ALBERTA CHILD CARE ACCREDITATION FUNDING PROGRAM GUIDE FOR CONTRACTED FAMILY DAY HOME AGENCIES Revised March 2007
Table of Contents Introduction...3 Accreditation Information...4 Accreditation Definition...4 Accreditation Process...4 Accreditation Funding...4 1. Pre-Accreditation Funding...4 2. Accreditation Funding...4 Application For Accreditation Funding...5 Funding Grants...6 Available Funding Supports...6 1. Quality Funding...7 2. Home Visitor Funding...8 3. Benefit Contribution Grant...10 4. Professional Development Grant...10 5. Provider Support Funding...12 6. Technical Assistance Grant...14 How To Apply...15 Accreditation Funding Grant Application Supplementary FORM A Home Visitor Funding and Benefit Contribution Grant Supplementary FORM B Professional Development Grant Supplementary FORM C Technical Assistance Grant Return Grant FUNDING FORM Child Care Accreditation Funding Provider REGISTRATION FORM Child Care Accreditation Funding 2
Introduction To assist families in choosing the best child care for their children and to promote excellence in child care settings, Alberta Children s Services funds quality child care and the accreditation of child care programs. This guide outlines the details for the various funding options available and includes grant application forms, supplementary forms, conditions of funding, and information on how contracted family day home agencies and staff can receive this funding. Extra copies of the accreditation funding grant applications and supplementary forms contained in this guide are also available online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Additional Information: For information about funding available for day care centres, please refer to the booklet entitled Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program - Guide for Licensed Day Care Centres, revised December 2006. For accreditation applications, please contact the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services (AELCS) toll-free at 1(877) 552-2227 or in the Edmonton area at (780) 421-9222 or online at www.abccaccred.ca. For accreditation technical support services available to your agency, please contact the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement toll free at 1-866-429-4930 or in the Edmonton area at (780) 421-4930 or online at www.arcqe.ca. 3
Accreditation Information ACCREDITATION DEFINITION Accreditation is a voluntary process that objectively assesses child care programs that meet child care standards of excellence. The accreditation model has been developed in partnership with Alberta Children s Services, the Alberta Child Care Network and the Canadian Child Care Federation. ACCREDITATION PROCESS Alberta Children s Services contracts with the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services (AELCS) to evaluate, assess and approve child care programs for accreditation. Accreditation applications can be obtained by calling AELCS toll-free at 1(877) 552-2227 or in the Edmonton area at (780) 421-9222 or online at their website: www.abccaccred.ca. ACCREDITATION FUNDING The Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding program provides funding for contracted family day home agencies to become accredited and support the recruitment and retention of trained, qualified staff and child care providers in the field of early childhood education. Alberta Children s Services recognizes contracted family day home agencies that have achieved the accreditation standards of excellence by providing program and staff funding at enhanced rates. 1. Pre-Accreditation Funding Pre-accreditation funding is comprised of grant supports to help child care programs meet the accreditation standards of excellence. Effective April 1, 2007: Contracted family day home agencies receiving Alberta Child Care Pre-Accreditation Funding that have not applied to the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services (AELCS) for accreditation before this date will no longer be eligible for this funding. Child care programs that apply for accreditation in April 2007 will be required to request a site visit within 15 months of applying to AELCS for accreditation. To continue to receive Alberta Child Care Pre-Accreditation Funding, the following criteria must be met. Programs that have been working on their accreditation for eight or less months have up to 15 months, from the date of applying to AELCS for the self-study, to request a site visit. For example, if your program has been working on the Accreditation Self-Study Guide for eight months, you have up to seven months to request your site visit. If your program has been working on the Self-Study Guide for three months, you have up to 12 months to request a site visit. 4
Programs that have been working on their accreditation for nine or more months, from the date of applying to AELCS for the self-study, have up to six months from January 2007 to request a site visit. For example, if your program has been working on accreditation for 12 months, you have up to 6 months from January 1, 2007 to request your site visit. 2. Accreditation Funding Enhanced grant funding is provided to contracted family day home agencies that have been officially accredited to further support the high quality of care provided to children, families and their community. As well, funding is available to provincially certified staff through wage enhancements and professional development to promote training and development in the field of early childhood education. Accountability Funding is paid upon approval of grant applications (and supplementary forms) and will be summarized on the payment summary statement provided to operators once the monthly claims document has been submitted and processed. Contracted family day home agencies are required to account for the expenditure of all funds received under the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program and are subject to random or chosen audits by Alberta Children s Services. Any funds that were not spent must be reported to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program and will be adjusted on the monthly claim. Please use the Return Grant Funding form located in this guide or on the website at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Any funds that were falsely obtained, or provided without receipts, will be adjusted on the monthly claims statement, with possible further action. APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION FUNDING Alberta Children s Services is responsible for administering the accreditation funding. The contact information is: Alberta Children s Services Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3 rd Floor, Sterling Place 9940 106 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2 In Edmonton (780) 422-1119 Toll-free: 1 (800) 661-9754 (in Alberta) Fax: (780) 427-1258 Website for funding information and forms: www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. 5
Funding Grants Available Funding Supports Overview of Accreditation Grants and Funding For Contracted Family Day Home Agencies Pre-Accredited Agency Accredited Agency 1. Quality Funding Quality Agency Less than 50 providers 50 or more providers Quality Support Less than 50 providers 50 or more providers $900/yr $1,800/yr Not applicable Not applicable $2,640/yr $5,280/yr 2. Home Visitor Funding for Trained Agency Staff (Home Visitors only) Certified at Level 1 or 2 or meet provincial Safety Standards Certified at Level 3 $1.69//hr¹ $2.76/hr¹ $2.53/hr¹ $4.14/hr¹ 3. Benefit Contribution Grant 12% of HVF 12% of HVF 4. Professional Development Grant for Trained Agency Staff (Home Visitors only) 5. Provider Support Funding for Trained Caregivers (Child Care Providers) Level 1 or Provincial Safety Standards $1,000/yr $163/month $1,000/yr $243/month Certified at Level 2 Certified at Level 3 $163/month PLUS $.79/hr¹ $163/month PLUS $1.86/hr¹ $243/month PLUS $1.19/hr¹ $243/month PLUS $2.80/hr¹ 6. Technical Assistance Grant Up to $6,500² Up to $6,500² NOTE: April 1, 2007- based on a maximum of 181 hours claimed per month for hours worked as a Home Visitor and Level 2/3 Provider. 1 2 These rates are effective January 1, 2007. Retroactive adjustments and new rates will be paid in May 2007. Up to $2750 can be used to help develop the Quality Enhancement Plan 6
1. QUALITY FUNDING Conditions This funding is paid to eligible contracted family day home agencies to enhance quality programming and resources for staff, caregivers, and children. This funding may be used towards the purchase of quality toys and equipment, training, and upgrades needed to become accredited and maintain accreditation standards. Receipts for all expenditures must be kept on file and available to Children s Services. A grant application must be submitted and approved by the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. This funding is paid quarterly in the months of April, July, October, and January. To receive funding or when there is a change to the contract holder, an accreditation grant application is needed. Please refer to the application contained in this guide or online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Quality Agency Funding Pre-accredited Family Day Home Agencies (not accredited) Quality Agency funding is available for contracted family day home agencies that meet the contractual requirements, as monitored by the Child and Family Services Authority. Funding is based on the number of contracted providers at the following rates: Agencies with less than 50 providers $900/year (paid quarterly) Agencies with 50 or more providers $1,800/year (paid quarterly) Quality Support Funding Accredited Family Day Home Agencies Quality Support funding is available for contracted family day home agencies that have been officially awarded a certificate of accreditation from AELCS. Funding is based on the number of providers at the following rates: Agencies with less than 50 providers $2,640/year (paid quarterly) Agencies with 50 or more providers $5,280/year (paid quarterly) The contracted family day home agency must submit a grant application or have an approved grant application on file. The funding will be effective based on the date of the accreditation certificate. Quality Funding - Accountability Contracted family day home agencies must report to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program on how the agency spent the quality funding grants by May 31 every year. Reporting forms will be mailed out and/or are available online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Failure to report may result in funding being withheld. 7
2. HOME VISITOR FUNDING Home visitor staff are defined as paid, trained agency staff members who have actively provided a support function with providers to ensure quality child care services on behalf of the contracted family day home agency. Support functions include: monitoring of provider care, support consultation, provider training, assessment, and preparatory and follow-up work with providers. Effective April 1, 2007 home visitors will be eligible to receive up to eight hours per month for accreditation and program planning. A total of eight additional hours can be claimed for home visitors engaged in this work, raising the maximum claimed hours per staff, per month from 173 to 181. These hours can be claimed on the monthly claim form under Administration Hours. Home Visitors meeting the minimum number of hours worked, will also be eligible to receive professional development funding. Conditions Home visitor funding is for paid, trained agency staff members who actively provide support functions with providers to ensure quality child care services on behalf of the contracted family day home agency. The funding is paid to the agency (on behalf of the trained agency staff member) who must transfer it to the staff over and above their regular wage, salary, bonuses and/or increments. This funding must be listed as a separate line item on the trained agency staff member s pay stub and be clearly reflected as a government contribution. Payroll records must reflect payment to trained agency staff for this funding. Any funding not able to be transferred to the home visitor staff must be reported to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program using the Return Grant Funding form. Home visitor funding is paid to the contracted family day home agency each calendar month based on hours reported on the monthly claim form. Every eligible trained agency staff member must co-sign this claim form to verify the hours they worked in performing support functions with providers after the hours have been recorded on the claim form. The contracted family day home agency will then receive a financial payment statement from Alberta Children s Services outlining all payments made to the agency including each trained agency staff member s name and the funding for each staff member. The agency is then required to transfer this funding to the staff over and above their current wage/salary and/or increments on the next pay cheque and be reflected as a government contribution. (This funding is not available to unpaid staff or staff working as volunteers or staff whose income is funded by another program (e.g. Alberta Education, etc.) A new accreditation funding grant application is required whenever there is a change to the contract holder. The new Supplementary Form A must be submitted at least once per fiscal year (April to March) and/or when the wage/salary changes for each trained agency staff member receiving this funding. Please refer to the application contained in this guide or online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. 8
Important Notes: The contracted family day home agency must submit a new Supplementary Form A at least once per fiscal year (April to March) to ensure no disruption in home visitor funding. Home visitor funding must be shown as a separate line item on the trained agency staff member s pay cheque stub to ensure they are aware of the purpose for the extra wage payment is a government contribution. Home Visitors whose income is funded by another program (such as Program Unit Funding through Alberta Education; therapists and assistants through other organizations/programs, etc.) are NOT eligible for the Home Visitor Funding for those hours worked with children and the hours must NOT be claimed on the monthly claim form. Home Visitor funding is not available for volunteer (unpaid) staff. Family Day Home Agencies Not Accredited (pre-accreditation funding) The contracted family day home agency must submit a grant application or have an approved grant application on file. Effective January 1, 2007*, the rate for Home Visitor Staff is: Certified at Level 1, 2 or not certified $1.69/hr Certified at Level 3 $2.76/hr *The retroactive payments and rates will be paid in May 2007 * Effective April 1, 2007, a maximum of 181 hours will be paid at these rates. Accredited Family Day Home Agencies (accreditation funding) The contracted family day home agency must submit a grant application or have an approved grant application on file and submit a photocopy of the Accreditation Certificate and a new Supplementary Form A for each trained agency staff. The home visitor funding will be effective based on the date of the accreditation certificate. Effective January 1, 2007*, the rate for Home Visitor Staff is: Certified at Level 1, 2 or not certified $2.53/hr Certified at Level 3 $4.14/hr *The retroactive payments and rates will be paid in May 2007 * Effective April 1, 2007, a maximum of 181 hours will be paid at these rates. Home Visitor Funding - Accountability A Supplementary Form A must be submitted, at least once per fiscal year (April to March) for each agency home visitor staff member in order to continue to receive Home Visitor Funding and Professional Development Funding. 9
3. BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION GRANT Family Day Home Agencies - Not Accredited (pre-accreditation funding) Family Day Home Agencies - Accredited (accreditation funding) Conditions The Benefit Contribution Grant is paid to eligible contracted family day home agencies to offset the cost for the mandatory employer contributions to administer the home visitor funding, which include income tax, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance and Workers Compensation Board. This funding will be paid at the rate of 12% based on the monthly total for the home visitor funding to the agency based on payments calculated from the monthly claim form. Important Note: It is the employers responsibility to ensure these deductions are taken from the qualifying employees pay and submitted to the appropriate agency (ie., federal government and WCB). The contracted family day home agency will receive a financial payment statement from Alberta Children s Services outlining all payments made to the centre including the Benefit Contribution Grant for each month a claim form is submitted to the Child and Family Services Authority. 4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT Family Day Home Agencies - Not Accredited (pre-accreditation funding) Family Day Home Agencies - Accredited (accreditation funding) Consecutive Months Worked with Recorded Hours Hours Claimed Each Month PD Grant Funding Approved Employee A 2 or more Less than 28 Not Eligible Employee B 2 or more 28-79 up to $250 per fiscal year Employee C 2 or more 80 or more Up to $1,000 per fiscal year The fiscal year is April 1 to March 31 Conditions The Professional Development Grant is available to paid, trained agency staff (home visitors) to support skills enhancement through education and training opportunities. Detailed information must be provided as to what the grant will be used for. Home visitor staff must have worked a minimum of 28 hours within the previous two months of which the funding has been requested and these hours must have been recorded on the monthly claim forms. In other words, staff must work for two consecutive months (of at least 28 hours/month) in order to qualify for this funding. 10
Although the employer can discuss with staff options to use this funding, it is ultimately the staff member s decision on how to best use this funding. Unused professional development funding is not transferable from one staff to another and may not be carried over to the next fiscal year. Important Note: The factor determining which fiscal year the funding is approved is based on the actual date the payment was made for the expenditure (and not the date of the service received or course taken). For example, grant funding for a course paid for in March 2006 but taken in April 2006 will be applied to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 because the payment for the course occurred in March 2006. Effective September 1, 2005, up to $1,000 per fiscal year (April to March) per eligible trained agency staff (home visitor staff only) is available for professional development. This grant can be requested in increments throughout the year using the Supplementary Form B. What can I spend the Professional Development Grant on? Approved for the following: Post-secondary coursework in early childhood education (must specify name of course, location, post-secondary institution, cost, date). First-aid training (must specify name, cost and date). Resources/books (a maximum of $250 per year unless enrolled in an early childhood development course from a post-secondary institution). Must specify name of book/resource, cost, and author. Conferences, workshops in early childhood education and development (must specify name, cost, location, date). Related professional association fees. Staff holding Level 3 certification may submit a learning plan outlining more creative and educational options as to how they would use this grant funding to enhance their own professional development in the field of ECE (e.g. business administration, human resource management, etc). Not Approved for: X Toys, equipment, books or resources for children; X Internet; X Child care expenses to attend training; X Travel expenses to attend training; X Meals and/or subsistence; X Computer hardware; or X Criminal record check/clearance. This funding is only available to trained agency staff who work at an agency that has been approved (or is eligible) for pre-accreditation or accreditation funding. 11
This funding is not taxable when transferred to the trained agency staff member. Professional development grants are paid to the contracted family day home agency on behalf of the trained agency staff member and must be transferred to the trained agency staff member, unless arrangements have been made to pool the funding for specialized training. Any pooling of the funding must be accompanied by a signed agreement between the contracted family day home agency and the home visitor staff member with approval from the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. The accreditation funding grant application form and Supplementary Form B is required to receive this funding. The required forms are located in this guide and are available online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Please submit only one copy of the Supplementary Form B(either a fax copy or original). Any funding not transferred to the trained agency staff member must be returned to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program using the Return Grant Funding Form as found in this booklet or online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Each person who receives the professional development grant is responsible for giving a copy of all the necessary receipts to the contracted family day home agency to verify the expenditure of this grant funding. Any funding spent where no receipts are maintained must be reported to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program using the Return Grant Funding Form as found in this booklet or online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. The family day home agency has the discretion to transfer the grant funding prior to obtaining the receipt for expenditure, but nonetheless, a receipt must be kept on file. The approved grant funding is applied to the fiscal year in which the actual payment is made for the service/expenditure. The Professional Development Grant is not available if another grant or bursary has been awarded (e.g., from Student Finance) for the same purpose. Professional Development - Accountability Each staff member who receives the Professional Development Grant is responsible for keeping the necessary receipts and giving a copy to the agency to verify the expenditure of this grant funding. The agency must retain a copy of all receipts supporting the Professional Development Grant payments made to the program. 5. PROVIDER SUPPORT FUNDING Conditions This funding is for trained caregivers (child care providers) who provide direct child care for preschool children (not including their own children). Effective April 1, 2007 certified or registered family day home providers funded through CFSA inclusive child care contracts will 12
be eligible to receive staff support funding under the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. Effective April 1, 2007 family day home providers will be eligible to receive up to eight hours per month for accreditation and program planning. A total of eight additional hours can be claimed providers, raising the maximum claimed hours for each provider, from 173 to 181 per month. These hours can be claimed on the monthly claim form under Direct Child Care Hours for Level 2 and 3 providers. Level 1 family day home providers are currently paid a flat monthly fee, regardless of the hours worked, and such will not be impacted by this change. This Funding is available to providers approved under a contracted family day home agency or if contracted as a Direct Care Provider with the CFSA. The funding is based on hours worked providing direct care to preschool children as reported on the monthly claim form. The funding is paid to the agency via a contractual agreement with Alberta Children s Services and all eligible providers need to be claimed regardless if their certification level with Day Care Staff Qualifications. If the trained provider is not certified at Level 1, 2 or 3 with Alberta Children s Services Day Care Staff Qualifications Office, the agency must submit a Provider Registration Form to the Accreditation Funding Program (see form in this guide) to obtain a registration number to facilitate the grant payment. Funding is based on a contractual agreement with Alberta Children s Services and the contracted family day home agency. If your agency does not have a contract in place, please contact the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program at 1(800) 661-9754. A new funding agreement is required whenever there is a new contract holder or sale of assets. Rates: effective January 1, 2007 Pre-Accredited Agency Trained Caregivers (Providers) Not certified or certified at Level 1 $163/month $243/month Accredited Agency Trained Caregivers (Providers) Certified at Level 2 $163/month PLUS $.79/hr* $243/month PLUS $1.19/hr* Trained Caregivers (Providers) Certified at Level 3 $163/month PLUS $1.86/hr* * NOTE: April 1, 2007- based on a maximum of 181 hours claimed per month. $243/month PLUS $2.80/hr* *These rates are effective January 1, 2007. Retroactive adjustments and new rates will be paid in May 2007. The funding recognizes post-secondary education in the field of early childhood development and offers compensation equal to certified staff working in day care centres with the same level of training/certification. 13
The supplementary hourly rate increase for trained caregivers will be paid to a maximum of 173 hours per calendar month based on actual hours claimed providing preschool child care. 14
6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT Family Day Home Agencies - Not Accredited (pre-accreditation funding) Family Day Home Agencies Accredited (accreditation funding) Conditions Technical Assistance Grant funding is available once the contracted family day home agency has applied for accreditation through the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services and started the self-study assessment and Quality Enhancement Plan. Up to $2,750 in Technical Assistance Grant funding is available prior to the submission of the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to assist agencies in completing their QEP. The funding is available to cover expenditures relating to the development and writing of the QEP. Receipts must be kept on file to verify funding approved for this purpose. The Technical Assistance Grant is intended to offset some of the costs associated with the development of the Quality Enhancement Plan, and accessing training, resources and programming tools needed to make best practice changes that meet and maintain accreditation standards. Funding for this grant may be applied for in increments based on actual expenditures (up to $6,500). A separate Supplementary Form C is required for each increment for which the agency is applying; however, the Accreditation Funding Grant Application needs to be submitted only once. The amount of the Technical Assistance Grant is up to $6,500 (over multiple years as necessary). The distribution of the Technical Assistance Grant funding follows these guidelines and should be incorporated into the agency s Quality Enhancement Plan. Enhancements that will promote positive caregiver interactions and professional development in their work with children and families (maximum of $5,000); Agency enhancements, other than contractual/policy requirements (maximum $1,250) of funding); Effective practices in administration (maximum $2,750). NOTE: Technical Assistance Grant funding is available to develop the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), up to a maximum of $2,750, by submitting the Accreditation Funding Grant Application and Supplementary Form C. You do not need to submit the QEP to access these funds. Receipts must be kept on file to verify the expenditures. Important Notes: The Technical Assistance Grant will NOT be approved to meet contractual or policy requirements with the Child and Family Services Authority (e.g., basic maintenance, toys/equipment, painting, etc.). 15
Once the contracted family day home agency becomes accredited, any balance remaining of the technical assistance funding can be applied for using the Supplementary Form C, describing how this funding will be utilized to maintain accreditation standards. Technical Support - Accountability All receipts must be kept to verify the expenditures related to the Technical Assistance Grant funding as per requested on the Supplementary Form C. These receipts may be requested by Alberta Children s Services at any time. How to Apply If you are not receiving funding, please complete the grant application form enclosed in this guide and attach the necessary supplementary forms (also located in this guide). Additional forms are available online at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Ensure that all of the information contained on the forms is complete and accurate. The contract holder representative is responsible for signing and dating the grant application form(s). If there is a change in the contract holder, the new contract holder is required to complete a new grant application. Some supplementary forms require a co-signature from the staff depending on the type of grant funding requested. Please refer to the specific sections in this guide regarding the conditions and reporting requirements in order to receive funding. Grant application and supplementary forms are also available on the Alberta Children s Services website at www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Please submit your completed grant application to the following address: Alberta Children s Services Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3rd Floor, Sterling Place 9940 106 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2 FAX: (780) 427-1258 You may fax your grant application and supplementary forms. Please contact us if you have any questions: Phone: In Edmonton (780) 422-1119 Toll-free (in Alberta) 1-800-661-9754 16
Please visit www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred to obtain further information about accreditation funding or call the Alberta Accreditation Funding Program at 1(800) 661-9754. Important Note: If the contracted family day home agency has already applied and is receiving funding, a new application is not required. However, a new Supplementary Form A must be submitted at least once per fiscal year. 17
Funding Grant Application for Contracted Family Day Home Agencies (revised April 2006) The information you provide on this form is collected and used under the authority of Alberta Regulation No. 73/2001 and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be used to determine and verify your eligibility for a grant. If you have any questions regarding the above, contact the Child Care Accreditation Funding Program at 1(800) 661-9754. PLEASE CHECK THE BOX(ES) FOR THE FUNDING FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING: And attach the necessary Supplementary Forms Quality Funding (No Supplementary Form Required) Home Visitor Funding Benefit Contribution Grant (Supplementary Form A Required) Professional Development Grant (Supplementary Form B Required) Technical Assistance Grant (Supplementary Form C Required) Instructions: Read, complete and sign the application. Retain a copy of the application for your records and for updating staff information. Submit original application to the Child Care Accreditation Program for consideration. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Street Address: City/Town: Postal Code: Legal Name of Contract Holder: Name of Contract Holder Representative (PLEASE PRINT): Under Alberta Regulation No. 73/2001, an application is made to the Minister of Children s Services for a grant from the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. I/We understand that the following conditions will apply: (a) All requirements of the Child Care Accreditation Funding Program must be met. (b) Grant funding must be used only for those purposes approved by the Minister. (c) Grant funds not used for the purposes for which they were provided must be returned to the Department. (d) The Department may at any time request that an evaluation or audit of the grant be conducted. (e) Permission will be granted to representatives of the Department to allow access, removal and copying of records for the purpose of validating expenditures under the Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. (f) The Government of Alberta has passed the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and all information collected or created in relation to the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program is subject to the provisions of the Act. (g) I understand that the Department may advertise the Pre/Accreditation status of my contracted family day home agency. (h) All the information contained in this Application and Supplementary Forms is true and accurate. Contract Holder Representative s Signature Title Phone number Date of Application Please attach the necessary Supplementary Form(s) to support this Grant Application and send to: Alberta Children s Services Child Care Accreditation Funding FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Program Date Received: QEP Submitted: Yes No 3rdFloor, Sterling Place CCIS Active Contract: Yes No Accredited: Yes No 9940 106 Street, Edmonton AB T5K 2N2 CFSA Recommendation: Yes No Funding Approval: Yes No FAX: (780) 427-1258 Approval Signature: Date:
Supplementary FORM A Home Visitor Funding and Benefit Contribution Grant for Contracted Family Day Homes (revised March 2007) This form must be completed for each paid, trained agency staff member (home visitor) who will be claimed on the monthly claim form and is employed in your contracted family day home agency AND when there is a change to their wages/salary (including owners). Effective April 1, 2007, family day home visitors will be eligible to receive up to eight hours per month for accreditation and program planning. A total of eight non-child care hours can be claimed for each staff engaged in this work. Raising the maximum claimed hours per home visitor, per month from 173 to 181. Home visitors are defined as paid, trained agency staff members who actively provide support functions with providers to ensure quality child care services on behalf of the contracted family day home agency. Support functions include: provision of monitoring; support; consultation; provider training; assessment; preparatory and follow-up work with providers. The Home Visitor Funding must be paid over and above the staff member s regular wage/salary and increments, and must be listed as a separate line item on the pay stub as a government contribution/enhancement. Rates for FDH Visitors Staff effective January 1, 2007 (the retroactive adjustments and rates will be paid May 2007) Pre-Accredited Agency Accredited Agency* Trained Agency Staff (Home Visitor) (not certified or certified at Level 1 or 2) $1.69/hr $2.53/hr Trained Agency Staff (Home Visitor) Certified at Level 3 $2.76/hr $4.14/hr * Accredited Agency means Contracted Family Day Home Agencies that have received an Accreditation Certificate from the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services. The Ministry will provide a Benefit Contribution Grant to family day home agencies for the costs of the mandatory employer contributions for legislated benefits based on the rate of 12% of the Home Visitor Funding. Home Visitor staff will be required to sign the monthly claim form to verify their hours worked. The Home Visitor Funding and Benefit Contribution Grant will be deposited to the family day home contract holder s bank account based on eligible hours submitted on the monthly claim to the maximum number of eligible hours. The contracted family day home agency is responsible to transfer the Home Visitor Funding to the appropriate trained agency staff members. The Benefit Contribution Grant will be paid at the rate of 12% of the total monthly Home Visitor Funding to offset such costs as Income Tax, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and WCB premiums. A toll-free information line has been established to accommodate any questions about the Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. For more information, call 1(800) 661-9754 or visit www.child.gov.ab.ca/accred. Please provide a signed copy to the home visitor staff and contract holder. HOME VISITOR WAGE VERIFICATION and REGISTRATION INFORMATION The information you provide on this form is collected and used under the authority of Alberta Regulation No. 73/2001 and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be used to determine and verify your eligibility for Home Visitor Funding. Completing this section indicates you have read and understood this document and the conditions of the funding. The Home Visitor Funding will be paid by the agency over and above the regular wage/salary as indicated below. All information must be completed to process the funding application. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Home Visitor Staff Name: Home Visitor Mailing Address: City: Postal Code: Staff Quals Certification # (if you have one): Home Visitor Telephone Number: Current Hourly Wage/Salary: Home Visitor Signature: Date: Employer (FDH) Signature: Printed Name: This Supplementary Form A must be completed for each trained agency staff member at least once per fiscal year. Please send only ONE COPY of the Supplementary Form A to: Alberta Children s Services, Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3rd Floor, Sterling Place, 9940 106 Street, Edmonton AB T5K 2N2 Toll-free 1-800-661-9754 FAX: (780) 427-1258
Supplementary FORM B Professional Development Grant For Contracted Family Day Homes (revised April 2006) The Professional Development Funding Grant is available to paid, trained agency staff (home visitors) who are employed at a contracted family day home agency that has been approved to receive Accreditation Funding. This grant paid at the rate of $250 per year for staff working with preschool children a minimum of 28 hours per month for two consecutive claim periods or up to $1,000 per year based on 80 hours per month for two consecutive claim periods. Grants will be paid to the agency on behalf of the trained agency staff member (home visitor). The agency is responsible to retain receipts and transfer this funding to the staff member. This Supplementary Form B must be completed for each trained agency staff member (home visitor) for whom the Professional Development Grant is being applied. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Contract Holder Representative Signature: Date: Contract Holder Representative (Printed Name): Purpose for which the Professional Development Grant will be used: (Must relate to professional development and may include early childhood coursework, conferences, books, workshops, first aid training, etc.). All detailed information must be provided in order to process for approval. Title of Book(s): Author: Date Purchased: Cost (max $250/yr*): Name of Conference: Date and Location: Date Paid: Cost: Course Name and Number: Name of College: Date Tuition Paid: Cost: Name of Training/Workshop: Date and Location: Date Paid: Cost: *The maximum amount is waived if taking an Early Childhood Education course at a post-secondary institution. Attach additional pages as required. TOTAL COST: $ Home Visitor Staff Name: Home Visitor Registration Number (Staff Qualification #): (This number must be provided) (Please complete Supplementary Form A if you do not have a number) Home Visitor Signature: Date: Important Note: Please submit a Supplementary Form A if one has not been submitted within the last year to ensure no disruption in grant funding. Receipts must be obtained by staff and kept on file by the license holder and submitted at the request of Children s Services. Any grant funding that was not fully used or not used for the purpose stated on this Form will be required to be returned to the Provincial Government. This grant funding is not taxable when transferred to the staff. Please submit only ONE copy and keep a copy to the home visitor staff and the contract holder. Alberta Children s Services Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3rd Floor, Sterling Place 9940 106 Street Edmonton AB T5K 2N2 FAX: (780) 427-1258 FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY: Date Received: CCIS Contract Active: YES NO Agency Grant Application Received: YES NO Approval Signature: Funding Approval: Yes No AMOUNT APPROVED: $ Date:
Supplementary FORM C Technical Assistance Grant for Contracted Family Day Homes (revised September 2006) A total of $6,500 in Technical Assistance funding is available to contracted family day home agencies that are in good standing with licensing/contractual requirements and are eligible for funding under the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program. The Technical Assistance Grant Application must accompany this form and is required to be submitted only once. Once the contracted family day home agency has applied for accreditation, the program is eligible to apply for up to $2,750 of the Technical Assistance Grant to develop and/or update the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The technical assistance funding will assist the child care program to develop the Quality Enhancement Plan, access training, resources, and programming tools that are needed to make the best practice changes that are required to meet and maintain accreditation standards. Please keep a copy for your records. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Purpose for which the Technical Assistance Grant will be used: Program Area: Administration and the Development/Update of the Quality Enhancement Plan What will the funding be spent on? Maximum Available per Program Area Check here to apply for funding to develop/update the QEP (If checked, QEP does not have to be submitted at this time.) (max $2,750) Agency/Facility (other than regulation requirements) (QEP must be submitted to apply for this funding. Purpose for which the grant is to be used must be described in the QEP.) (max $1,250) Adult/Child Interactions (enhancements to promote positive child interactions and development) (QEP must be submitted to apply for this funding. Purpose for which the grant is to be used must be described in the QEP.) (max $5,000) Please attach additional pages if required. TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED (max $6,500): $ Contract Holder Representative Signature: Contract Holder Representative (Printed Name): Date: Contact Phone Number: Receipts must be available to verify these expenses and must be submitted at the request of Alberta Children s Services. Any grant funding that was not fully used or not used for the purpose stated on this form will be required to be returned to the Provincial Government. Please send ONE COPY of this form and the Quality Enhancement Plan to: (either by fax or mail). Alberta Children s Services Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3rd Floor, Sterling Place 9940 106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2N2 FAX: (780) 427-1258 FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY: Date Received: Funding Approval: Yes No Approval Signature: AMOUNT APPROVED: $ BALANCE REMAINING: $ Date:
RETURN GRANT FUNDING FORM Child Care Accreditation Funding for Contracted Family Day Homes (revised April 2006) Home Visitor Funding, Benefit Contribution Grant, Professional Development Grant, Provider Support Funding, and Technical Assistance Grant For Unused/Unspent/Undistributed/Unreceipted Grant Funding Received In accordance with the conditions of the grant application, all grant funding NOT USED and/or NOT TRANSFERRED TO STAFF and/or NOT SPENT and/or WITHOUT RECEIPTS** must be reported on this form. A negative adjustment will be reflected on the facility s monthly Payment Summary Statement. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Legal Name of Contract Holder: STAFF NAME/ TRAINED AGENCY STAFF (HOME VISITOR) NAME CERTIFICATION/ REGISTRATION NUMBER TYPE OF GRANT (I.E. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT) AMOUNT not used and/or not transferred to staff, and/or not spent and/or without receipts** MONTH/YEAR RECEIVED ** Please indicate if receipts were not obtained from staff, the reason why and indicate whether this funding was paid to the staff member. Please attach separate page if required Signature of contract holder representative Date Name (please print) Telephone number Please FAX this completed form to (780) 427-1258 (Attention: Accreditation Funding Program) Only submit ONE COPY. or mail to: Alberta Children s Services, Accreditation Funding Program 3 rd Floor Sterling Place, 9940 106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2 DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Date Received: Date Processed in CCIS: EO Signature: The information you provide on this form is collected and used under the authority of Alberta Regulation No. 73/2001 and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions you may contact the Alberta Child Care Accreditation Funding Program at 1(800) 661-9754 or in Edmonton at (780) 422-1119.
Provider REGISTRATION FORM Child Care Accreditation Funding for Contracted Family Day Homes (revised March 2007) The information you provide on this form is collected and used under the authority of Alberta Regulation No.73/2001and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be used to determine and verify your eligibility for a Provider Support Funding grant. If you have any questions regarding the above, contact the Child Care Accreditation Funding Program at 1 (800) 661-9754. This form must be completed for each trained caregiver (family day home provider) for whom the provider support grant funding is being applied. This information is required to create a registration number to facilitate and track the payments paid to the agency on behalf of each provider. Effective April 1, 2007, Level 2 and 3 family day home providers will be eligible to receive up to eight hours per month for accreditation and program planning. A total of eight non-child care hours can be claimed for each provider in this work, raising the maximum claimed hours per provider, per month from 173 to 181. Level 1 providers are paid a flat monthly fee and, as such, will not be impacted by this change. Pre-Accredited Agency Accredited Agency Providers Not certified or certified at Level 1 $163/month $243/month Providers Certified at Level 2 $163/month PLUS $.79/hr* $243/month PLUS $1.19/hr* Providers $163/month PLUS $1.86/hr* $243/month PLUS $2.80/hr* Certified at Level 3 * Effective April 1, 2007, based on actual hours worked providing preschool care up to 181 hours per month. Contracted Family Day Home Agency Name: Facility ID: Provider Staff Name: Provider Contract Start Date: (year/month/day): Date of Birth: (used as a passcode to release information and distinguish between persons with the same name) (year / month / day) Mailing Address: (Home) Postal Code: Phone No: Please submit ONE COPY of this form to: Alberta Children s Services Child Care Accreditation Funding Program 3rd Floor, Sterling Place 9940 106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2N2 FAX: (780) 427-1258 Toll-free Information Line: 1 (800) 661-9754 FOR DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Date Received: Registration Number: