Income limits for the #Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) are increasing

In response to COVID-19, the income limits for the #Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) are increasing, allowing for more Idaho families to be eligible for ICCP benefits. ICCP provides child care assistance to working families. Info via @IDHW: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/idaho-child-care-program …@IdahoCOVID19

Idaho Child Care Program
The Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) serves families with children under the age of 13 or over 13 if a child has a disability, providing child care assistance to working families by paying for a portion of child care. The parent’s share is based on the size of the family and the amount of their income.

Qualify for child care assistance
We help Idaho families with child care so parents can work, complete job training, or finish school. You may qualify for child care assistance if you have children and are doing one of the following:

Working
Attending school or undergraduate school (online not accepted)
Participating in job training
Participating in the Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI) program
Parents pay a portion of the child care, called a “copay or copayment,” directly to the child care provider. We use the following information to determine how much the state will pay to the child care provider:

Number of hours parents are working, in school, or participating in approved activities
Household income
State rate based on the age of the child, type of care, and location of the provider

Choices in child care
Children enrolled in quality child care programs enter school more prepared to learn.

Child Care Assistance is meant to give parents equal access to approved, quality child care providers. To find a safe place where your child can learn and grow when you can’t be home, visit IdahoSTARS.org. On this website, and on IdahoChildCareCheck.org, you can view health and safety inspection results, as well as other standards met by a child care provider.

As you search for child care, remember that as a parent, you have the right to:

Choose who will care for your child
Choose how many hours your child will spend in child care
See your child at any time when they are in child care
Speak with the people taking care of your child during regular operating hours
To talk to an Idaho STARS Referral Specialist about finding the child care provider that’s right for you, or to make a complaint, visit 211.idaho.gov or dial 2-1-1.

Amount of Child Care Assistance
A portion of the cost of child care can be covered by the Idaho Child Care Program. Most parents will have to pay a copay, and any child care amounts exceeding the program limit.