Child Care Assistance
What is Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC)?
Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC), also known as subsidized child care, is an income-based assistance program available through FCDJFS. PFCC helps eligible families pay for the cost of child care services for children under the age of 13 and children with disabilities up to the age of 18. Applicants may be required to pay a co-payment based on gross monthly income and family size.
Who is eligible for Child Care Assistance?
Financial eligibility is based on your family’s gross monthly income and family size. Gross monthly household income is defined as your income before taxes, which includes employment income, child support, cash assistance, social security, disability, etc.
Household income:
- New Applicants – The gross monthly household income for your family size must be equal to or less than 142% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Existing Recipients – The gross monthly household income for your family size must be equal to or less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to maintain ongoing eligibility for Child Care.
Please find below a brief outline of the Income Eligibility Standards:
Family Size
|
2021 Federal Poverty Level (100%)
|
Maximum Income Limit for Initial Eligibility (142%)
|
Maximum Monthly Income Limit for Transitional and Special Need Eligiblity (150%) |
Maximum Income Limit for Ongoing Eligibility (300%)
|
2
|
$1,452
|
$2,062
|
$2,178 |
$4,355
|
3
|
$1,830
|
$2,599
|
$2,745 |
$5,490
|
4
|
$2,209
|
$3,136
|
$3,313 |
$6,625
|
5
|
$2,587
|
$3,674
|
$3,880 |
$7,760
|
For the complete list of PFCC Income Elibility Guidenlines, cick
here,
How do I apply for Child Care Assistance?
Where can I get a list of Child Care Providers that accept Publicly Funded Child Care?
FCDJFS recommends the following resources to assist parents and caretakers in locating a Child Care Provider that fits their needs:
I currently have an open child care case. How do I report changes?
To report a change, to your child care case, such as a new provider, you may use a Child Care Change form (1401-CC) and submit it to FCDJFS. You may also call the Customer Access Center (CAC) at (614) 233-2000 option 2 and report the change, such as new employment, or address change over the phone. If verification is required for the reported change, submit the documents within 10 days of the date the change is reported, and please be sure to include the best way a case manager can contact you if further information is needed regarding your reported change(s).
Fax your documents to (614) 233-2749, or email documents to: [email protected]
Please remember to include your name and/or 10-digit case number on each document that you submit.
How long does it take to process my application from when I submit it?
FCDJFS may take up to 30 days from the date of submission to process and make a determination on any application. If all verifications needed to determine eligibility are provided at the time of the application, the processing time decreases.
When will I get a notice that my application was approved or denied?
A notice should be received in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after the decision is made.
How often do I need to complete a redetermination to prevent my child care benefit from expiring?
In order to maintain continued eligibility for your child care benefit, a redetermination packet must be submitted every twelve (12) months, and is due before your current eligibility ends. A redetermination application (JFS 1124) is mailed 45 days before the end date of eligibility. To avoid potential interruption to your child care benefit, please submit the JFS 1124 and all supporting documentation before the end date of eligibility. A second letter will be mailed 15 days before the end date of eligibility reminding you of the termination date.
What happens if I lose my job or stop attending school?
A caretaker may continue to receive publicly funded child care (PFCC) for up to 13 weeks after the loss of a qualifying activity, such as loss of employment, no longer in school, or not participating in work activity for cash assistance. This 13-week benefit is available only once every 12 months. If approved:
- Continued eligibility will begin the first day of the activity loss, regardless of when the change is reported;
- Co-payments may be recalculated and shall be effective from the first day of the new corresponding eligibility period; and
- Continued eligibility may be extended up to 13 weeks from the date that the qualifying activity ended.◦In some circumstances, the continued eligibility period may be less than 13 weeks.
Will I be contacted if a certain verification or part of my application is missing?
Yes, FCDJFS may take up to 10-calendar days to review applications and mail a follow-up letter indicating what information is still needed to determine eligibility.
What is FCDJFS doing to meet its 2020 Step Up to Quality mandate?
By September 2020, the State of Ohio will require all child care providers who receive public funding to be star rated through Ohio’s Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) or lose that funding. As a result, the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (FCDJFS) is offering free trainings for home and center-based child care providers. The trainings will allow providers to earn up to 32 hours of Ohio Approved Professional Development to support them in the SUTQ rating process both to help become or stay star rated.
Why is being star-rated important for providers?
What we know from our work is that star-rated providers of child care in Franklin County are held to the highest quality standards when it comes to caring for children. Parents seek to find centers or home child care providers who are star-rated because staff is knowledgeable and passionate about their work. They provide a safe, nurturing, and caring environment so children can develop verbal and social skills to learn and grow, not only for today but also for their future.
How will the training benefit providers?
FCDJFS trainings will be offered in several rotating cohorts, through in-person and online vehicles and will include hands on technical assistance to help providers understand what is required to become SUTQ star-rated, how to fill out forms and prepare their center for initial or maintenance of an existing rating. The training is approved by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (OCCRRA), and those who complete the training will earn up to 32 hours credit toward their SUTQ star rating.
Are all PFCC providers eligible to participate in the training?
Regardless of their star level, all home-based or center-based PFCC providers in Franklin County are eligible to participate in the training.
How will the content be customized for providers?
Home-based providers will be in a separate cohort than center-based providers, but will cover the same content. This ensures all providers get what they need out of the training to prepare them for star rating. The training is designed with activities and completion of SUTQ forms to allow providers to delve into specific tasks that enable them to store the information in their long-term memory through repetition and experience. All providers, regardless of their setting type and current star rating, have an opportunity to learn.
What is the cost of Step Up to Quality training?
There is no cost but you must be a provider that operates home or center-based child care in Franklin County.
What is the time commitment for the training?
Participants will complete training over four Saturdays. Each Saturday will last for 8 hours.
Why is the training important?
In 2017, Franklin County had roughly 32,000 children utilizing Publicly Funded Child Care with 24% of center based providers and 18% of home providers star rated. This means if the 2020 mandates went in place today, approximately 23,000 children would need new child care providers – and more than 10,000 working parents would need to drop everything to find a star-rated provider to care for them.
What else will FCDJFS be doing to meet the 2020 SUTQ mandate?
Franklin County Job and Family Services takes seriously the State of Ohio mandate to ensure all home and center based child care are star rated by 2020. FCDJFS is engaged in multiple strategies to help meet that mandate including:
- Increased engagement by FCDJFS staff with child care providers regarding the benefits of being and/or staying star rated;
- Partnering with community organizations to help provide technical assistance to home and center based providers on how to become and stay star rated.
- Partnering with the State of Ohio by participating in community group meetings to communicate with providers the existing support with becoming Step Up to Quality star rated.
- Leveraging this programmatic and grassroots partnership with radio and television ads to support our grassroots and to help reinforce the benefits of becoming a star-rated provider and why parents should seek home and center-based child care that is star rated.
What is Step Up to Quality?
Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a five-star quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs. SUTQ program standards are based on national research and administered by the state of Ohio. A star rating recognizes early learning programs that meet and exceed those SUTQ program standards as well as health and safety regulations. To put it simply, a star rating is a sign that a home or child care provider meets the highest quality standards to care for your child.
What is a star rating?
A star rating from the state of Ohio is a sign that a home child care provider or center meets the highest quality standards to care for your child. Find out more at
http://childcaresearch.ohio.gov/ to find a star-rated provider.
Why is a star rating important for parents?
A star rating is important because it is a sign that a provider offers a safe, caring, nurturing environment for your child and has staff that are qualified to help your child develop verbal and social skills to learn and grow, not only for today but also for their future. Find out more at
http://childcaresearch.ohio.gov/ to find a star-rated provider.
Why is it important for providers to be star rated?
Being star rated and staying star rated is a sign for parents that your home or center:
- Is held to the highest quality standards when caring for their children.
- Offers safe, caring, and nurturing environment to help their children learn and grow.
- Staff can help their children develop verbal and social skills to learn and grow, not only for today but also for their future.
Also, if you are star rated by 2020, eligible families can receive assistance to help pay for child care at your center.
As a provider, how can I find out more about being star rated?
What is the Incentive Payment for Newly Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Programs?
In an effort to encourage newly licensed programs to provide publicly funded child care, ODJFS is creating a one-time incentive payment. Newly licensed ODJFS child care centers and family child care providers are eligible for this incentive if the new program also signs a provider agreement for publicly funded child care. The new license and provider agreement must become effective between the date of this letter and June 30, 2020.
The incentive payments will be $5,000 for child care centers and $2,500 for family child care providers. Payment will be automatically issued by ODJFS via electronic funds transfer approximately 60 days after meeting the requirements. Any payments approved or authorized by ODJFS are subject to the availability of appropriate state or Federal funds.
What are some program-specific rules for Family Child Care?
More information about program-specific rules for Family Child Care, including Type A, Type B and In-Home Aides, can be found by clicking
here.
What are some program-specific rules for Child Care Centers?
More information about program-specific rules for Child Care Centers can be found by clicking
here.