CCPP Provider FAQ
Each year, a portion of the Child Care and Development Fund is set aside to provide financial assistance in the form of vouchers for low-income families to afford quality child care services. In Mississippi, these set-aside funds are distributed through the Child Care Payment Program (CCPP).
CCPP is administered by the Division for Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) at the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about CCPP, including how to become a CCPP-approved provider, your rights and responsibilities as a participant in the program, and all of the forms and contact information you may need throughout the application and approval process.
CCPP provides child care tuition assistance to parents and guardians who meet certain income and work requirements.
Child care providers may opt-in to serve these eligible families. There is an application and approval process (described below) for providers to complete prior to serving CCPP families and receiving payment through the CCPP.
Once approved, some providers are paid by the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) prospectively to maintain a certain number of slots for CCPP-participating children. Most often, providers are reimbursed through a voucher for the provision of care services each month to CCPP-participating children in their center.
Families are assessed a rate of assistance based on family size and household income, and parents/guardians are assessed a co-payment due directly to their chosen child care provider each month. Parents also pay the remaining amount of child care tuition directly to the provider if the rate of assistance does not meet the full cost of care.
Provide a Needed Service
If you are operating your child care business in an area of the state with high unemployment and concentrated poverty, some local families may not be able to afford the cost of care without tuition assistance.
- CCPP-approved providers deliver child care services to the children in Mississippi who need quality early learning experiences the most.
- A diverse learning environment will enrich the learning experiences of all children and better prepare them for school and work experiences later in life.
New Business Opportunities
- Child care providers that participate in CCPP may see an increase in the number of families that can afford the child care services offered by their business.
- Becoming a CCPP-approved provider opens your business up to families who have a voucher to spend at your center.
Business Development
- CCPP-approved providers are held to a minimum level of safety and quality of care that is above and beyond licensing requirements.
- Becoming a CCPP-approved provider will professionalize your workforce and increase the quality of care you provide.
- If you are not already serving low-income families, becoming a CCPP-approved provider will diversify the customers your business serves.
Stability
Becoming a CCPP-approved provider will stabilize the population of children your center serves, as the child’s eligibility for tuition assistance is granted for a full 12 months from the date of approval.
The following types of child care providers are all eligible to become CCPP-approved providers:
- Licensed child care centers
- Family child care homes
- In-home child care providers
Parents may choose any type of child care while participating in this program as long as the provider has completed the application and approval process.
Requirements for Licensed Child Care Centers
- The child care center must be licensed by and in good standing with the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Requirements for Family Child Care Homes and In-Home Providers
- The owner/operator must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED);
- The owner/operator must provide evidence that they, other adults providing child care services in the home, and anyone residing in the home are current on required immunizations. Complete the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Certificate of Immunization Compliance. The form must be signed by a Regional Health Officer, a physician, nurse, or designee. Download Form 121 Certificate of Immunization MDHS;
- The owner/operator must satisfactorily complete an inspection of the home by child care monitoring agents prior to approval for CCPP reimbursement;
- The owner/operator must agree to a criminal background check for themselves, other adults residing in the home, and any adult not residing in the home but providing child care services;
- The owner/operator must have a valid email address that is checked on a regular basis and have a working landline telephone or cell phone.
- Begin by filling out a Licensed Provider Application.
- Send your application and supporting documentation to DECCD. When your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email with your Provider ID. You can apply three different ways:
- Via our online portal, Service Request
- By fax at (601) 359-4422
- By mail:
MDHS DECCD Mississippi Child Care Payment Program
P.O. Box 352
Jackson, MS 39205
- Register for and attend a provider e-Ledger training webinar (online training) held on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 12:30 p.m. Applicants must register in advance and shall receive an email confirmation containing a code to access the online training webinar. Applicants who do not attend the entire session will not receive credit for attendance and will not be approved to participate in CCPP. The e-Ledger training covers the provider payment process, coding for child attendance, policies outlined in the current CCPP policy manual, and the process for recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.
- Renew your registration with MDHS annually. DECCD only pays CCPP-approved providers. The parent/guardian of children in your care is responsible for all payment prior to your effective date.
Read and Understand the CCPP Policy Manual
It’s important for CCPP-approved providers and interested providers to understand the rules and regulations governing CCPP and the rights and responsibilities of participants.
Download the CCPP Policy Manual. Review the manual before you seek approval. Store an electronic or hard copy for yourself to consult later if necessary. Use the links below to access the forms you may need to apply for approval and remain eligible to serve CCPP families.
All Providers Must be Designated as a Standard Center
In addition to the requirements above, all providers, regardless of setting must complete an application to be designated a Standard Center. To be classified as a standard center, a child care center must be licensed and meet minimum federal and state standards.
Standard centers will operate above licensure expectations in two ways.
- All staff must go through mandatory training as required by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014.
- All staff must have 15 hours of continuing professional development each year as prescribed by the act. The professional-development areas include:
- health and safety;
- educational standards and best practices;
- recognizing signs, symptoms, or behaviors of child abuse and neglect;
- professional development that addresses social-emotional and behavioral development, mental health, expulsion, and exclusionary discipline practices in child care settings; and
- developmental and behavioral screenings.
Standard Center Curriculum
The curriculum implemented in these centers must align with the state early learning guidelines for infants and toddlers and the state early learning standards for three- and four-year-olds.
Annual Self-Assessment
These centers must also engage in an annual self-assessment process. This self-assessment helps providers identify the strengths of their program. In addition, the self-assessment process allows providers to locate opportunities for growth within their program. Child care programs with the Standard Designation are involved in continuous efforts to review their programs and access resources to provide the highest level of quality possible.
Contact DECCD
If you have any additional questions about the Child Care Payment Program, please contact us.
Division of Early Childhood Care & Development
Mississippi Child Care Payment Program (CCPP)
PO Box 352
Jackson, MS 39205