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: Providers have stated that they would prefer not to be paid the month after services are rendered, but rather paid prior to services being rendered. Family child care providers have stated being apprehensive to participate because of the additional administrative responsibilities. 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? [ ] Yes. [x] 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: Parent choice is a fundamental tenet of the CCDF program. Parents are free to choose any provider that has been previously approved to participate in the CCPP. The approved provider list is embedded in the online parent application to allow the parents select a provider. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: Once a family is approved for child care subsidy a child care certificate is issued to both the parent and the provider. In addition to other details, the certificate contains the following: 1) The name of the child approved for care. 2) The rate of subsidy reimbursement for which the child was approved. 3) Whether the child was approved for full-time care, part-time care, or both; including the days of care requested by the parent. 4) The assigned co-payment rate to be billed on behalf of this child. 5) The name and ID number of the approved provider location designated for care. Care shall only occur at the location associated with both the provider name and ID number indicated on the certificate. When multiple care locations are owned, care is only allowed at the single location indicated on the certificate.