Southern Mississippi Planning and Develoopment District manages the CCDF child care certificate program for 15 counties of South Mississippi, to include: Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone and Wayne counties. Funding for the child care certificate program is received from MDHS Office for Children and Youth.
The certificate programs are based on parental choice. The parent is allowed the opportunity to select a provider for their child(ren). Upon request from the parent, SMPDD can provide a list of providers currently participating in the certificate program to assist the parent in making a selection.
Individuals shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age or handicapping conditions in the provision of child care services.
Income Eligibility Information:
|
Household Size |
50% SMI |
85% SMI |
|
2 |
<$17,000 |
<$28,000 |
|
3 |
<$21,000 |
<$35,000 |
|
4 |
<$24,000 |
<$41,000 |
|
5 |
<$28,000 |
<$48,000 |
|
6 |
<$32,000 |
<$51,000 |
*State Median Income(SMI)
Certificates are issued to children aged 12 and under. Special needs children can be served through age 18, with proper documentation on file.
If a parent wishes to apply for child care assistance, the parent can call SMPDD to request an application. Applications are processed upon receipt by SMPDD. A parent will be notified in writing as to the status of their application. If funding is not available, parents on the Waiting List(in order of priority) are contacted for eligibility documentation.
Documentation that may be requested of a parent includes: a copy of two current check stubs, documentation of school enrollment, verification of the Social Security number for the parent and for all children needing assistance, verification of child support and other monetary benefits, a copy of the long form birth certificate for all children needing assistance, and other documentation as needed on a case by case basis.
Parents of teen parents must meet the eligibility criteria (working or in school) but their income is not used in the determination of eligibility.
Upon receipt of the documentation, eligibility is determined. If a client submits partial information by the deadline, the parent is allowed an additional opportunity to submit a complete set of information. Once eligibility is determined, a certificate is issued and mailed to eligible parents for completion. Parents who have an active certificate at the end of the fiscal year (September 30) are contacted in July and allowed the opportunity to reapply for child care assistance for October 1. Parents who submit completed information and are eligible are issued a new certificate in order of priority based upon the availability of funding.
