February 1, 2010

 

Dear Child Care Provider,

Please plan to attend a forum 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, 1740 Langdon Farm Road.

At this event, we will share the latest information about the changes to the state’s publicly funded child care program, referenced in the letter you received in December.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions. Below is a brief recap of the planned changes:

 

*      Centralized payments for all providers beginning in April 2010.

 

*      Payments will be issued directly from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) instead of Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services (HCJFS).

 

*      Providers will be required to sign agreements with ODJFS rather than contracts with HCJFS.

 

*      ODJFS will issue payment via electronic fund transfer (EFT) only.

 

*      The payment system will require deductions, such as the mandated union dues (for certified home providers and Licensed Type A homes), child support and IRS liens.

 

*      Providers will continue to send vouchers to HCJFS.  HCJFS staff will calculate the payment and enter it into the computer system so that ODJFS can send the payment to providers.  A detailed payment report will be sent to each provider to track all payments made per child/per family.

 

*      Note: the change to centralized payments will limit the frequency of payment for child care to monthly for HCJFS providers until additional changes are made, planned for Autumn 2010.

 

To support this change, ODJFS is building a secure Child Care Provider Portal on the Web. It will require providers to submit important information such as provider rates and banking information, including an account number and routing number for EFT payments to be issued for child care services provided. 

 

We urge providers to prepare now for the changes by securing Internet access, and establishing an e-mail account and a bank account (checking or savings). We encourage you to visit www.hcjfs.org and the agency’s Facebook page and Twitter account for updates. Also, subscribe to our online HCJFS Update newsletter.

 

These changes are mandated in state law – and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is  leading the implementation. We at Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services want to assist at keeping your informed so you are better prepared for the new way of doing business.