CCMPL 108 (Changes to the Provider Agreement for Publicly Funded Child Care)
Child Care Manual Procedure Letter No. 108
December 9, 2016
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Cynthia C. Dungey, Director
SUBJECT: Changes to the Provider Agreement for Publicly Funded Child Care

Background:

All child care providers that intend to serve children through the publicly funded child care program must log on to the Child Care Information Data System (CCIDS) provider portal to complete a provider agreement with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

New Policy:

The JFS 01144 "Provider Agreement for Publicly Funded Child Care Services" has been revised to implement the following changes:

  • Article 3 - New Article 3 added "The provider agreement is valid for the license number and address associated with the license number, and any care provided at that address. Payment will not be authorized if care is provided at an address that has not been approved by ODJFS. If payment has already been made for care provided at an unauthorized address, the provider agrees to repay the full amount of payment received." As a result, subsequent article numbers have been updated.
  • Article 7 - New article 7 added "The provider agreement shall be terminated if the program employs staff with a prohibited offense in accordance with 5101:2-12-09 and 5101:2-13-09 of the OAC."
  • Article 8 - New article 8 added "If a provider agreement is terminated by ODJFS pursuant to rule 5101:2-16-72 of the OAC, another agreement shall not be issued to the owner of the program until five years have elapsed from the date the agreement was terminated. The definition of owner includes a firm, organization, institution, or agency, as well as any individual governing board members, partners or authorized representatives of the owner." As a result, subsequent article numbers have been updated.
  • Article 19 - New article 19 added "Provider agrees to record attendance via caretaker swipes using the POS device. The Provider or person acting in any capacity for the provider may not possess, maintain, store or use the caretaker swipe card to record attendance and shall comply with section 5104.32 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) as well as all applicable OAC rules regarding the Ohio Electronic Child Care system and the PFCC program. The POS device may be deactivated if the device is being used to record attendance at an address that has not been approved by ODJFS. Attendance tracked by the POS device does not fulfill the record keeping requirements as outlined in article 12. It is the Provider's responsibility to maintain accurate records so as to avoid being paid for child care services not provided."
  • Article 31 - Previous article 27, has removed "a preponderance of evidence."
  • Article 35 - Previous article 31, has removed "(6) for reasons contained in rule 5101:2-14-04 of the OAC."

Implementation:

Changes to the provider agreement have been communicated to current Providers of publicly funded child care via the clearance process. The changes will also be communicated to Providers via systems bulletins. Current Providers will not be required to sign new agreements. The new agreement will be available for all Providers of publicly funded child care services including those who sign agreements after December 19, 2016.