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Certificate Program. Child care providers must be at least 18 years of age and are responsible for providing a safe and secure learning environment while the children are in their care. A parent cannot be paid for taking care of their own children. Another adult living in the home with the child cannot be paid for taking care of a child living in the same home. The certificate program empowers a parent with parental choice by allowing a selection of child care services ranging from full-day to before- and after-school care. The Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) allows parents and caretaker relatives to select a CCPP approved child care provider. The parent/care taker relative may choose a licensed child care center or group home listed on the DECCD website. Providers must complete the application process and training requirements through the DECCD and receive CCPP Approved Provider status prior to participation in the certificate program. Child care providers cannot be paid for care provided while a provider is seeking to become a CCPP-approved provider. Child care providers must be at least 18 years of age, and are responsible for providing a safe and secure learning environment while the children are in their care. A parent and caretaker relative cannot be paid for taking care of his/her own child(ren). No adult living in the home with the child can be paid for child care. The biological parent of a child shall not be reimbursed for providing child care for his/her own child(ren) regardless of the location of their residence. The certificate program empowers a parent/caretaker relative with parental choice by allowing them to select a provider from a list of CCPP-approved providers. The case manager will assist the parent/caretaker with assessing their child care needs and, upon request, provide a list of licensed and/or approved child care providers to parents who do not have a ready choice or direct the parent to the DECCD website. A list of licensed and approved child care providers is available on the DECCD website and is updated periodically by the DECCD. A parent or caretaker may also call the DECCD Child Care Express/Resource and Referral line at 1- 800- 8777882 or 359-4544 to obtain a list of providers. The case manager will not influence a parent or caretaker to choose a particular provider. The MDHS case manager and the MDES interviewer will help TWP participants assess their child care needs and direct them to the DECCD website at www.secac.ms.gov to view the list of CCPP-approved providers and select the child care provider of choice. If the parent does not have access to the internet, the case manager will allow the parent to access the information while at the county office. The case manager will provide assistance, if requested, but will not influence a parent or caretaker relative to select a particular provider and/or facility. IMPORTANT NOTE: If a parent selects a child care provider that is not licensed or approved by DECCD, the case manager will explain to the parent that the provider must complete the DECCD approval process prior to participating in the Child Care Certificate Program. A provider that is not licensed by the State Department of Health or approved by DECCD will not be reimbursed for child care services provided prior to approval. (DECCD will not issue retroactive payments.) If a participant chooses a non-approved provider and fails to participate satisfactorily in the assigned TWP activities, good cause will not be granted. If a parent/caretaker relative chooses to use a child care provider that is not on the approved provider list, the MDES interviewer will explain to the parent/caretaker relative that only approved providers are eligible to participate in the Child Care Payment Program (CCPP). JAWS will not allow a referral to be processed for a provider that has not been approved and the parent will be responsible for any cost