The South Dakota Department of Social Services is implementing policy changes to its Child Care Assistance Program in order to better support families and child care providers.
Secretary Matt Althoff says the change, which begins Jan. 1, 2024, will better align Child Care Assistance payments with provider enrollment-based business practices. He says providers will now receive full authorized payments regardless of temporary changes in child attendance.
Althoff says DSS recognizes the financial burden child care expenses impose, especially for low-income families. He says the changes will help ensure that the Child Care Assistance program serves both families and providers in a way that can provide predictable payments that ease budgeting burdens as well as the administrative burdens of program participation.
Child Care Assistance provides financial support for low-income families to assist with child care expenses while they work and/or attend school. Payments are made directly to child care providers and are based on a family’s work and/or school schedule.
To access information about the Child Care Assistance Program, visit: https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/childcareassistance.
Comments