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: The department collected information from providers about barriers to CCAP participation through the 2023-2024 Market Rate Survey. The department received responses from 1,944 family child care providers. These providers identified needing to get paid before caring for children (58%), low payment rates (51%) and it taking too long to get paid (50%) as top barriers to participation. The department also received responses from 681 center-based providers, who identified not enough absent days being paid (46%), low payment rates (45%) and it taking too long to get paid (36%) as top barriers to participation. Other barriers that providers identified were paperwork burdens and complicated payment rules. 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: Certificates can be used with any provider registered with the Child Care Assistance Program including licensed centers, licensed family child care providers, certified centers, and legal non-licensed providers. Families that apply for or inquire about child care assistance receive information about provider options and how to find a provider through (http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS- 3551-ENG) Paying for child care and more! Minnesota’s online application, mnbenefits.mn.gov also includes links to a department webpage that provides information about child care assistance and resources to help find a child care provider. The eligibility notice that the family receives when they are approved includes information about choosing a child care provider and the parent aware website and phone number. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: Families are notified of their eligibility for child care assistance using an eligibility notice. The eligibility notice includes the date of eligibility, family income, copayment, caseworker information, information about other charges a provider may have, reporting requirements and information about choosing a child care provider. Families and providers receive a Service Authorization notice when they have selected a provider and care has been authorized. Service authorizations include the following information for each child covered under the authorization: child name, child ID, start and end dates of care authorized, number of hours of care authorized, number of absence days used, age group, and rate type. Service authorizations include county-specific maximums rate that can be paid for each age group and rate type. The family’s Service Authorization also includes information about how they can find more information about child care providers through www.ParentAware.org.