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: Not being paid for all eligible days. Retrospective payments. Delays in payments caused by occasional system technological issues. Not being able to charge private pay families less than the State maximum rate. 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? [x] Yes. [ ] 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: Parents are provided consumer education materials on choosing child care along with referrals from the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies located across the state of Illinois. CCR&R staff administer the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and conduct eligibility determinations which provides parents a single point of entry access to these services. Additionally, all eligible provider types are included on the initial application and Request for Change of Provider forms. Parent Services staff at local CCR&Rs provide parents a list of child care providers who accept children who qualify for CCAP as well as consumer education resources to support them in choosing quality child care that fits their child and family’s need. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: At the end of each service month, Child Care certificates are mailed to providers as part of a monthly batch process managed by the Child Care Management System (CCMS) and the CCR&Rs. The certificate includes the month of service, the name, address, identification number address and type (center, home, licensed, exempt) of the provider. The certificate also includes the name of the head of household, family address, case number, the name and date of birth of all children approved for the provider, the amount of the parent copayment, the approved daily rates and number of eligible days (full time and part time) for each child. Space is provided for the provider to report the number of days attended for each child and rate type (full-time or part-time). The Child Care Certificate Reports for centers includes coding to indicate reasons for possible adjustment to the number of eligible days (school out, parent’s extra shift, child left care, etc.), and explanations and calculation formulas to determine the attendance percentage and when 100% of eligible days will and will not be paid. A provider certification section states the provider has accurately reported rates and number of attended days and that records will be maintained for five years. The certificate for home providers also includes instruction on form completion.