Transcript MFWCCA Annual conference October 2008 Helping families use

MFWCCA 2008 Conference
Enhancing the CCAP Child Care
Experience for Families
“Promoting the CCAP program, and
other early learning resources.
Informing the families you serve
about quality child care.”
Who is a Key Partner in the
CCAP Program?

Very complex work situations
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You are the most public Face and Voice
for your county
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You bear the brunt of the complaints &
unhappy customers for the county
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Highly dedicated workforce
Key partner in the Child Care
Assistance Program
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Why is Quality Child Care
Important?
Why is Quality Child Care
Important?
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In the 1950’s, most kids were cared for at
home.
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By 1998, 78% of all women with children
under 13 years old, were working.

By 2007, it was predicted that 83% of women
ages 25-54 will be working.
Why is Quality Care Important
?
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90% of a child’s brain is developed by age 5
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Millions of American children are spending 4050 hours a week in child care.
Why is Quality Child Care Important

Parents need a full range of child care
options so that they can work or go to school.
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Children need healthy, safe and quality
learning environments while they are in child
care.
5 Steps to Choosing Quality
Child Care
5 Steps to Choosing Quality Child
Care
#1 Start Early
5 Steps to Choosing Quality
Child Care
#2 Make a Call or search
on the internet.
 MNchildcare.org or
1-888-291-9811
5 steps to Choosing Quality
Child Care
#3 Visit and Ask Questions
Parents can go to :
www.licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us
5 steps to choosing quality
child care
For sample questions, go to mnchildcare.org
 Click on families
 Click on selecting childcare
 Click on phone interviews
 Click on face to face interviews
5 Steps to Choosing Quality
Child Care
#4 Make a Choice
5 Steps to choosing quality
child care
#5 Stay Involved
Child Care Assistance Program
Minnesota Child Care
Assistance Program (CCAP)
Provides Child Care Assistance so:
Child care is affordable
 Children are well cared for and ready to learn
 Parent can work or prepare for work
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Child Care Assistance Program
Child Care Providers
There are 4 different types of CCAP
providers.
 Licensed family child care
 Licensed centers
 License exempt centers
 Legal non-licensed providers
Legal Non Licensed Provider
 At
least 18 years of age
 Not a member of the MFIP
assistance unit, or a member of the
family applying for or receiving child
care assistance.
 Provides child care only to related
children, and/or provides child care to
children from a single unrelated
family at one time.
CCAP Provider Registration
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A provider must be reauthorized for
CCAP every 2 years
CCAP Provider registration is a
separate process from licensing.
Licensing or re-licensing a provider
does not reauthorize a provider in
CCAP
CCAP & ES workers working
together
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prevent initial delays in child care
authorizations
prevent gaps in child care
authorizations or services
authorize the most care possible to
provide parents with the most options
cluster EP activities to create blocks
of time that fit with child care provider
schedules and practices
CCAP General Eligibility
Child Care Assistance Program
General Eligibility
Parents must:
 Have income less than or equal to 47%
of SMI at program entry and equal to or
more than 67% of SMI at program exit.

Use a legal child care provider.
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Cooperate with child support
enforcement for all children in the
household with an absent parent.
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Be in an authorized activity.
Child Care Assistance Program
General Eligibility
Have a child 12 years or younger, or 13 or
14 years old if the child has a disability.
Be assessed a family copayment fee
based on gross income and household
size.
Authorizations
Child Care Assistance
Program Authorization
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Hours needed for the parent/s to
participate in their activity
AND
The age of and care necessary for
eligible children
Child Care Authorizations
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The authorization must contain enough
information for the provider and parent to
know the total amount of care that CCAP
will pay, the county’s maximum rates and
how payments will be made.
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If the parent is sent home early or the
child is picked up early , the county must
pay according to the authorization.
School Readiness Initiatives
School Readiness Initiatives for
at Risk Children
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School Readiness Connections – SRC
Pre-Kindergarten Allowance Program
Minnesota Early Learning Foundation
(MELF) Scholarships
School Readiness Connections
(SRC)
School Readiness Connections
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$1 million (one-time) was appropriated over the
2008-2009 biennium for this pilot project
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Selected providers are eligible for a CCAP
maximum payment 25% higher than the current
maximums and more child friendly payment
policies to support continuity of care
School Readiness Connections
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14 providers from 9 counties are serving
approximately 220 children ages 0-5
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Priority was given to programs that had at
least 25% of the children subsidized
through CCAP
School Readiness Connections
Providers have been selected based on
program description, licensing compliance,
caregiver/staff qualifications, educational
environment, & ability to provide supports
to low income families & children
School Readiness Connections
For more information about School
Readiness Connections you may contact
Stacia Rosas 651-431-4259
[email protected]
or
Laurie Possin 651-431-4044
[email protected]
Parent Aware
Parent Aware
Participating pilot areas are located
in:
 Blue Earth & Nicollet counties
 Wayzata School District
 St. Paul & North Minneapolis
Parent Aware Web Site

www.parentawareratings.org
Pre-K Allowance Program
Pre-K allowances
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Annual income at or below 185% of
the FPG guidelines which is about
$38,000 a year for a family of 4
Have one or more children who are 3
or 4 years old or will be 3 or 4 by
September 1
Pre-K allowances
St. Paul 651-641-6604
 North Minneapolis 612-348-4111
 Wayzata School district 612-3484111
 Blue Earth & Nicollet counties
507-345-6822
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Other support programs in
the pilot areas.
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St. Paul Early Childhood Scholarship
Program for families in Frogtown and North
End Area of St. Paul 651-641-6604
500 under 5 serving families in North
Minneapolis contact Way to Grow at 612-8744740 ext.115
Caring for Kids Initiative for families living in
the Wayzata school district contact Nancy
Johnson at 952-288-2568 or
[email protected]
MEC² Integrated
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For more information contact
your county MEC2 mentor
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DHS is also presenting a MEC2
workshop on Thursday at 10:15
am & 2:45 pm in Split Rock #1
Useful Tools and Resources
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Legal Reference
Minnesota Statute 119B:
www.leg.state.mn.us
Minnesota Rule 3400:
www.revisor.leg.mn.us/rule/3400
Bulletins can be located at:
www.dhs.state.mn.us
-example of CCAP bulletin
numbering
06-68-02
Useful tools
Child Care Assistance Policy Manual
www.dhs.state.mn.us
Click on countylink, click on
manuals and then click on CCAP manual
For the Provider Guide
www.dhs.state.mn.us
Click on Forms (e Docs) click search, enter
either CCAP provider guide or DHS-5260-ENG.
DHS appreciates the work that you
do for the CCAP program.