The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is giving eligible families the opportunity to apply for the Child Care Assistance Program before a waitlist begins October 1. The program currently serves approximately 24,500 Louisiana children. With the number of eligible families approaching the program’s budgeted funding level, the waitlist is being established to ensure funding is available for eligible families who apply before the end of September. The waitlist also implements a process for eligible families who apply on or after October 1 to access funding as soon as it becomes available.