Early Childhood Integrated Financing Toolkit

Child Care and Development Fund [CCDF]also known to state lead agencies as Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
Federal Funding Streams: Requirements and Detailed Information
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Child CareFederal Funds for VA: $161.7 M federal$63.7 M required state match and maintenance of effort funds in FY18 | |
What Are the Main Requirements? | How do Federal Funds Flow? |
Purpose:When first created, CCDF was intended to help parents in work or education/training to pay for child care. The 2014 bipartisan reauthorization expanded its purpose to improve child care and development of participating children. While the majority of CCDF funds support Virginia’s Child Care Subsidy program, CCDF funds are also used for quality improvement.CCDF Child Care Subsidy (also known in Virginia as DSS Subsidy): operates under regulations approved by the State Board of Social Services and under a CCDF State Plan reviewed by stakeholders and approved by the federal Office of Child Care.
Quality Improvement:In FFY20, lead agencies must expend no less than 9% of CCDF funds to improve the quality of child care services for all children, and no less than 3% related to quality of care for infants & toddlers.
Subsidy Eligibility: • Children living in low-income families with parent(s) working or | • In Virginia, the Department of Social Services (VDSS) is the designated lead agency.
• State block grants provide parameters for how funds may be used, but provide significant leeway to the state lead agency.
• For child care subsidy, states set eligibility levels, determine intake processes, copayment sliding fee, provider payment practices, and payment levels within federal parameters. For example, states may use a mix of contracts/grants direct to providers and certificates/vouchers to help families pay for child care.
Subsidy funds flow from VDSS to 120 local department of social services offices where families go to apply and receive case management services.
• For quality improvement in Virginia, programs activities include but are not limited to Virginia Quality (quality rating and improvement system); Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (training and technical assistance for providers serving infants and toddlers); child care licensure; IMPACT professional development registry; training through the Community College Workforce Alliance, PSU Better Kid Care and Child Care Aware; Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program; Child Care Provider Low Interest Loan Program; consumer education; and child care resource and referral.
• Federal CCDF regulations: |