How Do I Use My Benefits?

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How do I use my child care benefits?

What are the different types of licensed/registered child care that are eligible for child care assistance?

What is the difference between a licensed center/home and a registered home?

What is the Look for the Stars program?

How do I find quality child care?

What are my rights and responsibilities?

How do I use my child care benefits?

1. You must choose a child care facility before applying for a placement agreement.
2. Fill out your application for child care help and return it with all the information needed to your local CYFD Child Care Bureau agency. They will then let you know if you qualify for a placement agreement.
3. The counselor will also explain the rules you must follow and tell you how much you will pay for child care. The amount you pay will be based on your income and family size.
4. After you are approved, you must follow all rules given to you by your counselor, pay all other fees that the child care facility has in addition to the monthly fee (registration fees, etc.) and pay your co-pay monthly.

What are the different types of licensed/registered child care that are eligible for child care assistance?

The New Mexico CYFD Child Care Service Bureau gives licenses to five types of child care providers. A license means that the child care provider meets the New Mexico rules for health, safety, and education.

• Licensed Child Care Centers: This includes daycare centers, nursery schools, and preschools that care for infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers. These programs care for children in groups, either part-time or full-time, and offer age-appropriate activities. Licensed centers must maintain at least a 1-star level. They have larger group sizes than a licensed home, and typically have more than one classroom.

• Licensed Child Care Homes: This is child care provided in the caregiver's home. These homes maintain at least a 1-star level license.  They usually have smaller group sizes than a child care center.

• Registered Child Care Homes: This is child care provided in the caregiver's home. They must register with the State of New Mexico. This could be a relative or friend. They also must participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
• Summer Programs: Summer programs are not required to be licensed or registered with the State of New Mexico. You can only receive child care assistance if the program is licensed. Check with the program to find out if they are licensed.
• After School Care: This is care given for children before or after school hours. These programs are not required to be licensed or registered with the State of New Mexico.  You can only receive child care assistance if the program is licensed.  Check with the program to find out if they are licensed.

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What is the difference between a licensed center/home and a registered home?

Licensed Center / Home License with star level must be posted Background checks on all staff and volunteers Zoning approval Access for individuals with disabilities Provide description of activities and schedule to the State Will report any incident that could threaten or has threatened the health or safety of the children in the center Center Director must receive 24 hours of training each year, which will include CPR, first aid, infection control, and infant training if infants are present Provide a parent handbook Have a personnel handbook Generally have a larger group size than a registered home Staff to child ratio: 6 weeks to 24 months- 1 adult for every 6 children 2 years old- 1 adult for every 10 children 3 years old- 1 adult for every 12 children 4 years old- 1 adult for every 12 children 5 years old- 1 adult for every 15 children 6 years old- 1 adult for every 15 children

Registered Home Most common in New Mexico Smaller child numbers More one-on-one time Participate in more "home" activities such as cooking, gardening Caregiver must be at least 18 years of age Must receive 6 hours of training each year, which will include CPR, first aid, and infant training if infants are present. Background checks on all adults Must participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Staff to child ratio: no more than 4 children at one time that are not the caregiver's own children no more than 2 children under age 2 (including caregiver's own children) no more than 6 children under age 6 (including caregiver's own children)

What is the Look for the Stars program?

Look for the Stars was created to help parents find quality child care, encourage child care programs to continue to improve and to show recognition for those child care programs that provide quality child care. Look for the Stars is a rating system that contains five different levels of quality child care. The higher the number of stars a facility has, the more quality standards it has met. Child care facilities are rated in the following areas:

• Staff training and education: how well trained is the staff?
• Environment
• Daily learning activities
• Family involvement
• Assessments: the child's progress is documented and observed
• Ratios and group size

A one-star program meets the minimum licensing regulations.

A five-star program is an accredited, high-level quality child care program.

How do I find quality child care?

There are many ways to get help in finding quality child care:

1. LOOK: Visit the child care center or family care home. Check for frequent hand washing from the caregivers and the children. Watch the caregivers to see if they enjoy talking and playing with children. Look and see if the children are supervised at all times, even when asleep. Visit more than once and stay as long as you can. Imagine what it would be like for your child.
2. CHECK: Check to make sure all cleaning chemicals and medications are kept up and out of the way from the children.  Inspect the playground equipment to see if it is in good shape and if it is safe.  Does the center have first aid kits? 
3. COUNT: Count how many children are present and how many adults are available to care for them. A small number of children per adult means your child will get more individual attention.
4. ASK: Ask about the training and experience of the caregivers. Make sure that the program is licensed. Find out if all employees have had their background checks. A quality child care provider will be happy to give you this information.
5. BE INFORMED: Stay involved once your child starts child care. Make sure your child care provider is up-to-date about new regulations and ways to improve the quality of care.

• You may visit the Child Care Aware web site at Child Care Aware.

NOTE: Be sure to consider the location of the child care provider and the availability of transportation services.

What are my rights and responsibilities when I receive income-eligible child care?

When you receive income-eligible child care, you have the right to:

• know all of your child care options.
• receive counseling and referrals from your CCR&R.
• choose the type of care that is best for you and your child.
• change child care providers if the care becomes unsuitable.
• keep your child care subsidy until your child is 12 years old, as long as you remain eligible.
• request a fair hearing if you believe your benefits were stopped or decreased unjustly.

You have the responsibility to:

• provide accurate information about your family, your income, employment, and school attendance.
• promptly report any changes in your situation that would affect eligibility.
• follow your child care provider's rules.
• pay your portion of the child care fees, if any, on time.
• give two weeks' notice if you plan to change providers.