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4130 PASS IV CHILD CARE

The administration for PASS IV Child Care Assistance (CCA) is carried out through a collaborative partnership between the Child Care Program Office (CCPO) and the Office of Children’s Services (OCS).

Eligibility for participation in PASS IV is determined by OCS when child care is needed for a child receiving or needing to receive protective services.

Child care must be provided by State of Alaska or Municipality of Anchorage licensed child care providers who are approved for participation in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Foster families who do not have an identified child care provider must be referred to the Alaska statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), for assistance in finding a CCAP participating licensed child care provider.

1. Eligibility A child is eligible for child care assistance through PASS IV when the child is twelve (12) years of age or younger, is in state custody and child care is needed: a. In order for the foster parent to participate in work activities; b. To support a biological parent when the child is remaining in the home but is classified as in state custody; or c. To support the re-unification of the child into the biological parent’s home and custody.

A foster parent must be working to be eligible for child care assistance. The foster parent’s income is not considered and there is no family co-pay, however; the difference in the child care provider’s rate and what is paid through PASS IV on the family’s behalf is paid by the family directly to the child care provider.

The work requirement may be waived by OCS during the re-unification process with the biological parent(s).

2. OCS staff are responsible for: a. Determining if there is a need for child care for a child in state custody; b. Referring the foster family to the CCR&R and/or assisting the parent in finding a licensed child care provider in the family’s community; c. Determining the unit of care to be authorized for the child; d. Creating and maintain a case in the Integrated Child Care Information System (ICCIS); e. Authorizing care; and f. Communicating with the foster parent and/or child care provider when there are changes in placement, questions about the units of care authorized, or any other needs.

3. CCPO staff are responsible for verifying payment to the child care provider.