What is the Child Care Certificate Program?

The Child Care Certificate Program is a state and federally funded program that assists welfare and low-income families with their child care costs in order to remain employed and/or in school.

What types of Child Care Assistance is available?

Families First Child Care

Families First Child Care provides child care for customers who have signed their personal responsibility plan with the Department of Human Services. You can be in education, training, working, etc. Customers are not required to pay parent fees under Families First Child Care.

Customers are referred to the Families First Child Care program by your DHS case manager or case manager specialist. The Southwest HRA Child Care staff is available to assist the customer in the referral process.

Transitional Families First

Transitional Families First Child Care provides child care for customers who have been on the Families First program and are no longer eligible for the program. You must be working and/or in an education program full-time.

Customers who receive Transitional Families First Child Care are required to pay a portion of their child care cost based on household members and their income.

Customers are referred to the Transitional Child Care program by your DHS case manager or case manager specialist. The Southwest HRA Child Care staff is available to assist the customer in the referral process. The eligibility period for TTF-CC is 18 months.

Child Care Development Fund Non-Welfare

Child Care Development Fund Non-welfare provides child care to customers who do not receive Families First assistance from the Department of Human Services. Customers may be working, going to college or trying to complete their high school diploma or GED.

Customers receiving CCDF-NW Child Care are required to pay a portion of their child care cost based on household members and their income. Currently, we are not taking applications for CCDF-NW.

At-Risk Child Care

At-Risk Child Care provides child care for customers who have been on the Transitional Families First child care program and are no longer eligible for the program. You must be working and/or in an educational program full-time. Customers who receive At-Risk Child Care are required to pay a portion of their child care cost based on household members and their income. The eligibility period for ACC is 12 months.

The Southwest HRA Child Care staff is available to assist the customer in the application process from Transitional Families first to At-Risk Child Care.

At-Risk Child Only Child Care

At-Risk Child Only Child Care provides assistance to customers who have custody of children on Families First. The caretaker is not eligible for Families First child care because they are not included in the Families First grant – only the child or children. The caretaker must be working and/or in an educational program full-time. Customers who receive At-Risk Child-Only child care are required to pay a portion of their child care cost based on household members and their income. The eligibility period for ARCO is 12 months.

The application process for ARCO is easy and uncomplicated. Customers must only request the service, provide the dates of birth and social security numbers for each member of the household as well as income for each household member. Education verification must also be provided if a household member is in school. The Southwest HRA Child Care staff is available to assist the customer in the application process.

Teen Parent Assistance for Child Care

Teen Parent Assistance for Child Care provides child care to teen parents who are still in High School and need assistance to stay in school and to graduate. The parent must not be eligible for Families First and be 19 years of age or younger. When the teen parent resides in the home with their parents or guardian, the parent/guardian must be working and/or in an educational program full-time. Customers who receive this child care assistance are required to pay a portion of their child care cost based on household member and their income. The eligibility period for TPACC is 12 months.

The application process for TPACC is easy and uncomplicated. Customers must only request the service, provide the dates of birth and social security numbers for each member of the household as well as income for each household member. Education verification must also be provided. The Southwest HRA Child Care staff is available to assist the customer in the application process.

Social Services Block Grant Custody and Non-Custody

SSBG Custody and Non-custody childcare provides child care for children under child protective services or in foster care through the Department of Children’s Services.

DCS caseworkers provide Southwest HRA childcare with all needed information. Customers must request this service from the Department of Children Services.

Who can assist me in getting this assistance?

A Child Care Specialist is located in your local Department of Human Services to assist you in locating a child care provider and arranging assistance with the provider of your choice. We are in the local DHS offices as follows:

Decatur County - Every other Tuesday
Hardeman County - Every Wednesday
Hardin County - Every Thursday
Haywood County - Every Tuesday
Henderson County - Every Thursday
McNairy County - Every Tuesday
Madison County - Monday-Thursday
Chester County is seen at SWHRA by appointment

For the address and phone numbers to your local Department of Human Services, please visit their website at www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/st_map.htm.