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 Lead Agency conducted a survey of providers in May 2021 separately from its Market Rate Survey to collect information about rates, barriers to participation, and parent fees. 356 providers participated in the survey. Respondents by agency type: Center (66.5%), Group Home (13.5%), Family Home (14.1%), and School (5.9%). Only 13.9% of providers completing the survey indicated they have experienced a barrier. Common barriers identified by child care providers include subsidy rate not sufficient; limited capacity; amount of paperwork required; and payment practices. These responses informed the Lead Agency as it implemented a new electronic billing and payments system in February 2022. Through this modernized system, administrative burden has been lessened for providers, and payments are issued weekly. The Lead Agency incorporated questions to better identify barriers to participation in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program in its 2024 Cost of Quality Care survey. The Lead Agency is engaging child care providers about barriers and opportunities to participation through Provider Advisory Groups (PAGs) facilitated by the University of Tennessee Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS). The Lead Agency is also exploring development and implementation of survey mechanisms to routinely capture and analyze data to identify potential barriers and opportunities to child care provider participation in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program. 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: The Lead Agency provides consumer education and explains parent's rights and responsibilities when choosing child care. When appropriate, the Lead Agency may refer a parent to the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R) for additional assistance. Once the parent makes a selection of a child care provider, the Lead Agency directly issues a certificate to the child care provider of choice. A parent participating in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program has the choice to use that certificate at any licensed or license-exempt child care provider that has signed a contract and agreed to the terms and conditions to participate in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program. (Exception: Non-TANF may only be used at eligible child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency or regulated by the Tennessee Department of Education) or license- exempt Boys & Girls Clubs meeting CCDF requirements. The Lead Agency consistently encourages child care providers to participate in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The child care certificate contains the Lead Agency Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program contact details, case number, name and address of the parent, demographic information for the parent and child, parent work activity, name and address of the selected child care provider, the start and end date of certificate eligibility, funding eligibility category, and the amount of co-pay, if applicable. Once the parent selects a child care provider, the Lead Agency directly issues a certificate to the child care provider of choice and the parent.