HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOCC Packet 01252012 Child Care Assistance
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
REGULAR MEETING DATE:
January 25, 2012
AGENDA ITEM TITLE
: Resolution Approving the Colorado Child Care Assistance Income
Eligibility At 185% of Federal Poverty Guideline and Removing
the Cap on the Number of Families That May Receive the Benefit
STAFF RESPONSIBLE:
Nan Sundeen
ISSUE STATEMENT:
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is designed to provide financial assistance to low-
income families that are working, searching for or enrolled in training for employment or, or are enrolled
in the Colorado Works Program and need child care services to support their efforts toward self-
sufficiency. Today the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is asked to approve the Resolution to
set the CCCAP Income Eligibility at 185% Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) and remove the existing cap
on the number of families who can receive the benefit.
BACKGROUND:
The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is a State mandated program that provides low-
income families, with children under 13 years of age, a financial benefit that covers a portion of the
family’s childcare expenses while the parent(s) is working, looking for work, attending GED or high
school, or attending secondary education programs. CCCAP is funded by a mix of Federal, State and
County dollars. In addition, parents pay 7-14% of their household income toward the cost of care.
The program is delegated to the county from the state through Colorado Revised Statues (C.R.S. 26-2-
805 Services) outlined below:
“ (1) (a) Subject to available appropriations, and pursuant to rules promulgated by the state
department, a county shall provide childcare assistance to a participant or any person or family whose
income is not more than one hundred thirty percent of the federal poverty line.”
At the Special Meeting of the Board of Social Services on January 10, 2012 staff was directed to develop a
Resolution (Attachment A) for the Board of County Commissioners that would formally set the CCCAP
income eligibility at 185% FPG, remove the cap on the number of families who can receive the benefit and
require staff to present quarterly updates on CCCAP enrollment and payrolls.
RECOMMENDED BOCC ACTION:
Approve the Resolution setting the income eligibility and
removing the cap.
ATTACHMENTS:
A)Resolution Approving the Colorado Child Care Assistance Income Eligibility at 185% of the
Federal Poverty Guideline and Removing the Cap on the Number of Families That May
Receive the Benefit.
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A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
APPROVING THE COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE INCOME ELIGIBILITY AT
185% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE AND REMOVING THE CAP ON THE
NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT MAY RECEIVE THE BENEFIT
Resolution # ____________________
Recitals
1.Whereas, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is designed to provide financial
assistance to low-income families that are working, searching for employment or are in training,
or are enrolled in the Colorado Works Program and need child care services to support their
efforts toward self-sufficiency; and,
2.Whereas, the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program is administered through County
Departments of Human Services under the direction of the Colorado Department of Human
Services, Division of Child Care. Counties set income eligibility for families, but must serve
families that have incomes of 130% or less of the federal poverty guideline and may not serve
families that have income of over 225% of federal poverty level (FPG); and,
3.Whereas, the funding sources for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program are a mixture of
federal, state, and county dollars; as well as through parent fees. Parent fees are set by the state
through rule. The state must adhere to federal rules attached to the Child Care Development Fund
(CCDF) as the lead agency; and,
4.Whereas, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of families in Pitkin County that
qualify for CCCAP because of the downturn in the economy; and,
5.Whereas, on January 18, 2011 the Board of County Commissioners were presented with
projections that the State Fiscal Year (SFY) projections of CCCAP expenditures would be more
than double the allocation for the program and decided to reduce income eligibility for the
program from 225% FPG to 185% FPG and placed a cap of 13 on the number of families who
could benefit at any given time; and,
6.Whereas, because the Board of County Commissioners recognize the vital importance of
subsidizing the high cost of childcare for low income working families they approved a 2012
budget of $171, 096 with the intention of maintaining the income eligibility threshold at 185% of
poverty and removing the cap on the number of families who can receive the benefit; and,
7.Whereas, in order to promote transparency and accountability, and to ensure accuracy in the
budget appropriation for CCCAP, the Board of County Commissioners have requested that staff
now present quarterly CCCAP reports to the Board of Social Services including monthly numbers
of families enrolled and client payrolls.
2
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
PITKIN COUNTY that the income eligibility for Pitkin County’s Child Care Assistance Program will
remain at 185% FPG and the cap on the number of families who may receive the benefit is removed
immediately.
INTRODUCED, READ and ADOPTED on the 25th DAY OF JANUARY 2012.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO
By:______________________________ By:_____________________________
Jeanette Jones, Deputy Clerk Michael M. Owsley, Chairman
Manager’s Approval
________________________________
Jon Peacock, County Manager
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