Assistance Clients-Lot of questions

[Unregistered]

I have a new client that is on childcare assistance. I have already told her that my rates are a little higher than what the County would pay me, and they are willing to make up the difference. However, I am also paid for sick days and vacation days by my other clients.

It ends up being about $ 1100 a year in vacation or sick pay that I would be missing out on if I take this family.

I have considered telling them that they will have to private pay any sick or vacation days I take. I am planning on taking off a week in August and told them they would not have to pay anything for that, as they are so new, but after that point they may have to pay me.

I also would only get paid for 10 days per year of their sick time (if they are not at daycare). I thought about having them pay me for those days too, but I think that would encourage them to bring their kids here ill.

What do the rest of you do with assistance families? I am not in a financial position to take any cuts in pay, but I do need the families at this time. Help!

[Blackcat31]

I am in MN

Financially assisted families follow the same payment rules/policies as anyone else.

If I charge families for vacation and/or holidays, then ALL families pay for it. If the state doesn't or won't cover that time, then it comes out of the parents own pocket.

We cannot discriminate towards families on assistance so I feel that goes both ways.

They pay just like everyone else. If the state only pays a portion of their child care costs, then they are responsible for making up the rest.

You need to check your state rules though because I know some states do not allow the provider to charge the parent on assistance the difference and the provider simply has to accept what the state pays no matter if it's the normal amount she charges or not.

[Blackcat31]

What state are you in?

[JoseyJo]

We accept families who get assistance BUT with the understanding that the parents must pay anything that the assistance doesn't. For example-we charge a full-time weekly rate regardless of attendance. The only days that are not charged are our 2 weeks vacation and if we ever closed due to illness. In our state assistance only pays for the hours the children are here AND the parents are working- they don't pay for holidays,for when the child is sick, or when the parents decide to p/u late so they could get their shopping done. So the parents almost always owe. I have them pay in advance for any overages I know about, and have them pay at p/u that day if they are later than allowed by their assistance.

[Heidi]

I'd like to charge my family on assistance the same way, but there is no way she could afford it. Since she has no paid time off, if kiddo misses a day, so does mom.

Wisconsin pays CENTERS on enrollment, and family childcare on attendance (a change they made last year from all of us being enrollment based). This is completely unfair, of course. Some believe it's part of a larger plan to get all state kids off of family childcare because FCC is more expensive to regulate. Not sure about that, but it's still not right. Many family childcare providers simply don't take assistance now.

What I have worked out with my dc mom is that she pays slightly more each week ($6, as it works out) above her co-pay. The extra $6 per week goes towards covering some absent days, but it really doesn't cover all of them.

I will probably not be taking any more assistance kiddos after this guy leaves.

[Unregistered]

I am in Minnesota also. I just got some things clarified with the county.

The family gets 10 sick days (or not attending days) per year.

I am worried that if I tell them they have to pay out of pocket for sick days beyond 10, they will bring their kids here sick. They mentioned they would be willing to 'lie' and say the kids are here when they aren't so I get paid. I am no way willing to do that.

I also don't get paid for any Vacation Days/sick days that I may take. I doubt she can afford to pay me for those....

This is awful. You want to help someone who honestly needs help, and the system encourages them to lie and cheat.

[Blackcat31]

I am in Minnesota also. I just got some things clarified with the county.

The family gets 10 sick days (or not attending days) per year.

I am worried that if I tell them they have to pay out of pocket for sick days beyond 10, they will bring their kids here sick. They mentioned they would be willing to 'lie' and say the kids are here when they aren't so I get paid. I am no way willing to do that.

I also don't get paid for any Vacation Days/sick days that I may take. I doubt she can afford to pay me for those....

This is awful. You want to help someone who honestly needs help, and the system encourages them to lie and cheat.

Starting in February 2014, the sick/absent days will be restored to 25 per year.

If you would like the entire CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program) handbook, let me know and I can find the link for it for you. It explains everything really clearly and really nicely.

I don't worry about whether or not any of my clients can or can't afford my vacation time or closed time. If they sign on with me, they pay like everyone else.

I accept the payments through the state for them and anything the state doesn't pay, they have to. Having kids IS expensive and I am definitely not in the position to "help" out anyone financially.

[Cradle2crayons]

I agree its unfair how the state pay goes ( I put that somewhere in another thread). I have a three sibling set in state pay and although they don't pay a copay, they do have to pay the difference because the state I'm in only pays $8 a day per child. It's horrible. Mom is a single mother with three kids and is working two jobs. She doesn't get sick days or vacation. She does understand the state doesn't pay for absences etc. her proposal to me, and I agreed, was that she would bring $30 a week in food for the kids. They are not here but seven hours a day five days a week so only one snack and one meal. This amount will add up to one child's absence a week. Every week she asks me for a list of groceries and she brings them. It's worked out great but they've been here a month and haven't been sick or needed to take an absence. It works out well for both of us.

[Unregistered]

I did find the handbook, but have not read through it yet.

How do you know about 25 days absent being restored in 2/2014?

[Cradle2crayons]

Here, only centers get the sick or absent days. DEFINATELY not fair but oh we'll!

[Blackcat31]

I did find the handbook, but have not read through it yet.

How do you know about 25 days absent being restored in 2/2014?

I am very active in MLFCC association and other legislative changes effecting child care in our state. I receive regular e-mails from MLFCC, DHS, our county licensing agency and ACF

96.12 Subd. 7. Absent days. (a) Licensed child care providers and license-exempt centers must not be reimbursed for more than 25 full-day absent days per child, excluding holidays, in a fiscal year, or for more than ten consecutive full-day absent days 96.21 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), children with documented medical conditions that cause more frequent absences may exceed the 25 absent days limit, or ten consecutive full-day absent days limit. Absences due to a documented medical condition of a parent or sibling who lives in the same residence as the child receiving child care assistance do not count against the absent days limit in a fiscal year. Documentation of medical conditions must be on the forms and submitted according to the timelines established by the commissioner. A public health nurse or school nurse may verify the illness in lieu of a medical practitioner. If a provider sends a child home early due to a medical reason, including, but not limited to, fever or contagious illness, the child care center director or lead teacher may verify the illness in lieu of a medical practitioner
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective February 1, 2014.

Hope that helps.

If you have any other questions, just let me know and I will be happy to help you out in any way I can. I am pretty familiar with the CCAP and how it works. I've been accepting payments from them for over 20 years.