The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Moniquin Huggins Child Care Bureau December 8, 2009

The Child Care Bureau The Child Care Bureau supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's learning and development by improving the quality of early care and education and after-school programs.

The Child Care & Development Fund $5 Billion of Federal funding annually –Additional $2 Billion in Recovery Act funds in 2009 Grants are administered to CCDF agencies in the States, the District of Columbia, the Territories, and 260 Tribal agencies representing approximately 500 Tribes nationwide Flexible block grants allow States, Tribes, and Territories to set their own policies for eligibility, payment rates, and service priorities.

CCDF Services Care for approximately 1.7 million children is subsidized by CCDF each month. Child care services provided through grants and contracts with providers, or vouchers to parents to access child care Approximately 85 percent of services are offered via vouchers. Approximately 60 percent of children are served in center-based care and 30 percent in family child care homes.

CCDF Services for Children with Special Needs Services to children up to age 19 – (State option) Flexibility in defining special needs Prioritizing services for special needs children Increased rates for providers caring for children with special needs – (State Option)

State-Supported Activities 55 States and Territories coordinate programs that promote inclusion 31 States pay a higher reimbursement rate to providers caring for children with special needs 26 Participate in cross-system planning/coordination Other activities including funding inclusion specialists, developing resource materials, professional development for providers, training and technical assistance.

$2B in Recovery Act Funds CCDF received an additional $2B in ARRA funds in FY 2009 Approximately $94M to improve the I/T child care quality In addition to the $100M for I/T under CCDF annual appropriations

Flexibility of CCDF ( CCDF-ACF-IM-09-01, June 2, 2009, website: acf.hhs.gov/programs.ccb) Child Care Bureau issues Information Memorandum to highlight flexibility of Recovery Act Funds under CCDF: –Income Eligibility Defining Income, Determining income disregards –Reimbursement Rates Tiered Reimbursement or differential rates –Quality Activities and Targeted Funds Expanding child care supply, Professional Development Improved quality for infants and toddlers –Coordination Across Programs Inter-Agency Coordinating Councils or Cabinets Coordination for Services for Infants and Toddlers Coordination for Services for Children with Disabilities

“Snapshot” of Recovery Funded Activities to Support Inclusion Expand Nurse consultation in child care for providers caring for infants and toddlers or children with special needs. Include inclusion in State certificate and credentialing program Support 4 local collaborative models designed to form community collaborations between CC, EHS, CCR&R and county mental health departments on infant social/emotional health Mentoring/coaching for child care programs caring for infants and toddlers.

“Snapshot” of Activities Continued…… Conduct faculty institutes to provide training for higher education faculty Train Child Care Inclusion Specialist Training and technical assistance for providers Mini grants to purchase special adaptive equipment

Thank You! Contact the Child Care Bureau