Mixed Delivery Initiative
What is the Mixed Delivery Program?
Mixed Delivery is a state and federal program that helps cover the cost of childcare for eligible children from birth to age 5. It offers full-day, year-round care (such as 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) at approved childcare centers and homes. Families are responsible for their own transportation.
The program helps more young children in Virginia access high-quality childcare and preschool, giving them a strong start before kindergarten. Children learn important skills like early math, reading, and social development.
Foundation First, along with the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, provides this free or low-cost care through licensed local programs.
Research shows that children in quality early learning programs do better in school and life. Mixed Delivery gives kids a safe, supportive place to grow and get ready for the future.
Mixed Delivery provides contract-based public funding to private (non-faith-based) ECCE providers to serve eligible children, preparing them for success in school and life. In 2023, Mixed Delivery began reimbursing participating sites using the Cost-of-Quality, which estimates the true cost of running a high-quality ECCE site, including quality improvements and competitive compensation for early childhood educators.
Early childhood educators are skilled professionals who care for and educate our youngest children and deserve to be compensated fairly for the critical work that they do. Low wages in the early educator workforce are a primary reason that educators leave their jobs. In 2023, Mixed Delivery started reimbursing its sites at rates based on the Cost-of-Quality, which estimates the true cost of operating a high-quality ECCE site. This model allows and encourages sites to invest in the workforce by increasing early educators’ salaries and benefits. This improves educator wellbeing, income, and willingness to remain in the field.
High-quality ECCE services provide children with nurturing and responsive care that prepares them for success in school and life. Quality ECCE services can increase child and parent wellbeing, reduce the need for special education, increase high school and college graduation, and increase income in adulthood. Importantly, affordable, or free ECCE services can also raise children and families out of poverty.
Do I qualify for Mixed Delivery?
Mixed Delivery serves children birth – 5 years attending select childcare programs that are not located in public schools..
Your child must meet one of the eligibility criteria below:
- Resides in one of the 11 cities/counties being served by Ready Region North Central
- Child’s family has an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (this is calculated through a series of thresholds based on family size and composition)
- Child’s family is experiencing homelessness
- Child’s parents or guardians did not complete high school
- Child has an identified disability or receives early intervention
- An exception to the above qualifications can be made for 15% of the children enrolling in Mixed Delivery
To determine if your family qualifies for this program, fill out our eligibility Screener:
Our Mixed Delivery Grant
Foundation First is partnering with the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to offer free or low-cost full-day, year-round childcare in licensed high-quality local childcare centers and family childcare homes for children ages birth – 5, whose family qualifies.
Quality early learning experiences are essential for preparing children to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. This impact is life-long. Research shows that children who participate in high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs are more likely to finish college, be gainfully employed, and be healthier later in life.
Mixed Delivery creates the opportunity for eligible infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to attend a full-day, year-round quality childcare program where they can make friends, build relationships with nurturing teachers, and grow in their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
View the Mixed Delivery Sites in Ready Region North Central
| County/City | Funding Type | Childcare Program | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford | Mixed Delivery (MD) | Dawning Point Learning Center | https://families.vareadytofindchildcare.com/providers/93757c3d-cb69-424f-8d72-9b4d7a31200e |
| Stafford | Mixed Delivery (MD) | Sparks Adaptive Development Academy | https://families.vareadytofindchildcare.com/providers/7c3c9fdb-e343-49f2-a610-f56340a192d4 |
| Caroline | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Caroline County. | |
| King George | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in King George County. | |
| City of Fredericksburg | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in the City of Fredericksburg. | |
| Spotsylvania | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Spotsylvania County. | |
| Prince William County | Mixed Delivery (MD) | Blue Ribbon Results Academy, Dumfries Campus | https://families.vareadytofindchildcare.com/providers/6ab5a28c-85a7-4e33-8fd8-36e7fa8f22f5 |
| Prince William County | Mixed Delivery (MD) | Happy House Childcare Inc. with Sheerley dePradines-Felipe | https://families.vareadytofindchildcare.com/providers/c4a6d779-bba5-42a3-8fa0-751dbe72b3e5 |
| Manassas City | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Manassas City. | |
| Manassas Park | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Manassas Park. | |
| Loudoun | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Loudoun County. | |
| Fauquier | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Fauquier County. | |
| Culpeper | Mixed Delivery (MD) | We’re sorry, at this time there are no Mixed Delivery programs located in Culpeper County. |
Want more information?
View all of our general Mixed Delivery information for programs on our Linktr.ee-
How is Mixed Delivery different from other publicly-funded childcare?
Mixed Delivery provides free childcare for qualified children, ages birth – 5 years, in classrooms chosen to participate in the Mixed Delivery program.
Click here to see other options for publicly-funded ECCE programs in our region.