Background:
The Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requires each
state to complete a market rate survey (MRS) to be used in establishing rates
for publicly funded child care. In late
2020, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) conducted the MRS
through an electronic survey sent to all licensed providers to capture rate
data by age category and time served (i.e. full time, part time, hourly). Cluster
analysis identified three cluster groupings of rates indicating three distinct,
county-based, market rate structures in Ohio.
Implementation:
ODJFS will implement new rates for publicly funded child care
based on the 2020 market rate survey and federal guidance requiring base rates
to be at or above the 25th percentile of the market. The new county categories and provider
payment rates will be used for payments for services provided on or after July
4, 2021. Listed below are the counties changing payment categories. Additionally, the new county categories and
payment rates are on the attached appendix.
The new rates will be processed in the Time, Attendance and
Payment System on August 1, 2021 for child care services provided the week of
July 18, 2021. On August 8, 2021 the system will automatically process an
adjustment for the two weeks of child care provided July 4 – 17, 2021. Payments should appear in provider’s accounts
within 7-10 business days after the payments are processed. Per rule 5101:2-16-10 of the Ohio
Administrative Code, programs with private pay rates that are lower than the
new payment rates will not be issued an adjustment. Programs may wish to check the accuracy of
their private rates they have entered in OCLQS.
|
County
|
Current Cluster
|
2021 Cluster
|
|
Athens
|
2
|
3
|
|
Crawford
|
1
|
2
|
|
Defiance
|
1
|
2
|
|
Morrow
|
2
|
3
|
|
Tuscarawas
|
1
|
2
|
|
Union
|
2
|
3
|
Appendix
A to rule 5101:2-16-10 of the Ohio Administrative Code will be moving
through the rule making process to implement these rate change in the publicly
funded child care rules. The rule and appendix will be original filed to
reflect these changes.
Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at 1-877-302-2347,
option 4, if you have any questions.