4.1 Access to Full Range of Provider Options

Lead Agencies must provide parents a choice of providers and offer assistance with child care services through a child care certificate (or voucher) or with a child care provider that has a grant or contract for the provision of child care services. Lead Agencies are reminded that policies and procedures should not restrict parental access to any type or category of care or provider (e.g., center care, home care, in-home care, for-profit provider, non-profit provider, or faith-based provider, etc.). 4.1.1 Parent choice a. Identify any barriers to provider participation, including barriers related to payment rates and practices, (including for family child care and in-home providers), based on provider feedback, public comment, and reports to the Lead Agency: Child care payment rates are below the recommended 50th percentile of the current market rate survey. b. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through vouchers or certificates? [x] Yes. [ ] No. c. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through grants or contracts? [ ] Yes. [x] No. d. Describe how the parent is informed that the child care certificate allows the option to choose from a variety of child care categories, such as private, not-for-profit, faith-based providers; centers; family child care homes; or in-home providers: 1) Certificate provides information about the choice of providers; 2) Certificate provides information about the quality of providers; 3) Certificate is not linked to a specific provider, allowing parents to choose any child care provider; 4) Consumer education materials are provided on choosing child care; 5) Referrals provided to child care resource and referral agencies; 6) Child care provider selection information and assistance via the Department of Human Service contracted, Child Care Resource and Referral agency; and 7) The Department of Human Services website: https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/ccch-subsidies/. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: When a caretaker is eligible for child care services, the caretaker is issued a child care certificate which identifies the caretaker, eligible child, child’s date of birth, certification period, name of the provider, address and phone number of the child care provider, information whether the provider is licensed, registered, or legally exempt, any names of household members of exempt home-based care not in the child’s home, or names of staff members of exempt center-based care.