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: Per the 2024 Market Rate Survey providers reported the following barriers to participation in the Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) Program: the program chose not to participate in Step Up To Quality (required for all programs participating in PFCC); lack of children in the provider's service area who are eligible for PFCC; reimbursement rates are too low; difficulty associated with budgeting based on PFCC payments, the PFCC payment is based on attendance and not enrollment, it is too difficult to budget based on the publicly funded child care payments, they serve low-income families through other partners (i.e. United Way, local initiative), their sponsoring organization does not support participation, the automated system is too complicated, and the payment categories or payment cycles do not align with their program. The most common reason, given by about a quarter of respondents (25.2%), was that the program chose not to participate in Step Up To Quality. The next most common reason given was that there are few children eligible in the provider’s area (17.1%). Responses given by 2024 MRS participants when asked whether they receive funding or support for early care and education from various listed sources, including DCY publicly funded child care (the CCDF subsidy program). Just under two-thirds of providers (64.1 percent) reported receiving funding through the DCY Publicly Funded Child Care Program. .For the 2024 survey, 6627 unique provider locations were identified and included in the sample within the following categories: • Type A FCC Home - 328 • Type B FCC Home ￿ 1,900 • Child Care Center ￿ 4,150 • Approved Day Camp - 120 • ODE Licensed Preschool - 84 • ODE Licensed School Age Child Care ￿ 45 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: Parents can search for any licensed child care program at https://childcaresearch.ohio.gov. The website will allow a parent to narrow the search by county, city, zip code, program type, hours of operation, accreditations, and specific criteria such as field trips, meals, etc. In addition to the website the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) partners with seven Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) partners serving in twelve service delivery areas required to provide outreach and awareness for parents searching for the right child care for their children. Additionally, families can learn more about child care through the Ohio Benefits integrated application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Cash, Child Care, and Medicaid. Parents can explore all of the programs at the following website which also includes the link to search for child care: Assistance Programs | Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal Core- https://benefits.ohio.gov/home/resources/assistance-programs/assistance-programs In addition, with the creation of the Child Care Choice Voucher Program in April 2024 no new application was created, but instead eligibility was determined at the time a family was denied access to publicly funded child care. At that time eligibility was automatically explored. Further exploration is now being done to further align Ohio’s Early Childhood Education program to further streamline service for families. Today this program is determined at the provider level. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The parent selects the provider as part of the application process. The notice of eligibility mailed to the parent also includes the mailed Notice of Authorization (NOA). The NOA is sent as soon as eligibility is determined. This notice includes the name of the provider(s) for each child, the category of authorization for each authorization for each child, and the copayment for each authorization for each child. Any licensed provider can elect to participate in the Child Care Choice Voucher program. To participate the program has to sign a provider agreement. Once a provider signs the agreement a child determined eligible for the voucher program can select from any program that has signed an agreement with open availability. Providers that sign an agreement agree to accept the State’s established monthly rate but may assess the family a copayment.