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: During the public comment period, it was suggested that the Lead Agency increase child care subsidy rates, find more subsidy providers in rural communities and desert areas, eliminate co-payments or waive them for families enrolled in Head Start. With the transition to the new Child Care Data System, we have heard provider comments that payments need to be made in a more timely manner and the application process was difficult to follow in the beginning. 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: The certificate is not linked to a specific provider, parents may choose any provider who is contracted to receive child care subsidy funds. Parents may use the online child care database to identify a provider that meets their needs or call the MCRR call center to receive live assistance by phone. The Lead Agency contracts with the MCRR to maintain a comprehensive and up to-date online database of child care providers in Missouri. This database allows parents to search by criteria such as subsidy acceptance, facility type, accreditation and licensing status, hours of operation, scheduling needs (full time, part time, and non-traditional hours), payment assistance options, curriculum, , transportation options, and services to support children with special needs. The Lead Agency also requires the MCRR to operate a staffed call center during weekday and weekend hours to assist parents in identifying the providers that best meet their family's needs. MCRR staff inform and educate parents about their options for child care in their community. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: Upon determining eligibility, families will receive a letter notifying them of the approval of child care subsidy. The letter will state the name of the child authorized, the units they are eligible for and the time frame of the eligibility. A family can choose a provider during the eligibility process and have the child authorized to the provider at the time of the eligibility determination or they can choose a provider after they have been determined eligible and receive their eligibility letter.