The Child Development Division continues work to implement Act 76, the child care and early childhood education law that passed in June 2023. CDD’s Act 76 webpage includes an updated Act 76 Status and Summary report and links to related memos, reports, and committees.
CCFAP Changes Coming April 7th
Three changes to the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) will go into effect on Sunday, April 7th, the first day of the first CCFAP service period in April. These changes aim to make child care more affordable for more families and to support child care programs to increase quality and sustainability.
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The highest level for CCFAP income eligibility will be 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), an increase from 350% FPL now. This means more families will be eligible for CCFAP. (An additional expansion to 575% FPL will come in October 2024.)
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The income guidelines for CCFAP eligibility will be updated to reflect the 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) recently released by the federal government. This means that some families may qualify for a lower Weekly Family Share and some new families may be eligible for CCFAP.
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Families below 175% FPL will no longer have a Weekly Family Share. This means that some families that currently have $25 Weekly Family Share will no longer have any Weekly Family Share.
All of the changes are reflected in the updated CCFAP Income Guidelines available on the CCFAP for Families page.
During the first weekend of April, CDD will run a mass process in the CDD Information System (CDDIS) to generate new CCFAP documents for families and child care programs currently enrolled in CCFAP. Families who are currently receiving CCFAP will receive direct communication about the upcoming changes by the end of March.
After April 7th, CCFAP applications will be processed using the expanded income guidelines. Families who may qualify for the first time should wait until that date to apply through their Community Child Care Support Agency.
Please note: The current CCFAP Income Guidelines are in effect through April 6th. Families who are eligible under the current income guidelines can apply at any time.
Proposed Changes Related to CCFAP Enrollment-Based Payments
As directed in Act 76, CDD has consulted with the Vermont Office of Racial Equity and other stakeholders to define “enrollment” for the purposes of CCFAP payments and developed a proposal for allowable absences and consolidation of absence categories. The memorandum, Act 76 Changes: Enrollment-based Payments, explains CDD’s process and the proposed changes.
Please note: No changes are being made to CCFAP Attendance submission at this time.
CDD plans to implement proposed changes on June 30, 2024. Next steps include updating administrative rules that govern CCFAP, making the necessary changes in CDDIS, and updating CCFAP policies and procedures. CDD will provide opportunities for public comment before the rules are finalized.
As always, the CDD team is here to help. If you have questions related to CCFAP, please email ahs.dcfcddccfappayments@vermont.gov or call 1-800-649-2642 (option 5).
Email general inquiries to ahs.dcfcddinfo@vermont.gov or call 1-800-649-2642.