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: All licensed and license exempt providers can apply to become CCAP Approved Providers. Providers have cited rates and the inability to charge families more than the designated reimbursement rate, payment delays related to enrollment and back billing issues and lack of CCAP participating families in their location as reasons for not applying to become CCAP 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: Upon receipt of an application for CCAP benefits, the Lead Agency issues a Pending Certificate Notice which includes the certificate number, the names of the children for whom child care is being requested, next steps in the application process, and information on providing the certificate number to providers to enroll in care. The notice informs that licensed Family Child Care Providers and Center Based Providers who may not yet be CCAP approved providers can apply to become CCAP Approved Providers and shares contact information for resource and referral to assist in finding a provider that meets the family￿s unique needs. It covers relative (license-exempt) care and how to request an application for approval for a relative to provide care. The Lead Agency provides information about family choice of provider on the Choosing Child Care page in the resource section on the DHS website for families participating in CCAP. https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and- services/child-care/child-care-assistance-program-ccap/choosing-child-care Families have access to resource and referral assistance through DHS partnership with BrightStars. Information about selecting a Provider that meets the family’s needs can be found on the website in the family resource section and staff is available to talk with families to guide them in their search for care. https://brightstars.org/family-resources/ e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: A Benefit Decision Notice (BDN) is sent to the family when the application for child care assistance is either approved or denied. The BDN includes decisions on each benefit application submitted by a family, including the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). It includes instructions on accessing the applicant’s online account at https://healthyrhode.ri.gov and CCAP benefit authorization information including the certificate number and instructions to provide this number to the child care provider, the eligibility period, the names of eligible/ineligible children, authorized time, copay information or denial reason if applicable.