Page 48 - Book11E

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In 1988 and 1990, Congress also established three programs funded and administered under the Social Security Act:
1. Child care for low-income families at risk of becoming welfare recipients (CCDF)
2. Transitional child care (TCC) for families leaving welfare
3. Child care for families on welfare (AFDC) and/or enrolled in the JOBS program
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), authorized by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, is a multibillion-dollar program that, like TANF, awards grants to states, territories, and tribes. This program assists low-income families, families receiving temporary public assistance, and parents transitioning from public assistance to the workforce to obtain childcare so they can work or attend training/ education. Assistance with childcare services is available to eligible families through certificates (vouchers) or contracts with childcare providers. These childcare providers must meet basic requirements set by the states, territories, and tribes receiving the grants. In addition, specified amounts must be used to improve the quality of childcare. The CCDF has made $5.2 billion available to States, Territories, and Tribes in 2012.
CCDF funds are also used to improve the quality of child care and offer additional services to parents, such as resource and referral coun- seling regarding the selection of appropriate child-care providers to meet their child’s needs. To improve the health and safety of available child care, many States have provided training, grants, and loans to providers; improved monitoring; compensation projects; and other innovative programs. Tribes may use a portion of their funds to con- struct child-care facilities provided there is no reduction in the current level of child-care services.
The CCDF allows States to serve families through a single, integrated child-care subsidy program under the rules of the CCDBG Act. States
The Office of Family Assistance