Foster Care Child Care

DCF Child Care Assistance is typically for children from birth to age 13. DCF Child Care Assistance may be approved for children ages 13-18 if there is an allowable need or if the child isn’t physically or mentally able to care for themselves. If you need care for a child in this age group, please explain in detail on the application or in an email for consideration.

Note: If the application for a child 13-18 is not signed by the Case Management Provider or Child Placing Agency, then the foster parent must have documentation from the case manager, doctor, therapist, etc. in order for the child to be considered unable to care for themselves.

Typically, this is a need for care during the hours when a foster parent is in school or at work. Any other needs should be explained on the application and will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Care to allow the child to socialize or to give the foster parents a break is not an allowable need for Foster Care Child Care.  

Contact the Foster Care Child Care unit to see if your situation qualifies for an enhanced rate. This enhanced rate ($7.25 per hour) is designed to help pay for any additional care that may be needed for a child with a physical, mental, or emotional disability. The child must require care above and beyond what is typical for a child of that age, even if it is not a permanent disability. 

You will need to supply documentation of the need from a professional, and the individual providing additional care will need to submit a written statement explaining the type of care they will be providing and any training they have that qualifies them to provide that care.

To qualify for Foster Care Child Care, a foster child must be a US citizen or a qualifying non-citizen. If you are unsure if your foster child will qualify, talk with your caseworker or case manager. 

Children who do not qualify for Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) due to citizenship may have their child care expenses covered by the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP).  An FCCC application is needed to start this process.

No. Even in cases where the foster care home has provided care for additional children, Kansas law allows only one license to be issued for a single location.

If you still are having difficulty finding a DCF-enrolled child care provider after contacting Child Care Aware of Kansas at 877-678-2548, you may use a qualified relative of the child in foster care, which include grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling.

If you are using a provider that is not licensed with KDHE nor is a qualifying relative of the child in foster care, you are not eligible for FCCC funds. The Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP) can pay the provider as long as care is being done in the foster child’s home and the provider has been vetted by the foster care case management agency.

Your family may be considered the foster child’s ‘qualifying relatives’ once the adoption is finalized. At that point, you no longer qualify for Foster Care Child Care assistance but may apply for regular Income Eligible or TANF Child Care Assistance through your local DCF office. Normal requirements, such as income limits, resources limits, and work requirements, will need to be met.  

Yes, if the provider is a DCF-enrolled In-Home Relative provider. They must be a qualified relative of the child in foster care. These include grandparent, great grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling.

You are unable to use the Kansas Benefits Card to pay for care provided by providers who are not enrolled with DCF. 

If you are using a provider that is not licensed with KDHE, nor a qualifying relative and they are not eligible to enroll with DCF, the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP) can pay the provider as long as care is being done in the foster child’s home. 

No. A qualifying relative to the child (grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling) does not need to become a licensed child care provider. However, they do need to be a DCF-enrolled provider.

Yes. To qualify as a relative provider, the provider must be related to all children in their care. For example, if you have three children from the same family, but the person willing to provide care is only related to one of the children, that person would only be considered a relative provider for that one child. If the children are all related, then payment can be made through CCEPP.

You can still apply for Foster Care Child Care subsidy benefit. If you are not approved, your caseworker or case manager may have other options for you.

Yes, as long as the provider is enrolled with DCF.  Any amount not covered by FCCC benefits on the Kansas Benefits Card, can be submitted to the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP). They will work with your provider to pay the additional cost.

If you know of a licensed child care provider who wants to enroll with DCF so they can provide care to a child in foster care, add their information to an application or change form so Foster Care Child Care program staff can send a referral to DCF provider enrollment staff. They can also visit the Child Care in Kansas DCF enrolled providers page for more information.

Foster Care Child Care will pay for the cost of regular child care and enrollment fees. Only the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP) can cover fees to hold a spot in the future, transportation, membership, activity, or other miscellaneous costs. The foster parent will receive a copy of the family plan, which will specify the benefit amount calculated for each individual child with their individual providers.

Any amount not covered by FCCC benefits on the EBT card, can be submitted to the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP). They will work with your provider to pay the additional cost if applicable.

All Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) benefits are issued on a Kansas Benefits Card that functions like a debit card. It is activated using the number on the back of the card, and a PIN is selected. You will also need your provider’s 7-digit CC Provider ID (it starts with a letter). Then, you can pay your provider by:

• Using your provider’s point-of-sale machine
• Using ebtEDGE.com,
• Using the EBT mobile app, or
• Calling the EBT customer care number: 1-800-997-6666

The card will be received 5 to 7 business days after the benefits have been authorized. If the initial month of eligibility is a future month, the card is not sent until the monthly benefit authorization is sent to the EBT contractor. If you have previously had a card and it is still active, benefits will be put on that card.

No. The foster parent will be issued a card and child care benefits will be added/deducted as children enter and leave their home.

A notice will be mailed to you showing the approved benefit amounts. You can also check the card balance through the EBT Edge website, mobile app, or by calling the EBT customer care number 1-800-997-6666.

If the FCCC benefits do not cover the entire cost of child care, please submit invoices and your child care plan to the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP) at [email protected]. They will work with you and your provider to pay the remaining child care expense.

If you don’t qualify for FCCC benefits, email [email protected] to inform them that you were denied of FCCC benefits and need CCEPP assistance.

Benefits are issued on your Kansas Benefits Card on the first of the month, for the month. If the child leaves your home mid-month, the EBT card benefit should cover your costs in full. If not, please submit invoices to [email protected]. They will work with you and your provider to determine if their funding will cover the remaining child care expense.

If a foster child leaves your care early, also be sure to reach out to your caseworker or case manager to make sure you are both on the same page, as well as your child care provider, to see if it is required for you to pay for the care for the rest of the month.

If you have lost an active card, please contact ebtEDGE to report your card lost at 1-800-997-6666.

First, you will need to apply for Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) so they can determine and verify your eligibility for FCCC benefits. 

If you are eligible for Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) benefits with a provider, and the benefits do not cover the entire cost of care, please submit invoices to the Child Care Exception Payment Program (CCEPP) at [email protected]. They will work with you and your provider to determine if CCEPP funding will cover the child care expense.

You will work with your kinship worker or sponsoring agency worker to see what other funding options may be available.  If your kinship worker or sponsoring agency worker is unsure of the options, please have them contact the case management provider of the child in foster care.