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Child Care Subsidy Policy October 1, 2024 1 CHAPTER 1: CHILD CARE PROGRAM GOALS AND DEFINITION 1.0. Child Care Program Description and Goals 1.0.1. Program Description Child care is a service which offers direct care and protections of infants, preschool, and school-age children during a portion of a twenty-four (24) hour day inside or outside of the child’s own home. Child care is generally provided to children under the age of thirteen (13). In some situations, such as developmental delays, physical or behavioral disorders, or the need for supervision for children under court supervision, a child care plan for children under the age of eighteen (18), may be considered. 1.0.2. West Virginia State Goals The primary goal of child care services is to provide experiences to children which will foster their healthy development while enabling their parents to participate in work or educational activities. Child care supplements the care and protection that a child receives from his parents. 1.0.3. Federal Goals The federal Child Care & Development Fund, which provides the primary funding for the State of West Virginia’s child care program, requires West Virginia to develop a plan for operation of services. The WV State Plan must address how federal funds will be utilized to address the federal goals for child care: to improve the affordability, availability, and quality of child care programs. Further information about how the State of West Virginia is addressing those goals is included in the West Virginia Child Care Plan which may be accessed through the Bureau for Family Assistance web site at: https://DoHS.wv.gov/bfa/ece/Provider%20Information/Documents/2021%20State%20Plan %20Final%2009-15-2021.pdf 1.1. Definition of Program Terms The following definitions of program terms shall be used in interpreting child care program policy: 1.1.1. Accreditation: Certification by a qualified entity, generally nationally recognized, that a program meets accepted standards of excellence established for such programs. 1.1.2. Adult: An individual who is 18 years of age or older. 1.1.3. Applicant: Anyone who applies for or requests child care services regardless of his/her race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or marital status; or anyone who applies to be a child care provider.