218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-4.1

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 218-RICR-20-00-4.1 - General Provisions

4.1.1Introduction

A. The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) recognizes the importance of providing strong access to affordable, quality child care for all Rhode Island families. Access to affordable, quality child care services is critical to supporting Rhode Island children achieve developmental and academic outcomes for their long-term success.

1. The Starting Right Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), adopted in 1998, ensures access to affordable, developmentally appropriate, early childhood education and support services for young children and their families. The CCAPs focus is on three (3) crucial supports:

a. Providing low to moderate-income families with the financial resources to find and afford quality child care for their children;

b. Promoting a stable, regulated, well-qualified provider community; and

c. Implementing quality initiatives to enhance the quality, supply and availability of child care in Rhode Island.

4.1.2Authority and Purpose

A. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-12-23 designates the Department of Human Services (DHS) as the principal agency of the State responsible for the planning and coordination of State involvement in the area of child care, including responsibility for State programs subsidizing child care services provided to families receiving benefits from the Rhode Island Works Program (RI Works) and to low to moderate income eligible working families.

B. Accessible, affordable high quality child care benefits a strong Rhode Island economy by supporting today's workers and providing children, our future workforce, a strong foundation for learning. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) maintains its efforts to transform the State's child care subsidy programs to fulfill the comprehensive goals of Starting Right. Accordingly, the purpose of the Child Care Assistance Program is to:

1. Create a child care assistance program that ensures the seamless delivery of services to eligible children through age twelve (12) or through age eighteen (18) if disabled, or those children turning thirteen (13) during the twelve (12) month certification period;

2. Ensure families have access to high quality child care and can focus on their own work, training or education with confidence without worrying about the safety of their children;

3. Assist families in obtaining child care assistance by standardizing the CCAP eligibility requirements, streamlining enrollment and payment procedures, and expanding the range and number of child care providers approved to participate in the program;

4. Ensure that all children participating in the CCAP receive safe, developmentally appropriate, quality child care;

5. Facilitate the development of a network of child care facilities and skilled and stable care givers/providers/educators capable of delivering early education and enhanced child care services to support young children from income eligible families; and

6. Respond to the diverse needs of children and families by supporting the development of a diverse array of high quality and affordable program models and services.

218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-4.1

Amended effective 6/19/2019
Amended effective 9/2/2021
Amended effective 2/27/2022
Amended effective 4/1/2022
Amended effective 4/23/2022
Amended effective 7/5/2022
Amended effective 9/15/2022
Amended effective 2/9/2023
Amended effective 4/1/2023
Amended effective 2/24/2024
Amended effective 7/29/2024