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: The Market Rate Survey (MRS) found that nearly 79% of center providers, 84% of Family Child Care (FCC) providers, and 47% of summer youth camp providers were serving children who were participating in the state Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in 2023. The MRS asked providers not participating in the CCAP to share their reasons. The majority of those providers (55.5% of centers, 42.2% of FCCs, and 19.2% of summer youth camps) answered simply that no families receiving assistance had applied to their programs. Of those currently not participating in the CCAP, 12.6% of center providers, 10.2% of FCC providers, and 2.6% of summer youth camp providers stated that the reimbursement rate is less than the tuition they charge. And, 6.8% of centers, 2.4% of FCCs, and 2.9% of summer youth camps indicated that the assistance payments are not received in a timely manner. 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 Parent/Applicant/Provider Agreement (PAPA) is not linked to a specific provider, so parents can choose any provider. The PAPA also provides information about the choice of providers. DHS/DFD also provides consumer education materials such as the Parent Handbook, Provider and Parent Role and Responsibilities, and information on DHS/DFD’s website (www.childcarenj.gov/Parents/CCAP). Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies verbally communicate to parents that they can choose whichever provider best suits their needs as long as that provider participates in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The Child Care Certificate is known as the Parent/Applicant/ Provider Agreement (PAPA), and includes the parent and child information, the name and location of the provider, days of week and hours that child care will be provided, payment rate that the provider will receive, and a certification page where parent and provider read and attest that they understand the rules and responsibilities of the assistance program. Once the PAPA is signed by both parties, it is submitted to the CCR&R agency.