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: In our 2022 Market Rate Survey, providers could report that they faced one or more of seventeen potential barriers to participating in the subsidy system. The most prevalent barrier reported was that the provider’s capacity was already filled with private pay families. Insufficient payment rates ranked the second most reported reason for non-participation. The survey data suggest that there are many barriers beyond payment rates that, if addressed, could significantly increase the percentage of providers willing to accept subsidies. Other barriers include: ￿program has a long waitlist of private pay families’, ￿too much administrative work involved’, ￿no demand for subsidized care in the program’s area’, and ￿I don’t know enough about EEC’s subsidy program to participate’. 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: Families are informed of their options at various steps of obtaining a voucher (certificate). When a family is placed on the waitlist, they are informed of the different providers available and asked if they have a preference. When funding is offered and the family is authorized for care, the Family Access Administrator will discuss the various providers that are available with the family. Once the family has chosen a provider who accepts child care financial assistance, the family will be counseled that the voucher (certificate) is not linked to a specific provider and the parent can choose any provider who accepts child care financial assistance. They are able to transfer their voucher (certificate) to another provider by giving 2-weeks notice during their authorization period. Consumer education materials on choosing a child program and family workshops are available at the local CCRR as well as on the CCRR website and EEC's family hub at https://www.mass.gov/child-care-financial- assistance. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: A certificate, called a voucher or Fee Agreement for contracted providers, details parent contact information, provider contact information, placement details (including child's schedule and authorized dates), one or two-way transportation, and parent co-payment information.