The Division of Child Care supports quality child care through programs and plans that promote the improvement and expansion of statewide child care services and resources. The division also provides program coordination for subsidy payments, coordination of professional development and training and develops policy and procedures.
Our mission is to provide leadership in building high quality, community-based access to child care and early learning that enhances health, safety, permanency, well-being, and self-sufficiency for Kentucky's children and families.
Our vision is a nationally recognized division comprised of a highly skilled workforce that:
- Increases available quality child care that is developmentally appropriate, affordable, healthy and safe;
- Provides access to early care and education, and support to early care professionals throughout the state;
- Engages families and community partners in collaborative decision making for early care and education;
- Provides safe child care services which support stability and self-sufficiency of families;
- Utilizes technological resources to promote the improvement of outcomes in child care;
- Expands data collection and management systems that allow for evidence-based management decisions.
The Division of Child Care coordinates program subsidy payments and professional
development and training and administers Kentucky All STARS and the Kentucky
Partnership for Early Childhood Services - Child Care Aware of Kentucky. For an
overview of the Division of Child Care, download the brochure.
Applications for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can be taken in the Department for Community Based Services offices in all 120 counties, by phone toll free at 1 (855) 306-8959 or online at benefind.ky.gov.
National Background Check Program (NBCP)
The National Background Check Program was launched in March 2018. It is essentially a "one-stop" shop for providers to complete all required background checks. All child care staff members must have their background checks completed by the new system no later than September 30, 2018 in accordance with 922 KAR 2:280.
DCC will no longer accept paper-based Child Abuse/Neglect (CA/N) Registry checks for child care staff members via the DCC-374 – Child Care Central Registry Check form or the DPP-156 – Central Registry Check form. DCC will only complete paper-based CA/N checks for anyone under the age of 18; a volunteer or other adult who does not meet the definition of child care staff; or the request is from an out-of-state provider/entity.
The NBCP uses the KARES platform on the Kentucky Online Gateway (KOG). If you do not have a KOG account or if you need access to KARES, please contact Division of Child Care's Help Desk at CHFSDCCNBCP@ky.gov.
Kentucky CCDF State Plan
To the Citizens of the Commonwealth,
The FFY 2019-2021 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Block Grant State Plan is now pending review and approval by the Administration for Families and Children, Office of Child Care. The Office of Child Care will send to states an initial provisional approval letter in early October and the final approval letter anticipated in mid-November. The State Plan is based on estimated receipts and should actual appropriation differ, the plan will be amended.
Eric T. Clark, Commissioner
Department for Community Based Services
Kentucky CCDF State Plan for FFY 2019-2021 - Pending Final Federal Approval
Kentucky CCDF State Plan with Amendments for FFY 2016-2018
CCDF Half-Yr Status Report July 1 to Dec 31. 2017
CCDF Half-Yr Status Report January 1 to June 30, 2018