CCDF has helped low-income families become self-reliant and has helped children become ready for school. In addition to supporting families on the road to economic self-sufficiency, CCDF also has supported the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children to age 13 in a variety of early care and education settings, helping prepare a pathway to future success.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) requires each participating State, Territory, and Tribe to submit a biennial plan outlining how it will implement its share of the CCDF block grant. Each State's CCDF Lead Agency prepares a plan to show how it will assist low-income families, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and those transitioning from public assistance in obtaining child care so they can work or attend training/education.
Connecticut Background Information
You can read the draft CT Plan for 2012 - 2013 - caution: it's 136 pages. Public hearings are being held in May in Hamden, Waterbury and Norwich. Information on the CT Department of Social Services Child Care Programs (which are largely funded by the CCDF) can be found on the DSS Child Care web page.
On April 6, 2011, DSS and a group of Connecticut parents and providers participated in an online webinar to help plan Connecticut's application for CCDF funds. You can watch that webinar here:
Single Integrated Child Care System
The Child Care and Development Fund program has changed federally subsidized child care programs in States by allowing them to serve families through a single, integrated child care system. All child care funding is now combined under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. Revised final Child Care Development Block Grant regulations for the combined Child Care and Development Fund program were issued on July 24, 1998. Each State, Territory, and Tribe has a single Child Care Lead Agency that is responsible for the development of a comprehensive State plan.
Child Care Services Funded by CCDF
Subsidized child care services are available to eligible families through certificates or contracts with providers. 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. Previous funding has included additional funding for specific purposes such as quality expansion, improving the quality of care for infants and toddlers, and improving school-age care and Child Care Resource and Referral Services. To improve the health and safety factors related to 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, Territories, and Tribes must submit comprehensive plans every two years. The new regulations have strengthened the requirements for conducting public hearings regarding these plans, and public comment is invited through this process. A list of State Child Care Home pages may be found on the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) website at:
Research
Funding includes monies for child care research, demonstration, and evaluation activities. These funds are increasing the capacity for child care research at the national, state, and local levels while addressing critical questions with implications for children and families. Funds have been awarded to support individual project areas, including field-initiated research, research partnerships and research scholars, as well as a National Research Collaboration and Archive.
Technical Assistance
Subject to the availability of appropriations, one fourth of 1% of the total CCDF is used by the Child Care Bureau to provide technical assistance to grantees. Its technical assistance network is designed to address the needs of states, territories, and tribes administering the Child Care and Development Fund.
Source: Much of the information on this page was drawn from WorkWORLD. a project of the Employment Support Institute of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business.
