Improving child care access, affordability and stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)

On March 1, 2024, the Office of Child Care (OCC), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published their final rule which makes changes to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). The final rule is intended to lower child care costs for families, strengthen payment practices for child care providers and make program enrollment easier and faster for families.

The final rule became effective April 30, 2024, and applies to states’ FY2025-2027 CCDF State and Territory Plans. The plans must be submitted by July 1, 2024, and become effective October 1, 2024.

CCDF State and Territory Plans must demonstrate how they meet the changes outlined in the final rule. States may also request a temporary transitional waiver for up to two years. Nebraska has requested the transitional waiver. This means the current draft of the 2025-2027 Nebraska CCDF State Plan does not meet all the requirements of the final rule.

This blog post outlines the changes made by the final rule and how those changes are addressed in the draft of the 2025-2027 Nebraska CCDF State Plan.

Public Input
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) accepted public input on the proposed plan via mail or at the hearing on June 24, 2024. 

                                  Child Care Affordability

        Expanding Parent Choices and Provider Stability 

 Expanding Access to Subsidy and Reducing Bureaucracy

               Miscellaneous and Technical Changes