Child Care and Development Fund
Fact Sheet from The Administration for Children and Families
The newly established Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) has made available $3.1 billion to States and tribes for FY 1998. This new program, authorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, PL 104-193, will assist low- income families and those transitioning off welfare to obtain child care so they can work or attend training/education. The award represents an increase in child care funding of $568 million for States over FY 1996.
The Child Care and Development Fund brings together, for the first time, four Federal child care subsidy programs and allows States to design a comprehensive, integrated service delivery system to meet the needs of low-income working families. Additionally, the Child Care and Development Fund sets aside a minimum of four percent of Federal and State funds to improve the quality and availability of healthy and safe child care for all families.
Major Change for Child Care
The major change for child care services under the Child Care and Development Fund is the requirement for States to serve families through a single, integrated child care system. Four Federal child care programs are now combined. Three programs, AFDC/JOBS Child Care, Transitional Child Care, and At-Risk of Welfare Dependency Child Care (formerly called Title IV-A child care), have been repealed and all child care funding is now combined under the former Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. CCDBG regulations will apply to the combined Child Care and Development Fund program where they correspond with the statute. New regulations will be developed to revise the old regulations and make them conform with the new law.
Child Care Services Funded by CCDF
Subsidized child care services are available to eligible parents through certificates or contracted programs. Parents may select any legally operating child care provider. Child care providers serving children funded by CCDF must meet basic health and safety requirements set by States and Tribes. These requirements must address prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunizations; building and physical premises safety; and minimum health and safety training.
Quality Activities
A minimum of four percent of CCDF funds must be used to improve the quality of child care and offer additional services to parents, such as resource and referral counseling regarding the selection of appropriate child care providers to meet their child?s needs. To improve the health and safety of available child care, many States have provided training, grants and loans to providers, improved monitoring, compensation projects, and other innovative programs. Tribes may use a portion of their funds to construct child care facilities provided there is no reduction in the current level of child care services.
Public Input For State And Tribal Child Care Plans
All States and Tribes must submit comprehensive plans by July 1, 1997. The legislation has strengthened the requirements for conducting public hearings regarding these plans and public comment is invited through this process.
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