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Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Acronyms and Definitions

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Revised 04/2023 Skills Training – Education or training designed to provide the participant with the basic skills and certification necessary for employment in an occupational area. Smart Start – A statewide initiative to provide the preschool children of North Carolina and their families with access to affordable, high quality early childhood education and family support services. Social Services Commission – A commission created by the North Carolina General Assembly that is responsible for adopting rules which govern the Subsidized Child Care Program. Special Needs Rate – An established rate paid to certified developmental day centers based on net cost studies and revenue documents. State Median Income (SMI)- an annual income figure representing the point at which there are as many families earning more than that amount as there are earning less than that amount. State Subsidy Services Appeals Panel or "Panel"- means the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education internal review panel. Star Rated License – Child Care Programs may obtain a 1-5 Star Rated License based upon two components: educational levels of staff and program standards. Programs with a 1-star license meet minimum standards. Programs with a 2–5- star license voluntarily meet a higher level of enhanced standards and may qualify for Smart Start quality bonuses. Stepparent – The person who has married a child's natural parent and is not the legal parent of the child nor financially responsible. Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program- the North Carolina program to assist eligible families in paying the cost of child care services. Subsidy Services TA Consultants – Subsidy Services Section staff who provide technical assistance and training to local purchasing agencies and providers regarding regulations and policies for the child care program. They also work with the local Partnerships for Children regarding the use of subsidy funding, monitor case records and report the findings to the appropriate agencies. Subsidy Services Policy Consultants – Raleigh based Subsidy Services Section staff who are responsible for developing and writing policy, implementing contract procedures for services related to the Subsidized Child Care Program and for reporting information pertaining to subsidized services statewide to the Department of Health and Human Services and to the NC General Assembly. Also provide policy interpretations and guidance to families, child care providers, and staff from DCDEE, DSS and other agencies.