The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low income families so they can work, job search, or attend school while moving towards self-sufficiency. CCAP helps pay for children up to age 12 and for children with special needs up to age 14. CCAP is available to:
Can I use any Provider?
You select the provider: day care centers, licensed family homes, extended day (school sponsored), nursery schools/preschools, and legally unlicensed homes. Unlicensed providers must have a background check. For more information, see Types of Providers.
How Does a Provider Get Approved?
The provider must register with Dakota County. We will send the chosen provider a Purchase of Service that has been signed by the parent. This form approves the parent for county aid.
It also requests the provider to state current rates. The county can pay up to the maximum rates. This rate is set by the State of Minnesota. If your provider’s rates are higher than the county's maximum rate, the parent pays the difference.
What Should Provider Know About Our Programs?
All your policies for private pay parents should apply to a subsidy family. Because we are funded with state, federal, and county dollars, we have requirements that must be followed. For example:
- Parents need to make a family co-payment to you. Parents could lose their child care help if they do not make the co-payment.
- Parents may receive aid only for work, school, or job searching. If a parent quits or loses a job or is on break from school, the county will not continue to pay for child care.
- Parents must provide information at least every six months to us so we can decide if they can still get help. This is called an eligibility review.
- Parents must tell us any time there is a change in their address, income, work or school status, family size, provider, etc. Parents must keep in close contact with us.
What if the Parent is not Approved and the Provider Begins Care?
If you begin doing care before you have the Purchase of Service form, you are taking a risk that you won't be paid if the application isn't approved. You may call our office (651-554-5790) to check if the parent is approved for aid.
If you and the parent have agreed to a child care arrangement, the parent should call her child care worker immediately so we can process an authorization form.
If you are an unlicensed provider, a background check will be done.
Do Parents and Providers Get Notified of Changes?
If a parent's co-payment changes, or if the parent is terminated from the program, both the provider and the parent will receive a Notice of Action from us. You should not expect payment for care provided past the effective date on the notice.
What are the Parent Responsibilities?
- Report all changes to the county within ten days of the change. This includes changes in family size, income, work, or school activity.
- Complete an eligibility review every six months. Providers are sent a notice if a parent has a change in the co-payment or is terminated from child care subsidy.
- Give 15 day notice to provider before changing providers unless you suspect neglect or abuse. Contact us two weeks before changing providers.
What are the Provider’s Responsibilities?
- Send invoices to us within 60 days of service or payment will be denied.
- Apply the same policies as for private pay families. Providers should be sure the parent has a copy of the contract.
- Put in writing your policies on payment, unused care, holidays and vacations days, and giving notice of ending care. This is called a contract. The contract must be submitted to us before we can pay for these days.
- Sign and submit the Provider Acknowledgment Form (EDAK 2045b) before you are paid for services.
- Notify us when a parent ends care if no confirmation notice has been received from the county.
- Understand and agree that no withholding of state and federal income taxes, FICA, or otherwise, will be made from the payments to you. It is your obligation to comply with federal and state tax laws. You agree to provide care in compliance with signed authorization.
How to Apply
Glossary
Billing Overview