New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter 9 - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE › Part 3 - CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE; REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Section 8.9.3.6 - OBJECTIVE

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. To establish
				standards and procedures for the provision of child care assistance benefits to
				eligible clients and to establish the rights and responsibilities of child care
				providers who receive payment for providing child care services to clients
				receiving benefits. To establish minimum requirements for eligibility for
				program participation and for the provision of child care services to children
				whose families are receiving benefits and to allow children receiving these
				benefits access to quality child care settings that promote their physical,
				mental, emotional, and social development in a safe environment. To establish
				standards and procedures that promote equal access to services and prohibit
				discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual
				orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, or age (40 or
				older).
B. To establish child care
				assistance rates in accordance with the requirements of the Child Care and
				Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF),
				which is the primary federal funding source of child care assistance to enable
				parents to work or pursue education and training so that they may better
				support their families while at the same time promoting the learning and
				development of their children. The CCDBG requires every state to submit an
				updated CCDF plan every three years. A key requirement of the CCDBG Act is that
				lead agencies establish subsidy payment rates that ensure equal access to child
				care for children receiving child care assistance. States have two options to
				establish subsidy payment rates that ensure equal access: lead agencies must
				collect and analyze data through either a statistically valid and reliable
				market rate survey, or through an ACF pre-approved alternative methodology,
				such as a cost estimation model. New Mexico's rates, as set forth herein, and
				effective August 1, 2023, were informed by a cost estimation model and with
				extensive statewide stakeholder engagement. This new cost estimation model was
				developed in collaboration with fiscal experts and local stakeholders to set
				subsidy rates at a level that supports the true cost of delivering high quality
				early childhood education to New Mexico's children and families. The child care
				subsidy rates set forth herein are designed to ensure equal access to child
				care for children on child care assistance and ensure parental choice by
				offering a full range of child care services.
C. Permissive language such as "may or may
				be" when referring to actions taken by the department, address situations where
				it is not always prudent or practical to apply these actions. It is not meant
				to reduce the weight of these actions nor should the intent of the policies be
				circumvented due to this wording. This language is intended to be construed in
				a fiscally responsible and equitable manner, keeping in mind that consistency
				in application is the ultimate goal.