RD414 - Annual Report on Obtaining the Maximum Available Federal Funding for Child Care Services - December 2009


Executive Summary:
Since Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 03, DSS has obtained the maximum amount of federal funds available for child care services. This trend has continued through FFY 09.

Virginia’s child care program helps low-income families pay for child care so they can maintain employment or attend approved education/training activities. It may also assist with the cost of care for children in need of protective services. The program provides services to improve child care for citizens of the Commonwealth.

Strategies employed by DSS to maximize federal funds include: transferring funds from other programs, fully utilizing state Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) expenditures, and seeking reallocated federal funds not used by other states. Strategies that blend state and local resources to meet federal matching requirements have been implemented. In addition to the annual federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) award and transfers from the TANF block grant to CCDF, Virginia’s child care program was awarded funds in FFY 09 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Pub. L. No. 111-5.