HOW TO APPLY FOR LOW-INCOME CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

Contact the County Department of Social/Human Services of the county you live in to apply for child care assistance. You must fill out an application for child care services and provide information about your family including immunization information, income and your work or school program.

SUBMITTING EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

When you first apply for low-income child care assistance your child care worker may contact your employer by phone to verify hours and wages. You then have 30 days to supply written verification of your employment or education program. This is important! Benefits may be withheld if verification is not submitted. Let your worker know immediately if you cannot get the verification information.

CHOOSING A CHILD CARE PROVIDER

You must pick a child care provider for your children.  You can select a licensed child care center, a family care home, a friend, neighbor, or relative.  You will have to decide the type of care that will be best for your children and meets your family’s needs.  When choosing a provider look for signs that your child will be safe, developmentally stimulated, and encouraged to grow and learn.   Visit the Qualistar Early Learning website for more information on quality child care or refer to the Parent Handbook you received from the county. You can check into any licensing history for licensed or registered providers.

Once you have chosen a provider you need to contact the county immediately so they can authorize care before you take your child to that provider. They will need the name, address and phone number of the provider along with whether they are licensed or not. You may be responsible to the provider for payment if you do not do this.

NOTIFYING THE COUNTY OF CHANGES

In the Low-Income child care program, you must notify your child care worker of any change in your employment or income within 30 days of the change.  For your protection please provide that information in writing and you can use the county's Change of Eligibility Form (SS-7A). If any of the changes mentioned below happen, sit down and write what has changed immediately and get it to your child care worker so you do not forget. This will avoid bigger problems later. These are some of the changes that may happen:  

• Your work hours change
• Changes in the number of people in your household
• Your rate of pay or wages
• Your address
• Your child support income or payment
• Your child care provider
• Your employment status
• Your education status

Any change in your income must be verified by a letter from your employer or by your pay stubs within 30 days of the change.  Make sure you get this information to your child care worker as soon as possible.  Changes may affect your eligibility.  If you change work hours or have to work overtime, you must notify your worker or these hours may not be covered for child care.

COMPLETING YOUR LOW-INCOME REDETERMINATION
Every six (6) months in the Low-Income program, you will be sent a redetermination of eligibility form. This information is required for the county to determine if you still meet the eligibility requirements of the program.  You must turn in the signed form along with copies of the most recent three (3) months of income or education verification in the time specified or your child care will end.

PAYING YOUR PARENTAL FEES

You are required to pay a portion of your child care costs. This is called the parental fee schedule.   The amount paid is based on your gross income and the number of people in your household. The fee should be paid directly to your provider at the beginning of each month and it is the first money the provider will receive for providing care for your children. If you fail to pay the parental fee, child care benefits may end and you could be unable to receive benefits in the future. Your parental fees must be paid even if you change child care providers.   
 

The parental fee covers the hours agreed upon and is shown on your child care certificate.  Providers cannot charge you in excess of the county’s rate for your authorized child care even though their rates for private clients may be higher than the county’s rate.  However, providers can charge you for any hours used beyond those authorized on the certificate or late fees if you pick up your child after hours.

MOVING FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER

If you move from one county to another, there is no guarantee that your low-income child care benefits will transfer. Each county may have different eligibility criteria for Low-Income child care. Before you move, you must inform your child care worker and they can contact the county you are moving into and find out if your services can be transferred to the new county.

HOW TO RECEIVE COLORADO WORKS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
You will need to work with your TANF technician to receive this assistance.

HOW TO RECEIVE CHILD WELFARE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
You will need to work with your Child Welfare worker to receive this assistance.

For more information and resources visit my blog at

http://friendshelpingfriends.aidpage.com/

Qualifying for Child Care Assistance

• Are you responsible for paying child care costs for a child under 13, or a disabled child under 18, who lives with you?
• Do you, your spouse, and any other parents of children who live in your home, work or attend an educational or training program? If not participating in one or a combination of these activities, do these persons receive disability income?
• Is your household's monthly gross earned income (before any deductions from paycheck) and unearned income less than the amount listed below for your household size?

Apply For Child Care Assistance

The application can be submitted at any Economic Stability parish office or  you can call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578) for assistance.

An interview is not required for CCAP. The following verification of information must be provided:

• 4 most recent check stubs for all jobs for each household member who is working 
• Proof of any of these types of income if received by any household members: child support, adoption subsidy, alimony, SSI, Social Security, Veteran's Administration benefits, Unemployment Compensation, Worker's Compensation, and any other retirement or disability benefits 
• For any adult or parent (including a minor unmarried parent age 16 or older whose child is in need of care) attending school, statement from the educational or job training program verifying hours of attendance each week and the anticipated date of completion
• Social Security cards or proof of application for Social Security cards for all household members
  Note:  Social security numbers are not required for Child Care Assistance eligibility and eligibility cannot be denied for failure to provide social security numbers. If provided, social security numbers may be used to verify income and need for assistance or for data collection or statistical purposes.
• Birth certificates for all children in the home.
• Proof of citizenship or alien status of children in need of care.
• Verification of disability (doctor’s statement, etc) if not receiving SSI, Social Security Disability benefits, or VA Disability benefits. 
• Immunization verification for all children in need of care.

After ApplyingYyou may be contacted by phone or mail for more information. You will not not need to come into the office for an interview. The worker has up to 30 days to process your application. A written notice will be sent telling you of the decision reached. If found eligible, you will receive a notice of eligibility and payment amounts.

Before a decision is reached on your application, you must take the CCAP Rate and Availability Verification form for each child in need of care to your child care provider to complete. It will be your responsibility to return the form completed by your provider and any additional information requested by the due date given. If determined eligible, all payments are made directly to eligible providers.

You may choose care in:

• A licensed Class A Day Care Center 
• A Family Child Day Care Home that meets registration requirements and cares for no more than six children 
• A school program 
• Your own home (provider cannot live at the same residence)
• A licensed child care center determined by the Department of Defense

The amount that is paid is based on household size and income, the number of hours you and any other adults/parents work or attend an educational or training program, the number of hours your child is in care, and the applicable maximum rate. You will be responsible for paying the provider the difference between the total amount charged and the amount the program pays.

Providing false information, withholding information, or failing to report changes is subject to penalty under the law. If providing false information or withholding information causes an overpayment for child care, you may be required to repay to the Office of Family Support the amount of ineligible benefits that you received.  If you purposely fail to report any information that causes you to receive benefits you are not eligible for, you may have fraud charges brought against you and you may be disqualified from participating in the program. If intentional program violation is established, penalties are as follows: (1) six months for the first violation, (2) twelve months for the second violation, and (3) twenty-four months for the third and for any additional violations.

What is the Louisiana Quality Rating System?

It is a quality rating system (QRS) for child care. The goal of QRS is to increase the quality of child care and early learning for all children throughout Louisiana, and to give parents and consumers the ability to understand, assess and demand higher quality.

• Louisiana Quality Rating System

The Child Care Assistance Program of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska assists eligible Ponca members with child care expenses. To qualify, a member needs to reside in one of the fifteen tribally approved service area counties in Nebraska, Iowa, or South Dakota.

PURPOSE

The Social Services Department works collaboratively with State agencies and applicable families to help low income families achieve and continue their independence from state welfare assistance and obtain self-sufficiency.

This program extends the Department’s philosophy of promoting, maintaining, and enhancing levels of social functioning when a person’s ability to do so has been adversely affected by life circumstances.

HELPFUL LINKS

• http://www.ucsfchildcarehealth.org/
• http://nrc.uchsc.edu/RESOURCES/list.htm

FAQs

What are the Ponca service counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota?

• Nebraska: Boyd, Hold, Knox, Wayne, Madison, Stanton, Platte, Burt, Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster, and Hall
• Iowa: Pottawattomi and Woodbury
• South Dakota: Charles Mix
   

What is meant my “eligible Ponca members”?

To receive assistance, you have to be an enrolled Tribal member; you must have documentation of your enrollment number.

How does a person become eligible for child care assistance?

ELIGIBLE CHILD

• Must be an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska OR
• Must officially be on Pending Enrollment status (45-day grace period is allowed, with the Tribe making first month’s payment.  If enrollment is NOT verified within 45 days, the child becomes ineligible and parent is responsible for payment beginning the second month) AND
• Must be age 12 or younger OR is 13-18 years old and involved in active protective services (PTON must be used as last resort).  

ELIGIBLE PARENT/GUARDIAN

• Must be employed OR training for work OR attending an educational institution or program AND be
• Free from sanctions from the State Department of Health and  Human Services in the county, town, state in which they reside (NE, IA, or SD), AND
• Free from any past due bill to any daycare agency that provided care to his/her child(ren).

See the Child Care Assistance Application Form.

If I am eligible for services, what are my responsibilities?

• Provide the PTON CCA program with a copy of the denial letter finding        individual ineligible for state assistance
• Report changes in household income, job status, employment, school and/or other educational programs to the Child Care Coordinator within 10 working days of the change.
• Report earnings on a monthly basis.
• Providers will only be paid for the dates that the child(ren) actually attended the childcare program, with the exception of illness or family emergency.
• Notify the PTON CCA program prior to changing child care provider.
• See the Client Rights and Responsibilities.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Department of Social Services maintains a strict policy on the confidentiality of your records. All information you share or which we become aware of through our work with you will remain confidential. This means it will not be shared with anyone outside our staff unless you have given us written permission.

See our Confidentiality Statement and Release of Information Form.

How long does it take to become eligible for assistance?

To expedite the process, complete all documentation in the application packet. If all documentation is present, processing takes up to 10 days.

What all do I need for documentation?

See the checklist for Child Care Items Needed.

Where do I request information to apply?

Contact 402.371.8834 in Norfolk, NE.

PROVIDER INFORMATION

Hints: How to Select a Child Care Provider

What are the provider’s responsibilities?

• Providers will only be paid for the dates the child(ren) attend the childcare program , with the exception of illness or family emergency.
• If the provider is not licensed, the provider must obtain a criminal background check and provide a copy of a Social Security card to the PTON CCA program.
• Sign a provider agreement with the PTON CCA program.
• Licensed providers must possess and provide PTON CCA program with a current State Certificate or license
• Maintain documentation on all participants in the program and maintain a file on each participant.
• Be w illing to accept the base rate for the child care.
• Meet Tribal and State requirements for an unlicensed Day Care program.
• Successfully pass a site visit to determine if an unlicensed Day Care program meets PTON requirements.
• Verify all information that is provided by the recipients of the CCP.
• Notify the PTON Department of Social Services within ten days if changes occur in the recipients frequency of child care.
• Turn billing summaries in within 45 days of service with attached verification of co-pay being paid on a monthly basis.
  
  CHILD CARE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS

• For Iowa Pottawattamie and Woodbury Counties
• For Nebraska Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy Counties
• For Nebraska Service Areas: Boyd, Holt, and Knox Counties; Burt County; Hall County; Madison County; Platte County; Stanton County; and Wayne County
• For South Dakota: Charles Mix County

http://www.poncatribe-ne.org/departments_social.php

Click the link for more information and the states covered for the different services offered.

Here is a little bit about the Ponca Tribe Social Services

http://www.poncatribe-ne.org/departments_social.php

Click the link to get more information about the services they provide for tribal members.

 The Ponca Department of Social Services includes an array of services designed to improve the lives of our Tribal members.

Special emphasis is placed on families, children, youth, and elders. Our committment is to honor our elders and to treat Tribal children as our sacred trust.

SERVICES

    * Child care assistance
    * Domestic abuse and family violence services
    * Family outreach and support services
    * Family preservation and reunification services
    * Funeral and burial assistance
    * Respite care
    * Transportation

I found this at the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center Online

State Contacts
Child Care and Development Fund Contacts

The Child Care Assistance program helps low-income families to pay for child care while working, looking for work, attending school or training.  Monthly payments are based on the number of hours the parents work, look for work, attend school or training, as well as the amount charged by the child care provider, family size and household income.  Parents can select any Class A child care center, school-based before and after school program, registered family child day care home, or in-home provider.

Click Here For Website

Do I Qualify for Child Care Assistance?

• Are you responsible for paying child care costs for a child under 13, or a disabled child under 18, who lives with you?
• Do you, your spouse, and any other parents of children who live in your home, work or attend an educational or training program, or need child care assistance to look for work? If not participating in one or a combination of these activities, do these persons receive disability income?
• Is your household's monthly gross earned income (before any deductions from paycheck) and unearned income less than the amount listed below for your household size?

How and Where Do I Apply?

The application can be submitted at any OFS Family Assistance parish office or  you can call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578) for assistance.

An interview is not required for the CCAP program, but the following verification of information must be provided:

• 4 most recent check stubs for all jobs for each household member who is working 
• Proof of any of these types of income if received by any household members: child support, adoption subsidy, alimony, SSI, Social Security, Veteran's Administration benefits, Unemployment Compensation, Worker's Compensation, and any other retirement or disability benefits 
• For any adult or parent seeking employment, a written statement signed by that person indicating the number of hours each week he will actively look for work.
• For any adult or parent (including a minor unmarried parent age 16 or older whose child is in need of care) attending school, statement from the educational or job training program verifying hours of attendance each week and the anticipated date of completion
• Social Security cards or proof of application for Social Security cards for all household members
  Note:  Social security numbers are not required for Child Care Assistance eligibility and eligibility cannot be denied for failure to provide social security numbers. If provided, social security numbers may be used to verify income and need for assistance or for data collection or statistical purposes.
• Birth certificates for all children in the home.
• Proof of citizenship or alien status of children in need of care.
• Verification of disability (doctor’s statement, etc) if not receiving SSI, Social Security Disability benefits, or VA Disability benefits. 
• Immunization verification for all children in need of care.

What Happens After I Apply?After sending in your application form and the required information, you may be contacted by phone or mail for more information. You will not not need to come into the office for an interview. The worker has up to 30 days to process your application. A written notice will be sent telling you of the decision reached. If found eligible, you will receive a certificate (and a provider packet if the provider you have chosen is not active in the Provider Directory) for each child who needs care.

You must take the certificate to your child care provider to complete. It will be your responsibility to return the certificate completed by your provider and any information requested in the provider packet by the due date given. Return of the certificate does not ensure that payments will be made to that provider. The child care provider must meet program requirements to be eligible for payment. After receipt of all required verification, your provider will receive notification of the determination of his eligibility for participation in the Child Care Assistance Program. All payments are made directly to eligible providers each month.

You may choose care in:

• A licensed Class A Day Care Center 
• A Family Child Day Care Home that meets registration requirements and cares for no more than six children 
• A school program 
• Your own home (provider cannot live at the same residence)

The amount that is paid is based on household size and income, the number of hours you and any other adults/parents work, attend an educational or training program, or engage in job search, the number of hours your child is in care, and the applicable maximum rate. You will be responsible for paying the provider the difference between the total amount charged and the amount the program pays.

Providing false information, withholding information, or failing to report changes is subject to penalty under the law. If providing false information or withholding information causes an overpayment for child care, you may be required to repay to the Office of Family Support the amount of ineligible benefits that you received.  If you purposely fail to report any information that causes you to receive benefits you are not eligible for, you may have fraud charges brought against you and you may be disqualified from participating in the program. If intentional program violation is established, penalties are as follows: (1) six months for the first violation, (2) twelve months for the second violation, and (3) twenty-four months for the third and for any additional violations.

What is the Louisiana Quality Rating System?

It is a quality rating system (QRS) for child care. The goal of QRS is to increase the quality of child care and early learning for all children throughout Louisiana, and to give parents and consumers the ability to understand, assess and demand higher quality.

• Louisiana Quality Rating System

What Should Child Care Providers do in the event of an Emergency?

In the event that a hurricane or other disaster occurs and produces widespread evacuation and extensive property damage, action may need to be taken to help ensure the safety of all children being cared for by licensed, registered, or certified providers. If a disaster occurs and you are in one of the AFFECTED PARISHES, it may be necessary to suspend your license, provider registration, or certification WITHOUT NOTICE until your facility or home can be verified as safe to provide child care. This may be accomplished by a required State Fire Marshall inspection, State Health inspection, on-site Licensing inspection and/or other agency-mandated procedure to ensure the safety of children in care. Your license, provider registration, or certification would remain suspended until your facility is verified as safe.

If such a disaster occurs, you should check the Department of Social Services (DSS) website at www.dss.state.la.us to determine if your facility or home is located in an affected parish and for additional information and instructions in the procedures for re-instatement of your license, registration, or certification. In addition, licensed child care providers should contact the Child Care Licensing and Regulatory Section at (225) 342-9905 as soon as possible once the hurricane or event has passed if instructions on how to reinstate your license is not available on the website. All other child care providers should contact the Office of Family Support (OFS) Provider Directory at 1-800-680-9098 for instructions on how to reinstate Child care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility.

If you do not follow the necessary procedures to reinstate your license and eligibility for CCAP, it may result in a break in your licensure status, closure of your licensing file and/or a break in or loss of CCAP payments.

Other Services Provided to Families and Child Care Providers

In addition to the subsidy program, Child Care and Development Fund is used for a variety of other activities that improve the availability of child care in Louisiana.

• Training and Technical Assistance 
• Resource and Referral
• Child Care for Protective Service Cases 
• Child Care and Development Fund Advisory Council
• Licensing and Monitoring
• Quality Incentives 
• Repair and Improvement Grants

Publications

• Brightstart: LA Early Childhood Comprehensive System Strategic Plan
• Louisiana Early Learning Guidelines and Program Standards: Birth through Three
• LA Child Care Market Rate Survey (2007)
• Louisiana CCDF Plan (Approved October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2009 as amended November 2008)
• Investing in the Child Care Industry
• Report of the Advisory Council on Child Care & Development Block Gran

Early Head Start is a free program for children and families that serves pregnant mothers, and children up to their third birthday. EHS is now accepting applications for families and children.

Click Here For Website and To Fill Out An Online Application

    The Early Head Start Program is available in Indiana in both Howard and Miami Counties and currently serves many expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers in home based and center based services. Each child who attends Early Head Start receives child development and health services, and parents are involved in every aspect of the program.

    In Howard County Early Head Start offers:

• Free, year-round services to low income families

• Free home visiting - When you need it, at your home once weekly with a child development specialist. Services tailored to the needs of the family and the age of the child

• Child care for parents who are working or are in school Monday through Friday, Hours: 7 am-6 pm

• We accept Area Five vouchers

• We are a licensed NAEYC accredited center

• Meals, snacks and diapers provided

    In Miami County Early Head Start offers:

• Free, year-round services to low income families

• Child care for parents who are working or are in school Monday through Friday, Hours: 7 am-6 pm

• We accept Area Five vouchers

• We are a licensed NAEYC accredited center

• Meals, snacks and diapers provided

• Part time program - Designed for parents not working, or in school part time

• Combination program providing services part time in the home and part time in a social setting, offered in two options: Tiny Tots 1 - Monday & Wednesday 9 am - 3 pm or Tiny Tots 2 - Tuesday & Thursday 9 am - 3 pm

    Services for Pregnant Women in both counties:

    The Early Head Start Prenatal program is designed to help eligible pregnant women receive the medical care they and their growing babies need. A prenatal specialist works with mothers to provide information about pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a new baby. Bona Vista Programs' Early Head Start offers a free comprehensive program for pregnant women in Howard and Miami counties.

• Free, comprehensive program for low-income families

• Home-based and center-based services for children ages birth to 3 years

• Prenatal specialist offers a support group every other Monday evening in Kokomo

• Prenatal specialist works with expectant parents individually, based on the needs of the parents

• Contacts include home visits, phone calls or personal appointment at the mother's choice of location

• A prenatal curriculum, Partners for a Healthy Baby is used, as well as other resources as needed

• Education is based on the needs of the parents, but includes information on nutrition, the effects of smoking, drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, normal fetal growth, labor and delivery

• Early Head Start partners with other community agencies for resources and referrals

• The Prenatal specialist works with the mother until her 6-week postpartum appointment or release from her physician to resume normal activities

• The specialist works with the mother to plan for the baby's transition to either Early Head Start center-based services, EHS home-based services, or another high-quality service

    All Bona Vista Early Head Start programs are proven to increase language and cognitive skills of children as well as parenting skills.

For more information about Early Head Start, please call 765-457-8273 in Kokomo, Indiana, and 765-473-6744 or Toll Free at 1-866-366-5592 in Peru, Indiana.

Early Head Start

What is DTA child care?

DTA child care is free or low-cost child care for current and former TAFDC families. Eligible families get first priority for vouchers and slots and do not have to put their names on a waiting list. DTA child care is for families who need child care so they can work, find a job, or attend an approved education or job training program.

Click Here For Website

Am I eligible?

To be eligible, you must be receiving TAFDC now or have received TAFDC within the past year. You must be working, looking for work, in school, or in a training program and be able to show a need for child care services. Families with disabilities or on maternity leave are also eligible.

What benefits will I get?

Current TAFDC recipients who qualify get free child care right away. Former TAFDC recipients get child care right away, but may have to pay a fee based on income and family size. The number of hours of child care you get depends on your need for services. You may choose the type of child care that is best for your child.

How do I apply?

You must apply at your local Department of Transitional Assistance office. You should talk to your TAFDC case worker. See the DTA's list of DTA Office Locations, or call 1-800-249-2007 for more information.

How do I use my benefits?

Once DTA approves you for child care, you must bring your DTA authorization to your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. A counselor will explain the types of child care available and help you find a child care provider for your child. For the name and address of your local agency, see the list of Massachusetts Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies on the EEC web site, or call 1-800-345-0131.

Useful links

Links to other web sites with information about DTA child care services.

MY CHILDREN AND ME HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME PRETTY STRESS FILLED TIMES HAVE TO FINISH LATER BUT THE THING MY CHILDREN AND I NEED THE MOST IS A VEHICLE I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS LONG AS IT, SAFELY, CAN TO WHERE WE NEED TO AND WITH A DAD WO GIVE ME BUT $40 A WEEK IF I'M LUCKY DOES NOTHING TO HELP OUR KIDS LET ALONE ME I LIVE AT MY MOM'S W/ SIX OF MY SIBILINGS PLUS MY MOM MYSELF AND MY FOUR CHILDREN MY OLDESY JUST TURNED 6 ON FEB  27 AND MY YOUNGEST WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 15 2008 JUST WALKING HIM TO THE BUS STOP FOR SCHOOL IN THE MORNING IS A CRAZY MISSION AND BETWEEN MY SELF GOING TO CSN ONE OF THE KIDS IN SCHOOL GETTING TO THE GROCEREY STRO FOR FORMULA AND FOOD DOC APPOINTMENTS DENTIST LIBRARY CHURCH RIGHT NOW ONLY WHEN I CAN GET US RIDE BUT EVERY SUNDAY WOULD BE AWSOME BUT THE LIST GOES ON AND WITH NOONE BUT ME TO TAKE CARE OF THEM NO HELPING HANDS THE BUS JUST SEEMS LIKE ONE IMPOSSIBLY LONG HECTIC RIDE NOY TO MENTION I CAN'T AFFORD IT I KNOW PEOPLE DONATE CARS ALL THE TIME WHERE COULD I FIND ONE OF THESECARS THAT ARE SUSPOSED TO GO TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM LIKER THE  ,ADS SAY AND ANY INFO YOU HAVE ON RESOURCES, FOR A SINGLE PARENT FAMILY WHO REALLY  NEEDS SOME HELP' THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW WOULD BE GREAT AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME

Qualifying families eligible for help

Click Here For Website

It is important to know that your child is well cared for while you are at work or going to school. One of the most important decisions you will ever make as a parent or guardian is choosing quality, affordable child care. Children are special and unique and deserve the best start possible so that they are ready to learn when they enter school.

Child Care Assistance (CCA) is available to the children of income-eligible parents who are absent for a portion of the day due to employment or participation in academic or vocational training or PROMISE JOBS activities.  Assistance may also be available for a limited period of time to the children of a parent looking for employment or when the parent who normally cares for the child is unable to do so due to hospitalization, or outpatient treatment for physical or mental illness.

Click Here For Website

Child care services are provided to people participating in activities approved under the PROMISE JOBS program and people who receive Family Investment Program (FIP) assistance without regard to Child Care Assistance eligibility requirements if there is a need for child care services.  PROMISE JOBS staff administer Child Care Assistance for child care needed to participate in PROMISE JOBS activities.

Child care services for a child with protective needs are provided without regard to income.  To receive protective child care services, the family must meet specific requirements, and child care must be identified in the child's case permanency plan as a necessary service.

Who Can Get Help?

You may get help from the Child Care Assistance program if you:

• Have a child who needs care who is under the age of 13 (or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs).
• Are a member of a Family Investment Program (FIP) participant household.

If you're not a Family Investment Program participant, you may qualify for the CCA program if you:

• Have a child who needs care who is under the age of 13 (or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs) and have income under the program's limits and work an average of 28 hours per week; or
• Attend an approvable training or education program full-time; or
• Are looking for work; or
• Are unable to provide care because of an approved medical reason.
  

To get most of our services, you must fill out an application form.

If you have access to a printer, you can print an application from this website (see links below).  Complete the application by hand then return it to the DHS office serving the county where you live.

You can also get an application form from any county Department of Human Services (DHS) office. Click on County DHS Office Locations to find the location of the county DHS office nearest you.

Links to Program Applications

You may chose a child care provider from a variety of arrangements.  You can choose:

• A licensed child care center,
• A registered child development home,
• A nonregistered child care home,
• Someone who cares for your children in your own home,
• A before-and-after-school program, or
• A child care program operated by or under contract to an accredited public or nonpublic school.
  

Your provider must be approved by DHS in order to receive payment from the CCA program.  Many providers are already approved by DHS to provide care for the CCA program.  If you do not know whether your provider is approved, ask your DHS CCA worker for assistance.  If your provider is not yet approved, DHS will provide you with the necessary forms to take to your child care provider.

What if I Have Questions?

Any county DHS office can answer questions about the programs and services described here. Contact the county DHS office serving the county where you live (County DHS Office Locations).

The county DHS office serving your county is also listed in the State or County Government section of your local phone book, under "Department of Human Services" or just "Human Services".

You may also contact the Department's Field Office Support Unit by calling (515) 281-6899 or 1-800- 972-2017.

Wisconsin’s Child Care Subsidy program, Wisconsin Shares, (sometimes referred to as "W-2 Child Care") helps families pay for child care. If the parent is eligible, child care can be subsidized for children under the age of 13 (up to 19 if special needs).

Click Here For Website

Eligibility Guidelines

Qualifying Activities:

A parent, a foster parent, relative, or person acting in place of a parent, who is eligible for child care subsidy, must participate in one of the following activities:

• Unsubsidized work
• attend high-school (if a teen parent under 20 years of age)
• participate in W-2 employment program
• participate in employment skills training and continue being in unsubsidized employment
• participate in Food Stamp Employment and Training work search or work experience programs.

• are a W-2 applicant participating in up-front job search, training, or orientation activities.

Income Eligibility Requirement:

To be eligible, the family's gross monthly income must be equal to or less than the amount listed for the family size (for foster parents, relatives who receive a kinship care benefit for the child and have a court order for their placement, and subsidized guardians in Milwaukee County, see below).

Income Eligibility Requirements for Foster Parents, Relatives who receive a Kinship Care Benefit for the child and have a court order for their placement, and Subsidized Guardians in Milwaukee County only:

The gross monthly income that is measured is the child’s biological or adoptive family at the time of placement and is limited to no more than 200% federal poverty level.

Type of Child Care:

If the parent is approved for child care financial assistance, the child must be under the age of 13 years (under 19 if special needs) and enrolled in a regulated care setting:

• A licensed child care center
• A licensed family child care home
• A certified family child care home
• A child care program run by a public school.

How to Apply:

For financial assistance for child care, contact your county, W-2 agency, or tribal agency. Applicants must call ahead for an appointment and will be provided with a list of what is needed to establish eligibility.

Co-Payments:

The parent's share of the cost is determined on a sliding scale depending on the family's income, family's size, number of children in subsidized care, and the type of child care service chosen.

• The co-payment can be as low as 2% of the family gross income.
• The program is designed so that the system-deducted family co-payment should not exceed 12% of the gross income, if the parent chooses a provider with prices below maximum reimbursement limits. If the parent chooses a provider whose private-pay rates are above the county/tribal maximums, the parent is responsible for the difference between the provider price and the subsidy amount.

Fact Sheet for Parents and Providers (pdf)

This program provides funding to enhance the quality, affordability, and supply of child care available to Virginia's families. Child care services are child-centered, family-focused services that support the family goals of economic self-sufficiency and child development by providing for the supervision, protection, and well-being of a child while the parent is participating in an approved activity. Toward this end, policies and service strategies are designed to meet the following goals:

• Provide low-income families with the financial resources to find and afford quality child care for their children
• Ensure that the family child care program contributes to the broader objective of self-sufficiency. To provide child care to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance
• Promote parental choice in the selection of child care. To empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's needs
• Provide consumer education to help parents make informed choices about child care
• Ensure that subsidy dollars are provided to the neediest families
• Enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all families.
• Improve coordination among child care programs and early childhood development programs

Steps to Apply

1. Complete screening for potential eligibility
2. Submit application to your local department of social services (you can also pick up an application at your local office or ask them to mail one to you).

Note: You may need to be interviewed by an eligibility worker. Income Verification is required.

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DHS' Child Care Assistance Program provides low-income, working families with access to quality, affordable child care that allows them to continue working and contributes to the healthy, emotional and social development of the child. Families are required to cost-share on a sliding scale based on family size, income and number of children in care.

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Who can receive these services?

In addition to helping low-income, working families, the Child Care Assistance Program also serves:

• Families who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and participating in education & training in accordance with their responsibility and service plans (RSP);
• Teen parents seeking a high school degree or its equivalent; and/or
• Families not receiving TANF, who are pursuing additional education to improve their job opportunities.

What services are offered?

Families can get a child care subsidy through the use of certificates or contracts. Under the certificate system, eligibility is determined by one of the 16 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies located throughout the state. You can choose the child care provider who best fits your individual needs and care is available for full-time, part-time care or before and after school. You can use licensed or license-exempt child care centers and family homes, licensed group child care homes, in-home and/or relative care.

The 16 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies that DHS contracts with also perform the following services for parents and/or providers:

• Provide parents with consumer education and referrals to child care in their communities;
• Deliver training and assistance to providers in order to improve the quality of care offered;
• Help develop new child care resources in communities where they are needed;
• Assemble and maintain an accurate child care database to provide up-to-date information to parents; and
• Record and analyze data on child care supply and demand to support community capacity building.
• Great START - provides wage supplements to eligible practitioners working in licensed centers and homes.
• T.E.A.C.H. - provides scholarships for early childhood education and compensation incentives to eligible individuals working in child care centers and licensed family homes.

How to apply?

Families may apply for licensed care from a statewide network of approximately 175 contracted providers. Eligibility is determined on-site by the provider allowing families the freedom to choose from a variety of care settings to best meet the needs of both parents and children.

If you would like to find out if you qualify for assistance from the Child Care Program, please check the Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator to get an estimated calculation. You will need to know the county you live in, the number of family members in your household, how many children will need care, and your annual income. 

Contact your local Child Care Referral & Resource agency if you would like to find quality child care or receive an application to apply for the Child Care Assistance Program.

CCAP Billing Information

• IDHS Child Care Telephone Billing System for CCR&R Staff
• IDHS Child Care Telephone Billing System for Providers

More Information & Resources

• Learn about the Child Care Assistance Program
• Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator

Publications

• Affordable Child Care Brochure (English)
• Cuidado de Ninos a su alcance (Espanol)
• Child Care Application and Instructions (English) (pdf)
• Solicitud para Cuidado de Ninos (Espanol) (pdf)
• Parent Co-Payment Information

The Child Care Assistance program helps low-income families to pay for the child care they need while working, looking for work, attending school or training.  Monthly payments are based on the number of hours the parents work, look for work, or attend school or training, the amount charged by the child care provider, family size and household income.  Parents can select any Class A child care center, school-based before and after school program, registered family child day care home, or in-home provider. 

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Do I Qualify for Child Care Assistance?

1. Are you responsible for paying child care costs for a child under 13, or a disabled child under 18, who lives with you?

2. Do you, your spouse, and any other parents of children who live in your home, work or attend an educational or training program, or need child care assistance to look for work? If not participating in one or a combination of these activities, do these persons receive disability income?

3. Is your household's monthly gross earned income (before any deductions from paycheck) and unearned income less than the amount listed below for your household size?

If you answered YES to all of the above questions, you may be eligible for child care assistance.

How and Where Do I Apply?

Parents can apply by completing an application form and mailing it to any OFS Family Assistance parish office along with the following verification. An interview is not required. 

• 4 most recent check stubs for all jobs for each household member who is working 
• Proof of any of these types of income if received by any household members: child support, adoption subsidy, alimony, SSI, Social Security, Veteran's Administration benefits, Unemployment Compensation, Worker's Compensation, and any other retirement or disability benefits 
• For any adult or parent seeking employment, a written statement signed by that person indicating the number of hours each week he will actively look for work.
• For any adult or parent (including a minor unmarried parent age 16 or older whose child is in need of care) attending school, statement from the educational or job training program verifying hours of attendance each week, and the anticipated date of completion
• Social Security cards or proof of application for Social Security cards for all household members
  Note:  Social security numbers are not required for Child Care Assistance eligibility and eligibility cannot be denied for failure to provide social security numbers.  If provided, social security numbers may be used to verify income and need for assistance or for data collection or statistical purposes.
• Birth certificates for all children in the home.
• Proof of citizenship or alien status of children in need of care.
• Verification of disability (doctor’s statement, etc) if not receiving SSI, Social Security Disability benefits, or VA Disability benefits. 
• Immunization verification for all children in need of care.

Downloadable Application form: The following standard form can be downloaded to a disk and then completed on the user's PC. To download a form, simply click on the desired title below, then follow the prompts given by your browser. (On most browsers, you will need to choose the "Save to Disk" option, and then choose the drive and directory you wish to save to.)

Note: The Adobe Acrobat document will be viewable in all formats. To view the Adobe Acrobat document please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html.

This form has been provided as a public service and has been successfully processed on a State computer system. However, we unfortunately cannot guarantee success for all users, due to the wide variety of browsers/platform in use. It is still the responsibility of the user to use this form appropriately and in a manner consistent within these limitations. No actual text of this form may be changed, and doing so may render it null and void. All relevant deadlines still apply.

Visit here to download the Application for Child Care Assistance (CCAP 2).

Visit here to download the Instructions for the Application for Child Care Assistance (CCAP 2).

What Happens After I Apply?

After sending in your application form and the required information, you may be contacted by phone or mail for more information. You will not not need to come into the office for an interview. The worker has up to 30 days to process your application. A written notice will be sent telling you of the decision reached. If found eligible, you will receive a certificate (and a provider packet if the provider you have chosen is not active in the Provider Directory) for each child who needs care.

You must take the certificate to your child care provider to complete. It will be your responsibility to return the certificate completed by your provider and any information requested in the provider packet by the due date given. Return of the certificate does not ensure that payments will be made to that provider. The child care provider must meet program requirements to be eligible for payment. After receipt of all required verification, your provider will receive notification of the determination of his eligibility for participation in the Child Care Assistance Program. All payments are made directly to eligible providers each month.

You may choose care in:

• A licensed Class A Day Care Center 
• A Family Child Day Care Home that meets registration requirements and cares for no more than six children 
• A school program 
• Your own home (provider cannot live at the same residence)

The amount that is paid is based on household size and income, the number of hours you and any other adults/parents work, attend an educational or training program, or engage in job search, the number of hours your child is in care, and the applicable maximum rate. You will be responsible for paying the provider the difference between the total amount charged and the amount the program pays.

Providing false information, withholding information, or failing to report changes is subject to penalty under the law. If providing false information or withholding information causes an overpayment for child care, you may be required to repay to the Office of Family Support the amount of ineligible benefits that you received.  If you purposely fail to report any information that causes you to receive benefits you are not eligible for, you may have fraud charges brought against you and you may be disqualified from participating in the program. If intentional program violation is established, penalties are as follows: (1) six months for the first violation, (2) twelve months for the second violation, and (3) twenty-four months for the third and for any additional violations.

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What Should Child Care Providers do in the event of an Emergency?

Hurricane season has begun. In the event that a hurricane or other disaster occurs and produces widespread evacuation and extensive property damage, action may need to be taken to help ensure the safety of all children being cared for by licensed, registered, or certified providers. If a disaster occurs and you are in one of the AFFECTED PARISHES, it may be necessary to suspend your license, provider registration, or certification WITHOUT NOTICE until your facility or home can be verified as safe to provide child care. This may be accomplished by a required State Fire Marshall inspection, State Health inspection, on-site Licensing inspection and/or other agency-mandated procedure to ensure the safety of children in care. Your license, provider registration, or certification would remain suspended until your facility is verified as safe.

If such a disaster occurs, you should check the Department of Social Services (DDS) website at www.dss.state.la.us to determine if your facility or home is located in an affected parish and for additional information and instructions in the procedures for re-instatement of your license, registration, or certification. In addition, licensed child care providers should contact the Child Care Licensing and Regulatory Section at (225) 342-9905 as soon as possible once the hurricane or event has passed if instructions on how to reinstate your license is not available on the website. All other child care providers should contact the Office of Family Support (OFS) Provider Directory at 1-800-680-9098 for instructions on how to reinstate Child care Assistance Program (CCAP) eligibility.

If you do not follow the necessary procedures to reinstate your license and eligibility for CCAP, it may result in a break in your licensure status, closure of your licensing file and/or a break in or loss of CCAP payments.

Other Services Provided to Families and Child Care Providers

In addition to the subsidy program, Child Care and Development Fund is used for a variety of other activities that improve the availability of child care in Louisiana.  Visit here for more information on the following services:

• Training and Technical Assistance 
• Resource and Referral
• Child Care for Protective Service Cases 
• Child Care and Development Fund Advisory Council
• Licensing and Monitoring
• Quality Incentives 
• Repair and Improvement Grants

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) provides financial assistance to low-income families who are in need of child care services. These families must be working, searching for employment or in training, and enrolled in the Colorado Works Program. Under the direction of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, local county departments of social services administer the CCCAP program. Eligibility for families is set by the counties. However, counties must serve families whose income is 130% or less of the poverty guideline. Counties will not serve families whose income is over 225% of the poverty guideline. Funding for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program is provided using federal, state, and county funds as well as parent fees.

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To apply for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, you must fill out an application that you will receive from the County Department of Social/Human Services of the county you live in. You can also view the application here. You will be required to provide information about your family including immunization information, income, and your work or school program. After you apply, a child care eligibility specialist will need to verify your employment, hours, and wages by contacting your employer. Once this is done, you will have 30 days to supply written verification of your employment or education program or you risk having your benefits withheld if verification is not submitted.

If you are accepted, you may choose your own child care provider. You may select a licensed center, in-home child care provider, friend, neighbor, or relative. Once you have selected a provider, you must contact the county for approval before child care can begin. The county will need the name, address, and phone number of the provider as well as if they are licensed or not.

Any changes that occur will need to be reported to the county via the Change of Eligibility Form (SS-7A) within 30 days of the change. These are some of the changes that may happen that you are expected to report:

• Your work hours change
  
• Changes in the number of people in your household
  
• Your rate of pay or wages
  
• Your address
  
• Your child support income or payment
  
• Your child care provider
  
• Your employment status
  
• Your education status
  

Any change in your income must be verified by a letter from your employer or by your pay stubs within 30 days of the change. Additionally, if there is a change in the number of hours that you work, you must notify your child care eligibility specialist to make sure that your benefits do not need to change.

Your eligibility will be re-evaluated every 6 months to determine if you still meet the requirements of the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program in your county. You will be sent a redetermination form that you must sign and turn in with copies of the most recent 3 months of income or education verification in the time specified or your child care will end. If you move from one county to another, you must inform your child care eligibility specialist to find out if you will still qualify for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program in that county. Since each county has their own eligibility requirements, your child care benefits may not transfer.

You will be required to pay a portion of the child care costs which are called parental fees. These fees will be paid directly to the provider and must be paid on time in order to ensure that your child care benefits are not suspended temporarily or permanently. You will be given a child care certificate that specifies the number of hours of child care that your benefits cover. You will be required to pay for any hours that are beyond the number of hours stated on your child care certificate as well as any late fees for after hours pick-up that the provider may charge.

** If you are looking for assistance through the Colorado Works Child Care Program, you will need to work with your TANF technician.

**If you are looking for assistance through Child Welfare Child Care Assistance, you will need to work with your Child Welfare worker.

If you would like to find out if a Colorado child care facility is licensed or has any complaints filed against them, go to the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care website. Or, you can contact them using the following information:

Colorado Licensing and Standards Contact
Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care
1575 Sherman St.
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: (303) 866-5700
Fax: (303) 866-4047

If possible, try to resolve minor concerns and complaints with the child care provider or director of the child care center. If you believe that physical or sexual abuse is involved, you are advised to inform local law enforcement. However, if you have concerns about the facility that cannot be resolved comfortably with the child care provider or directory, you may file a complaint with:

Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care
1575 Sherman St., 1st Floor
Denver, CO 80203-1714
(303) 866-5958 or 1-800-799-5876





Click here to read about Colorado Child Care Licensing

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