be hard to come by — but you don't have to search alone. Start here, and if you hit a dead end, tell us. Every gap you report helps us make the case for more care in our county.

Search the Child Care Finder(opens in new tab)

A new early learning center is coming to Spencer

Jack DeFord Early Learning CenterOpening November 2026South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) is opening a new center on the grounds of the Owen County Public Library, with a focus on infants and toddlers. SCCAP will share available spaces, hours, tuition and how to enroll as soon as they are set.

Search for child care programs

Indiana's free Child Care Finder lists licensed and registered child care programs across the state.

Search by

  • Location
  • Type of care
  • Hours
  • Paths to QUALITY rating

You can also read each program's inspection reports. When you find programs that might fit, call them to ask about openings, ages and costs.

Search the Child Care Finder(opens in new tab)

Child care programs in Owen County

Programs that serve Owen County families today, by type. Openings change often — call a program before you visit.

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Preschool at Spencer-Owen elementary schools

Spencer-Owen Community Schools(opens in new tab) offers pre-K at all four of its elementary schools.

Licensed child care

Programs licensed by the state. Child Care Finder shows each one's type, ages, hours and rating.

  • Barnyard DaycareHome-based: shown by town only (Spencer area)
  • Country Mouse City Mouse DaycareHome-based: shown by town only (Spencer area)
  • Little Lamb Christian Daycare and PreschoolHome-based: shown by town only (Spencer area)

Registered ministry

A child care program run by a church and registered with the state.

After school

Care after the school day for elementary students.

  • Boys & Girls Club of Owen CountyAt Gosport, McCormick's Creek, Patricksburg and Spencer elementary schools — details below.

Opening in November

A new program on the grounds of the Owen County Public Library.

For families of children with disabilities

Sweet Owen Industries, Arc has served Spencer and the surrounding communities since 1975, with support services and day programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

List last checked October 6, 2026. For openings and locations, search Child Care Finder(opens in new tab) or call the Child Care Support Line at (800) 299-1627. Know of a program we missed? Tell us.

Get help paying for child care

Indiana has two programs that help income-eligible families pay for care. You apply for both through the state's Early Ed Connect portal.

Child care vouchers (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K, side by side

Child care vouchers (CCDF)

Indiana's Child Care and Development Fund

On My Way Pre-K

Helps pay forChild care while parents work, go to school, or train for a job.Free or low-cost pre-K in the year before kindergarten. The state pays up to $6,800 a year, and some programs charge more.
LimitsNew applications join a statewide waitlist, so apply early.Seats are limited to 2,500 children statewide for 2026–⁠27, so apply early.
Keep in mindReconfirm your contact information, job and income every 90 days to keep your place.Your child must turn 4 by August 1, 2026, and only the pre-K child is covered (FSSA FAQ(opens in new tab)).
Apply for CCDF vouchers(opens in new tab)How child care assistance works(opens in new tab)
Apply for On My Way Pre-K(opens in new tab)On My Way Pre-K questions(opens in new tab)

Child care vouchers (CCDF)

Indiana's Child Care and Development Fund

Helps pay for
Child care while parents work, go to school, or train for a job.
Limits
New applications join a statewide waitlist, so apply early.
Keep in mind
Reconfirm your contact information, job and income every 90 days to keep your place.
Apply for CCDF vouchers(opens in new tab)How child care assistance works(opens in new tab)

On My Way Pre-K

Helps pay for
Free or low-cost pre-K in the year before kindergarten. The state pays up to $6,800 a year, and some programs charge more.
Limits
Seats are limited to 2,500 children statewide for 2026–⁠27, so apply early.
Keep in mind
Your child must turn 4 by August 1, 2026, and only the pre-K child is covered (FSSA FAQ(opens in new tab)).
Apply for On My Way Pre-K(opens in new tab)On My Way Pre-K questions(opens in new tab)

Who qualifies

For both programs

  • Parents are working, in school, or in job training
  • Family income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty level
For CCDF, that means a family's gross monthly income can't be more than:
PeopleMonthly income limit (before taxes)
2 people$2,435
3 people$3,074
4 people$3,713
5 people$4,352

Limits effective April 5, 2026 — see the full table(opens in new tab) (PDF, FSSA).

The waitlist

  • Spring 2026

    $200 million

    Added by Indiana for CCDF vouchers.

  • Since late May

    3,000 a month

    Approximate number of children enrolled from the waitlist each month, once enrollment restarted.

  • End of July 2026

    29,500

    Approximate number of Indiana children on the CCDF and On My Way Pre-K waitlists.

That's why it pays to apply now, even if you don't need care yet.

Sources: FSSA(opens in new tab) (funding, enrollment and the priority groups below); FSSA CCDF fact sheet(opens in new tab) (waitlists).

Who gets help first

The state contacts these families first

  • Siblings of children who already have vouchers
  • Infants
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • Children in foster or kinship care
  • Children with special needs
  • Families experiencing homelessness
  • Families involved with Child Protective Services
  • Children of child care workers
  • Families referred by Ivy Tech

Work in child care? Your own children are a priority group. See what that means for you.

Applying doesn't guarantee a voucher; the state decides eligibility. Questions about your application? Call 211 to reach your local eligibility office. Program rules, funding and income limits change — this summary was checked October 6, 2026.

Talk to a real person

Indiana's free Child Care Support Line connects you with trained specialists.

  1. Call or go online

    Call toll-free, or fill out the state's online request form.

  2. Talk it through

    A specialist explains the different types of care and quality levels.

  3. Get a short list

    They send you a short list of programs that fit your family.

You can also ask us. Send the coalition a message — a real person will get back to you, and every question helps us see where Owen County needs more care.

After-school care at every S⁠-⁠OCS elementary

New for the 2026–⁠27 school year

  • $20 a year

    Per child.

  • WhereAll 4 S⁠-⁠OCS elementary schools: Gosport, McCormick's Creek, Patricksburg and Spencer
  • WhenEvery school day until 6 p.m.
  • WhoGrades K–6, plus tween and teen programming at Spencer Elementary
  • Every dayA healthy snack, plus academic success, healthy lifestyles, character and leadership, and the arts

This school year, the Boys & Girls Club of Owen County and Spencer-Owen Community Schools are teaming up to offer "latchkey" after-school care right inside the schools, so kids stay at their own school. To enroll:

  1. Create a parent account

    In the Club's MyClubHub portal.

  2. Complete the application

    The 2026–⁠27 membership application.

  3. Allow 24 hours

    For processing, before your child's first day.

Create a parent account(opens in new tab)About the Owen County Club(opens in new tab)Questions? Call the Club: (812) 250-6500

Tell us about your child care needs

Owen County is gathering input from families with children from infancy through elementary school. Your answers help guide planning for any child care or preschool expansion here.

The survey asks about

  • Current child care needs
  • Interest in new options
  • Before- and after-school care
Take the family survey(opens in new tab)

The survey takes a few minutes and runs on Google Forms.

What the quality ratings mean

Indiana rates participating programs through Paths to QUALITY, a free, voluntary system with four levels. Each level builds on the one before it.

  1. Level 1

    Health & safety

    The program meets basic health and safety standards.

  2. Level 2

    Learning environment

    An environment that supports children's growth and learning, with a consistent daily schedule and planned activities.

  3. Level 3

    Curriculum & staff training

    A curriculum that supports learning and school readiness, and ongoing training for staff.

  4. Level 4

    National accreditation

    The highest rating.

You'll see these levels in Child Care Finder listings — a quick way to know what to expect.
How the levels work(opens in new tab)

Getting ready for kindergarten

Kindergarten readinessSimple, free activities and checklists from the state help build the skills kids need on day one — plus free books by mail and story times close to home.

Have a question, or can't find what you need?

Send us a message and someone from the coalition will reply. Every question shows us where Owen County needs more care.

Contact the coalition

Last updated: