Child Care Assistance Program
The Child Care Assistance Program helps families with income below 185 percent of the federal poverty level (see poverty guidelines. ) pay for their child care expenses if child care is needed for employment or approved training and education. Child Care Assistance is also available to families receiving TANF when parents are employed or participating in employment related activities and to teen parents completing high school or obtaining a GED. Benefits are provided through a Vision card that is used like a debit card to make payments to approved child care providers. The goal of the program is to promote family economic self-sufficiency and to help children succeed in school and life through affordable, high quality early care and education and after school programs.
| Child Care Assistance | |
| Average Monthly Children | 19,527 |
| Actual Expenditures---SFY 2006 | $74,748,498 |
| State General Funds | $20,906,949 |
| Children's Initiative Funds | $1,400,001 |
Child Care Quality Initiatives
SRS provides over $2 million annually to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for licensing and monitoring activities to help ensure the health and safety of children in child care. SRS contracts with the Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (KACCRRA) for consumer education and referral services for parents seeking child care. KACCRRA also provides training, professional development activities, and technical assistance for child care providers, including on-site support for providers. Specialists are available for providers serving infants and toddlers.
| Child Care Quality Initiatives | |
| Total Grant Expenditures---SFY 2006 | $2,950,156 |
Early Head Start
Kansas Early Head Start is a comprehensive prevention/early childhood development program for pregnant women and children, birth to age four. Services provided include developmental assessments, mental and physical health, nutrition, social services, job seeking and retention for parents, parent education and involvement, services for children with disabilities, weekly home visits, community involvement in early learning, literacy activities, child care, assessment of child care settings, materials, equipment, and supplies for child care partners, and professional development for child care providers. Fourteen Kansas administered grant funded Early Head Start programs serve 34 Kansas counties and 1,017 enrolled slots for pregnant women and/or children and their families. In addition, over 3,000 more children are impacted by the quality improvements provided to the partnering child care providers.
| Early Head Start | |
| Actual Expenditures---SFY 2006 | $7,889,618 |
"I only earn $11 an hour at my full-time job, making it difficult to support myself and my child. Why am I not eligible for child care subsidy even though I have trouble making ends meet?"
Eligibility for child care subsidy is based on a sliding fee scale using gross income (before taxes) per month and family size. Other income, such as child support payments, also count. To be eligible, a family must be under 185 percent of the federal poverty level (see poverty guidelines). The program does not take into account additional expenses such as rent and car payments.
"I am currently receiving child care subsidy. I have to pay my child care provider an additional fee each mouth so she will take my child to school. Can she charge me for that?"
Child care providers may charge for extra services if their policy is to also charge all families for these extra services. Allowable charges may include transportation, overtime, late fees, holidays, and extra absent days. The Child Care Subsidy Program is available to help with child care costs, but may not always cover the entire cost.
"I suspect child abuse and neglect at a child care center. Who do I call?"
If abuse or neglect is suspected at a child care center, call the local SRS regional office or the Kansas Protection Reporting Center at 1-800-922-5330.
"Who licenses child care facilities? Who do I call to find out if any complaints have been filed?"
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) licenses child care facilities and also records complaints. Call KDHE at 785-296-1270.
"What is the difference between Head Start and Early Head Start?"
Kansas Early Head Start is a comprehensive child development program for pregnant women and children up to age 4. The program consists of weekly home visits, center or family-based child care, and professional development training for child care providers. Head Start is a center-based preschool program for children age 3 to 5. Families must meet income eligibility guidelines to participate in both programs.