Apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs for the 2025-2026 School Year. Application Deadline is May 11.

Do you need afterschool care for your children? The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers four models of afterschool programs (Childcare Afterschool, Community Schools, King Open Extended Day, and Cambridge Youth Programs) designed to develop children's social and emotional growth and build healthy relationships. View a program comparison chart.

Cambridge families apply to all DHSP afterschool programs through a single application process. Open seats in DHSP afterschool programs are filled through a lottery process.

Apply to the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery!

The last day to apply is Sunday, May 11.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be Cambridge residents
• Children must be entering Kindergarten through 8th grade in September 2025.

Re-Enrollment

• Children currently enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program can re-enroll in the same program for next year by submitting an application during the application window.
• Families must submit their re-enrollment application by May 11 to secure their child's seat.

Tuition

• Tuition rates are determined on a sliding scale based on household size and income. View tuition charts
• Sibling discounts: Families who pay full tuition for one child enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program will receive a 50% discount on tuition for any siblings enrolled.
  Discount is not applicable to 6th-8th graders enrolled in CYP's afterschool programs who receive free tuition.

Transportation

• Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) provides transportation between schools and some DHSP afterschool program sites. Whether CPS provides transportation to a DHSP afterschool program depends on the end time of your child's school and the start time of the DHSP afterschool program.
• View an interactive map showing bus transportation to DHSP afterschool program sites.

Application Help

• Families can get in-person application help on Monday, April 14, Monday, April 28, and Monday, May 5 at DHSP, 51 Inman St. 3rd Fl. from 4 - 7:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
  • Families can also contact DHSP at 617-349-6200 or askdhsp@cambridgema.gov to make an appointment for application assistance.

Families will be notified of their child's placement offer at an afterschool program or in the Waiting Pool by the end of June.

For more information, including FAQs and multilingual materials, visit www.cambridgema.gov/AfterschoolLottery.