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 most recent Market Rate Survey, providers were asked to indicate barriers to participation in subsidy if they were currently participating in child care subsidy, or reasons why they do they not participate if they currently weren’t enrolled. Barriers indicated by both provider populations included: being paid based on attendance instead of enrollment, not being paid during the enrollment process (back payments), payments taking too long from DHHS, payments from the family being hard to collect, authorizations taking too long, notifications not coming through when a family isn’t eligible for care, the whole process taking too long, COVID-19 and related health measures, reduced staffing or enrollment, low reimbursement rates, burdens surrounding paperwork, reimbursement from DHHS taking too long, and not understanding or being interested in the process. This information was collected from licensed providers. 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: Families have their choice of provider. See 392 Neb. Admin. Code § 2-014. The provider must be approved for subsidy to be reimbursed by DHHS. Families are advised of their option to choose their provider on the Lead Agency website, by verbal communication at the time of application, and may be referred to child care resource and referral agencies such as the Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCRN) or Nebraska Resource and Referral System (NRRS) for assistance in finding a provider that meets their needs. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The certificate of authorization includes the approval period, hours for which care has been authorized, the reason for care, the name(s) of the child(ren) approved for care, and the number of units the provider is allowed to provide care.