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Child Care Scholarship Policy Manual 20

1.1.4 CHILD CARE SERVICE GOALS The goals of the child care services are: • To promote family independence by giving priority for the use of child care funds to Welfare Reform clients through the Family Independence Act. • To enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all families, including those who receive no direct assistance under CCDF or SSBG. • To provide parents with a broad range of options in addressing their child care needs. • To strengthen the role of the family. • To improve the quality of, and coordination among, child care programs and early childhood development programs. • To increase the availability of early childhood development and before- school and after-school care services (school-age care). The Child Care Scholarship Program incorporates the following elements which are beneficial to families, providers, and local communities: • Families are offered information regarding accessible child care arrangements. • Child care providers are afforded opportunities for participating in the delivery of paid care, less paperwork, timely payment, resources for staff training and program improvement. • The consolidated management of publicly funded child care results in effective administration, planning, and reporting. At many levels, information and referral options are being provided and applicants are learning about child care and what is available in the communities. A guiding principle of the Child Care Scholarship Program is a commitment to provide the applicant with information that allows informed choices regarding child care arrangements.