3.1 Family Co-payments

Lead Agencies must establish and periodically revise a sliding-fee scale for families receiving CCDF services that varies based on income and the size of the family to determine each family’s contribution (i.e., co-payment) and does not create a barrier to receiving CCDF assistance. In addition to income and the size of the family, the Lead Agency may use other factors as appropriate when determining family contributions/co-payments. Lead Agencies may not use price of care or amount of subsidy payment in determining co-payments. Lead Agencies must ensure that the total payment to a child care provider is not reduced because of family’s lowered or waived co-payment. 3.1.1 Family co-payment Lead Agencies may not charge any family more than 7% of a family’s gross income, regardless of the number of children participating in CCDF. a. What is the maximum percent of a family’s gross income any family could be charged as a co-payment? 1% b. Does the Lead Agency certify that their sliding fee scales are always based on income and family size (regardless of how many different scales they may use)? ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. 3.1.2 Sliding fee scale Provide the CCDF co-payments for eligible families in the table(s) below according to family size for one child in care. a. Is the sliding fee scale set statewide? ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe how the sliding fee scale is set: Not applicable. b. Complete the table below. If the sliding fee scale is not set statewide, complete the table for the most populous locality: A B C D E F Family Size Lowest income at initial eligibility where the family is first charged a co-pay (greater than $0). What is the monthly co-payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (A)? What percentage of income is the co- payment in (B)? Highest income at initial eligibility where a family is charged a co-pay before a family is no longer eligible. What is the monthly co- payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (D)? What percentage of income is this co- payment in (E)? 1 $5,819/mon $58.10 full- time 1% $6,595/mon $65.90 full- time 1% 2 $5,819/mon $58.10 full- time 1% $6,595/mon $65.90 full- time 1% 3 $6,593/mon $58.10 full- time 1% $7,472/mon $65.90 full- time 1% 4 $7,687/mon $58.10 full- time 1% $8,712/mon $65.90 full- time 1% 5 $8,917/mon $58.10 full- time 1% $10,106/mon $65.90 full- time 1% c. What is the effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s)? July 1, 2024. d. Provide the link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s): 2024-25 Family Monthly Fee Schedule e. Does the Lead Agency allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment in instances where the provider’s price exceeds the subsidy payment? ☐ No. ☐ X Yes. If yes: i. Provide the rationale for the Lead Agency’s policy to allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment, including a demonstration of how the policy does not provide a barrier and promotes affordability and access for families: Families may choose providers that charge higher rates and must pay the difference between the ceiling and the rate the provider charges. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) does not have authority under state law to fund the difference in cost between the ceiling and the providers rates. This policy supports the ability of parents to choose any provider, regardless of costs, which provides greater access to choices for vulnerable children and families. ii. Provide data (including data on the size and frequency of such amounts) on the extent to which CCDF providers charge additional amounts to families: Families may choose higher rate providers. When doing so, they must pay the difference between the ceiling and the rate the provider charges. (See Title 5 CCR 18220.6 - Provider Rates. Family Co-payments). California received a preliminary notice of non-compliance from Office of Child Care (OCC) on December 13, 2021, for this provision and needs additional time to develop an implementation plan. While CDSS has not collected this data in the past, in fiscal year 2021-22 the budget included a $4.8 million investment to support planning and initial implementation for the design of a new statewide data system. This system, known as Brilliant Beginnings, will replace the legacy systems that CDSS has been using since the transfer of programs from the California Department of Education. The system will strengthen the administrative process used for data collection and to help mitigate the current data deficit, while also meeting the needs of children, families, and the workforce.