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licensed or exempt from being licensed by law and have met all applicable CCDF Provider Eligibility Standards and have completed the application process. This includes licensed programs (centers and homes), unlicensed registered day care ministries, legally license-exempt child care facilities and homes, relative care (grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt and/or uncle of the eligible child), and nanny care (see definition).

CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF) The CCDF Program was authorized by Congress through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). The purpose of the CCDF Program is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of child care.

CHILD CARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CCMS) A Child Care Management System (CCMS) is designed specifically to support child care providers in automating their day-to-day operations. CCMS tools will streamline enrollment and manage waitlists, track and report daily attendance, generate invoices and collect payment electronically, monitor and manage classroom ratios, manage staff records including professional development certifications and payroll, and communicate with families easily and consistently.

CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R) An agency to help families make decisions about quality child care for their child(ren). CCR&R Agencies also offer various training opportunities, and business and child care resources to providers.

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY The maximum child care reimbursement paid by the state to the provider, minus applicable copayment.

COPAYMENT A weekly fee for child care based on the CCDF Household’s income exceeding 100% of the federal poverty guidelines and their years of CCDF participation utilizing OECOSL’s Child Care Income Eligibility Determination and Sliding Fee Scale.

COA ACCREDITATION A voluntary, nationally recognized accreditation system for early child centers and school age programs. It is authorized and validated by the Council on Accreditation (COA).

ELIGIBILITY OFFICE An entity which is, by contract, obligated to perform CCDF and OMW eligibility functions according to state guidelines. These functions include, but are not limited to verifying service need, verifying financial eligibility, accurately enrolling a child with a CCDF or OMW eligible provider according to the family’s needs, issuing vouchers, and reporting suspected fraud. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES Absences will be tracked against an excessive absence policy of 40 days across all providers where a child is enrolled. Warning letters will be issued to families and all providers where a child is enrolled at 10, 20, 30 and 35 days with voucher termination at 40 days. If a child is terminated for excessive absences, the family will have to wait 90 days before re-applying for that child. Vouchers will also be ended if a child has 20 consecutive absence days. FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME PROVIDER An individual who provides child care services in a residential structure other than the child’s residence.

FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY