Delaware Child Care Subsidy ProgramHello parents! Below you will find information about the Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program, where to find out if a Delaware child care facility is licensed, and where to report violations or file a complaint. The Division of Social Services (DSS), within the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is responsible for administering Delaware’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, Delaware's Child Care Subsidy Program, General Assistance and Refugee Cash Assistance. The Policy & Program Development Unit (PPDU) develops programs and policies for cash assistance, Food Stamps, Delaware Child Care Subsidy, Employment and Training, refugee services, and Emergency Assistance. Within the Policy and Program Development Unit, the Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program is a separate unit that manages customer and provider policy for the Child Care Program. The Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program provides care and support for children for a portion of the day in the absence of the parent/caretaker to enable the parent/caretaker to hold a job, obtain training, or meet special needs of a child. Child care may also be provided in child abuse cases to help protect the child and remove him from a situation in which he may be in danger. If you are working, you may have to pay a portion of your child care expenses. The service is available for children from infancy through twelve years of age. However, if your child is older than 12 and has a special need, you still may be eligible to receive child care through the Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program. This is an income-based program that provides funds to help parents pay for child care. DSS determines eligibility based on the need for service and income. The income limit is currently set at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Income limits for applying for the Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program and other DSS programs can be found at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services website. For information and/or an application contact a DSS case manager: New Castle County...302/255-9670 Kent County .........302/739-4437 Sussex County.........302/856-5569 A DSS case manager will provide you with a list of Child Care Centers and homes in your areas well as more information on the program rules and fees. All licensed family day care homes, group day care homes, and day care centers are eligible for a contract to provide subsidized child day care service as well as a license-exempt provider such as a preschool, a school age program, relative, or other person. You much obtain a Child Care Certification Provider Agreement from your DSS case manger. The contract must be fully signed before the provider can begin to provide subsidized care. The provider must provider must provide care in accordance with the terms of the contract or payment may be withheld. Each eligible child's care must be authorized on the DSS Purchase of Child Day Care Authorization Form (Form 618d) which the provider will receive from the Division upon initial enrollment and each subsequent change and/or redetermination. The provider should request to see the DSS Client Payment Agreement Form (Form 601b) from the parent/caretaker on the first day of attendance if they have not received Form 618d by mail. The provider should notify the child's caretaker in writing the month before the form expires to be redetermined eligible for services. Payment cannot be made after the expiration date unless a new form has been issued. Reimbursement is monthly as indicated on the Day Care Contract (Compensation, Method of Payment, and Collection of Fee sections). Complete records must be retained by the provider for a period of three years, listing each child's daily attendance, accurately stating the number of authorized days present by type, and the number of absent days. These records will be monitored on a regular basis. Payment will be made only for the number of days and type of authorization indicated on individual Form 618d and in accordance with absent day policy. Reimbursement rates differ for children under the age of two and children two years of age and older. Based on eligibility and income requirements, you may be required to pay a portion of the child care provider fees. The child care provider must develop a fee collection policy that outlines when fees are to be collected and the frequency that they will be collected such as weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. Failure to pay your portion of the fees may result in child care service interruption or termination of child care services. Source: Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program If you would like to find out if an Delaware child care facility is licensed or has any complaints filed against them, please contact the Office of Child Care Licensing. The Office of Child Care Licensing maintains a compliance file on each licensed facility that is available to the public for review. Each file includes copies of compliance reviews, applications for licensure, and reports any complaints filed against the facility. You must schedule a time to review the file by contacting the Office of Child Care Licensing by letter or phone. You will be asked to put your request in writing prior to actually reviewing the file. Should you wish to have copies of documents in the record, there is a per page charge for the copying. The cost per page is $0.25(25 cents). For New Castle County contact: Office of Child Care Licensing 1825 Faulkland Road Wilmington, DE 19805 (302) 892-5800 For information for Kent and Sussex Counties contact: Office of Child Care Licensing 821 Silver Lake Boulevard Suite 102 Dover, DE 19904 (302) 739-5487 If you would like to file a complaint or report a violation: If possible, try to resolve minor concerns and complaints with the child care provider or director of the child care center. If you believe that physical or sexual abuse is involved, you are advised to inform local law enforcement. However, if you have concerns about the facility that cannot be resolved comfortably with the child care provider or director, you may file a complaint with: For complaints about possible child abuse or neglect at a child care facility, you need to contact the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit at 302/577-5509. The Office of Child Care Licensing investigates complaints about possible violations of licensing rules by child care facilities. It has no authority to investigate financial matters nor does it investigate personal disputes. To file a complaint about a child care facility, call 302/892-5800 in New Castle County. In Kent or Sussex Counties dial 302/739-5487 or 1-800-822-2236. CHILD ABUSE TOLL-FREE NUMBER: Delaware Toll-Free: (800) 292-9582 Delaware Child Abuse Hotline Read about Delaware Child Care Licensing Information Return to Home Page from Delaware Child Care Subsidy Program
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