Child Care Development Block Grant Quick Facts
November 19, 2014
Background
The purpose of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) bill is to provide lowincome families with the ability to choose the child care that best meets their needs. The
approximate funding for CCDBG in 2014 was $2.4 billion. On November 19, 2014, President
Obama signed into law a bill authorizing CCDBG through 2019 and providing much-needed
improvements to the grant program.
Eligibility
Children are eligible to receive services under CCDBG if 1) they are under 13 years of age, 2)
their parents income does not exceed 85% of the states median income for that family size, and
3) they live with a parent who is either working or receiving job training. Children receiving
protective services also qualify.
Major Changes to CCDBG
Child care providers must undergo background checks, including state and federal
fingerprint checks, sex offender registry checks, and checks for child abuse and neglect.
These are required for child care providers within two fiscal years of the bills passage
and then once every five years thereafter.
Providers who receive CCDBG funds must allow annual inspections to monitor
compliance with health and safety regulations and state licensing standards.
Providers are required to receive training in health and safety and disaster preparedness.
Children will receive a minimum of 12 months of services before the state redetermines
their eligibility.
States must dedicate a percentage of their funds to improving the quality of child care for
children, infants, and toddlers.
States must maintain or adopt high-quality program guidelines that describe what
children should know and be able to do, including developmental benchmarks, from birth
to kindergarten.
A national toll-free hotline and website have been established to disseminate child care
consumer education information, help parents access safe, quality child care services in
their community, and allow persons to report (anonymously, if desired) suspected child
abuse or neglect or violations of health and safety requirements by a child care provider.
Impact on Latino Families
States using CCDBG funds must create a plan to support low-income communities. This
directly impacts Latinos, as 33% of all Hispanic children under 18 live in poverty.
An English learner is defined as a person with limited English proficiency, consistent
with the definition under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Funds for quality improvement allow providers to train staff on social, emotional, and
cognitive development of English learners and family engagement.
