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: Most child care providers in West Virginia do participate in the subsidy system. Out of 342 child care centers, only four do not accept subsidized children. For out of school time centers, two programs out of ninety-two programs do not participate. For the 909 family child care homes and facilities, nineteen do not participate in the subsidy program. Child care providers do not report issues enrolling or participating in the subsidy program. As evident from the high rate of participation in the subsidy system, there are minimal barriers to participation in the program. The most reported barrier among those that do not participate is that they are in high demand areas and can charge more for private pay children than the subsidy rate. 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 are provided consumer education materials on choosing child care, referrals to child care resource and referral agencies, verbal communication at the time of the application. Community outreach, workshops, or other in-person activities are provided to parents. Information is also provided on the West Virginia Child Care Policy website. Parental Choice: In order to ensure that parents are given a variety of child care options, certificates may be used to purchase care in the following sites: Child's home, by an in-home care giver, who must be a relative. In-home care is limited to situations in which the payment equals minimum wage and/or based on the medical need of the child. - Family child care homes registered for 4 - 6 children and informal care providers (relatives & non-relatives caring for 3 or fewer children who meet health and safety requirements;) - Licensed child care centers caring for 13 or more children; - Licensed Out of School Time Centers caring for school-age children; and - Family child care facilities caring for 7 - 12 children. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: After the family has been determined eligible for child care services, a Child Care Certificate is issued from the FACTS to the parent. This certificate serves as proof that the Department of Health and Human Resources will be responsible for payment and contains pertinent information about the family and the amount of the fee to be paid by the parent. The parent shall use the certificate to purchase care from a child care provider of choice. The certificate is a one-page document that entitles a parent to purchase up to twelve months of child care services. The certificate is issued to a parent for the provider identified/selected by the parent and contains the terms of the agreement. Information conveyed by the certificate includes names and birth dates of children, days/hours of services, beginning and end date, payment rates and parent fees, if any. The certificate is issued upon approval of a new application or a review, or when a new provider is identified.