Kentucky Governor Announces Elimination Of Child Care Co-Pays For Qualifying Families

State to infuse program with $45 million

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 17, 2007) – Governor Ernie Fletcher and officials from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) today announced an infusion of $45 million to the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to make child care more affordable and simplify the process for providers.

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CHFS will dedicate $45 million of federal child care assistance funds to CCAP over four years. Beginning in January 2008, the policy change will tie calculation of the co-pays to federal poverty guidelines and eliminate co-pays for about 6,500 families with income up to and including 100 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

Most families currently enrolled in the CCAP are responsible for co-pays that are based on income guidelines. After the change, a one-parent, two-child family enrolled in CCAP and making no more than $1,431 monthly would qualify and would save about $120 each month.

“With this transformation of the Child Care Assistance Program, we are improving the quality of life for thousands of families across the state,” said CHFS Deputy Secretary Tom Emberton Jr. “The change supports the cabinet’s goal of helping families obtain and maintain employment by allowing them to keep more of their income for other expenses. This will make a real, much-needed difference in the lives of those who depend on this program.”

Child care providers will also benefit from the change. Simplifying the co-pay assessment alleviates the administrative tracking and collection efforts of the state’s approximately 2,200 child care operators. It will also reduce the occurrence of improper or late payments.

The new co-pay process is simpler to administer and requires fewer adjustments based on changing family income.

About 45,000 children receive CCAP tuition assistance each month. State-licensed centers and family child care homes are approved to care for approximately 162,000 children.

Source: Kentucky Health and Family Services Cabinet