New Rule to Improve Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in CCDF

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care (OCC), has introduced a new rule to enhance access, affordability, and stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). The rule aims to reduce costs for families receiving child care subsidies, improve payment practices to child care providers, and expand families’ child care options. Key updates include limiting family costs to 7% of household income, ensuring timely payments to providers, and simplifying enrollment processes.

The rule also emphasizes flexibility for presumptive eligibility and aims to cut red tape. This initiative builds on the 2014 Child Care and Development Block Grant Act and the 2016 CCDF final rule, seeking to address challenges in the child care system.

This federal policy change will help strengthen the early care and education system by making child care more affordable for families and giving them more options, and by making it easier for child care providers to get paid for their hard work. These are the kinds of positive changes that ACS and its clients fight for on behalf of young children and families around the country.

The OCC is hosting webinars on March 7, 2024, to explain the final rule and its impact on Tribal CCDF programs, with recorded sessions available for those unable to attend. Visit the OCC Resource page for more information.