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CCDF POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL Effective 10/14/2024. 4

INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE

Policy and Procedure Manual for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K Eligibility

Purpose of this Manual The purpose of this manual is to provide policies, procedures, and guidance to follow as the Eligibility Office facilitates eligibility determination and authorizes services to prospective CCDF Households.

CCDF Introduction The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal program that helps low-income families obtain child care so that they may work, attend training, continue their education, or job search may be used as a service need on initial application only. In Indiana, CCDF is managed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) in the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL).

The overall purpose of CCDF is to: ➢ protect the health and safety of children in child care, ➢ to promote parental choice and empower families searching to make their own decisions regarding the child care services that best suits their family’s needs, ➢ to increase the number of low-income children in high quality settings, ➢ to improve child care and development of participating children.

On My Way Pre-K (OMW) Introduction ➢ On My Way Pre-K was signed into state law on March 27, 2014. ➢ On My Way Pre-K provides assistance to low-income families with a 4-year-old so they can access a high-quality pre-K program the year before they begin kindergarten. ➢ On My Way Families may select an approved On My Way Pre-K program.