Child Care Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by WITF | Monday, January 05, 2009 | 0 comments »

I need help finding and paying for child care.

You can apply for and renew your benefits from the comfort of your home using COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, Food Stamps, help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services.

What is the Subsidized Child Care Program?

The subsidized child care program helps low-income families pay their child care fees. The state and federal governments fund this program, which is managed by the Child Care Information Services office located in your county.

If you meet the guidelines:

  • The CCIS will pay a part of your child care cost. This is called a subsidy payment.
  • You will pay a part of the cost. This is called the family co-pay.
  • The subsidy payment and the family co-pay go directly to the child care program.

NOTE: If your child care subsidy does not pay the full amount that your child care program charges, the provider may ask you to pay the difference between the subsidy payment and their private charges.

How can I get help in finding child care that meets my needs?

Through their Child Care Information Services agencies, the Department of Public Welfare offers all parents, regardless of income, a resource and referral service in all communities across Pennsylvania. Resource and Referral Offices connect parents with child care arrangements, other needed services, and, for those who qualify, help in paying for child care. The most important step in finding child care that meets your needs is to discuss your needs with the CCIS staff, visit the facilities you are offered, and follow the suggestions for How to Choose Child Care.

What is the Child Care Information Services (CCIS)?

The Child Care Information Services office is the center for child care information and child care help in your county. You can call or visit the CCIS office for a subsidized child care application.

The CCIS will:

  • Review your application to see if you meet the guidelines for the subsidized child care program.
  • Help you find a child care program.
  • Provide information and ideas about how to select the best possible early learning program or setting for your child.

How do I open a child day care facility?

The first step is to contact your local Regional Child Development Office. There are four Regional Child Development Offices located in Pennsylvania. Each regional office is assigned responsibility for facilities located in specific counties in Pennsylvania. Staff in the regional office conduct orientation sessions for prospective child care providers in which you can obtain information related to opening and operating a child care facility. Staff in the regional office can provide information regarding the laws and regulations relevant to child care facilities and can answer questions you might have regarding the requirement for operating a child care facility.

What types of child care facilities are regulated by the Department of Public Welfare?

The Department regulates three types of child care facilities:

  1. Child Care Center - A child care facility in which seven or more children who are not related to the operator receive child care. A child care center must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  2. Group Child Care Home - A child care facility in which seven though 12 children of various ages or in which seven though 15 children from 4th grade through 15 years of age who are not related to the operator receive child care. A group child care home must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  3. Family Child Care Home - A child care facility located in a home in which four, five or six children who are not related to the caregiver receive child care. A family child care home must have a certificate of registration from DPW in order to legally operate.

Where do I find the child care provider regulations?

The child care regulations are available on the Web at the following links:

If you have questions regarding the child care regulations, please contact your Regional Child Development Office.

What do I do if I think a facility is operating illegally without the department's license?

Contact the appropriate Department of Public Welfare Regional Child Development Office. Each regional child development office is assigned responsibility for certain counties in Pennsylvania. Regional office staff investigate complaints about child care facilities that are operating without the required certificate of compliance or registration.

How do I make a complaint about a child care facility?

Contact the appropriate Department of Public Welfare Regional Child Development Office. Each regional child care office is assigned responsibility for certain counties in Pennsylvania. Regional office staff investigate complaints about child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes that do not follow the regulatory requirements for operating a facility.

How can I get a list of child care facilities in my area?

You may contact Child Care Works at 1-877-4-PA-KIDS. Their office will provide you with information regarding how to find safe, affordable child care near your home or work.

You may contact you local Child Care Information Services agency for resource and referral services. Your CCIS agency can assist you in finding a facility that meets your needs. You can also find a listing of regulated child care providers through the Online Child Care Provider Search.

What kind of information can I get about a child day care facility?

You may contact the appropriate Regional Child Development Office to request information regarding a facility's certification or registration history, current certification status, and verified complaint history.

How do I get information regarding whether a facility has a problem meeting the department's licensing standards?

You may contact the appropriate Regional Child Development Office to request information regarding the facility's history of how well a facility has complied with the department's regulations, a history of complaints which the regional office verified and the status of current license.

Where do I find child care regulations?

The child care regulations are available on the Web at the following links:

What types of child care facilities need to have a license?

The Department of Public Welfare regulates three types of child care facilities:

  1. Child Care Center - A child care facility in which seven or more children who are not related to the operator receive child care. A child care center must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  2. Group Child Care Home - A child care facility in which seven though 12 children of various ages or in which seven though 15 children from 4th grade through 15 years of age who are not related to the operator receive child care. A group child care home must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  3. Family Child Care Home - A child care facility located in a home in which four, five or six children who are not related to the caregiver receive child care. A family child care home must have a certificate of registration from DPW in order to legally operate.

What are the guidelines for the subsidized child care program?

You must submit an application to the CCIS office to see if you meet the guidelines for the subsidized child care program.

The following are the basic guidelines:

  • You must live in Pennsylvania
  • Have a child or children who need child care while you work or attend an education program
  • Meet income guidelines for your family size
  • Work 20 or more hours a week - or-
  • Work 10 hours and go to school or train for 10 hours a week
  • Have a promise of a job that will start within 30 days of your application for subsidized child care
  • Teen parents must attend an education program
  • The child who needs care must be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residency
  • Have proof of identification for each parent or caretaker in the home.

How do I show that I meet the guidelines?

You must submit a subsidized child care application to the CCIS.

You may call the CCIS in your county to request an application. The CCIS will mail the application to you. You can also visit the CCIS to pick up an application.

Make sure that you read the directions on the application carefully. If you have any questions, call the CCIS. Complete all sections of the application and make sure that you sign and date the application before you return it to the CCIS. You may file your application in person, by mail or fax.

NOTE: Certain items needed to see if you meet the subsidized child care guidelines are based on your word, and some require outside proof.

If you are having problems getting the needed information let the CCIS know right away. The CCIS will help you get the information you are unable to obtain.

The CCIS will ask you to sign a consent form so that they can help you get needed information.

The information you provide will be kept confidential. The information in your file will be used for your participation in the subsidized child care program.

  • You may self-certify information - this means the CCIS will accept a statement from the parent or caretaker as proof of the following information:
    • Age of Child
    • Citizenship or immigration status
    • Immunization status (shot records)
    • Days and hours that a child needs care (former TANF client)
    • Former TANF status
    • Extended time frame for a face-to-face meeting based on a hardship
  • You may self declare information - this means you do not have to submit information right away. You can tell the CCIS the information that is needed. You will then have 30 days to submit the proof. You will need to sign a form given to you by the CCIS.

The CCIS will send you a notice to let you know if you meet the guidelines. This notice is called a Child Care Eligible Notice.
If you do not meet the guidelines the CCIS will send you a notice called a Child Care Ineligible Notice.

How can I be certain my child is safe and well cared for?

The most important way to be certain that your child is safe and well cared for is to become a partner with your child care provider. There is an important checklist which will provide you with ideas about what to look for at the provider location you choose.

What can I do if my child care provider turns out to have been a poor choice for me?

Regardless of all of your hard work to locate quality child care, there are many circumstances which may result in an unsatisfactory child care situation for you. You have a responsibility to your child and your family to start again to consider your needs, and pursue the best possible child care arrangement. Your CCIS will work with you any number of times to help identify possible providers.

As a provider, how can I become involved with my local CCIS R&R so I get more parents to choose my facility?

You may contact the CCIS for direction in obtaining any information about child care, or to let them know about you. As a regulated provider, this will allow you to be connected with families who may not have known about you or your services.

What is PA Early Learning Keys to Quality?

The PA Early Learning Keys to Quality is a quality improvement system in which all early learning programs and practitioners are encouraged and supported to improve child outcomes in two ways:

  • Through program improvements designed to increase the capacity to support children's learning and development
  • Through increased educational attainment among practitioners to enhance their practice skills and competencies.

How is PA Early Learning Keys to Quality structured?

The system is overseen by the Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning and involves government leadership from the Department of Education and the Department of Health. The Office of Child Development and Early Learning provides contracts to the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality, the statewide administrative center for the system, and to six Regional Keys.

What is the function the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality?

The PA Early Learning Keys to Quality is responsible for:

  • Developing principles and the framework to guide regional plans,
  • Statewide leadership focusing on quality benchmarks,
  • Policy and program development for Keystone STARS and professional development,
  • Environmental Rating Scale assessments, and
  • Credentialing professionals in early care and education programs (i.e. including the T.E.A.C.H. program).

What is the function of the Regional Keys to Quality?

The Regional Keys to Quality are responsible for:

  • Contributing to the development of principles and the framework for regional plans,
  • Regional leadership focusing on quality benchmarks,
  • Establishing regional advisory groups to develop plans, and
  • Developing and implementing regional plans for quality improvement and professional development.

What is my role in the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality?

As a provider – Get enrolled or progress in Keystone STARS! Improve child outcomes! As an early care and education leader - GET INVOLVED in regional planning and implementation!

As a parent – Find out more about quality programs and support your child care provider in attaining higher quality.

Where can I learn more about the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality?

Office of Child Development and Early Learning

Department of Public Welfare and Education

333 Market Street

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2675

PHONE: 717-346-9320

FAX: 717-346-9330

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/003670557.aspx?Url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pakeys.org

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