• Are all Indian Tribes eligible to receive CCDF funds?
  
• How does an Indian Tribe apply for CCDF funds?
  
• What is the difference between and "Exempt" and "Non-exempt" tribal grantee?
  
• What is Public Law 102-477?
  
• What are the benefits of Child Care / Head Start Collaborations?
  
• What is a Market Rate Survey?
  
• Can a Tribe use CCDF funds to construct or renovate a child care facility?
  
• How can a Tribe assess the community's need for constructing or renovating a facility?
  
• How can a Tribe leverage construction / renovation funds from the sources in addition to CCDF?
  
• What are National Service Programs and how can tribal child care programs access their resources?
  

Pursuant to 45 CFR 98.62, a Tribe is eligible to receive CCDF funds if the Tribe is federally recognized and the tribal population includes at least 50 children under age 13.

A Tribe with fewer than 50 children under age 13 may participate in a consortium of eligible tribes. In order to be eligible to receive CCDF funds on behalf of its member Tribes, a consortium must:

• Consist of Tribes that meet the eligibility requirements for the CCDF program or that would meet the eligibility requirements if the Tribe or tribal organization had at least 50 children under age 13; and

• Adequately demonstrate it has authorization from each participating Tribe to receive CCDF funds on behalf of the Tribe.

  Special Rule for Indian Tribes in Alaska:

Only specified Alaska Native entities may receive Tribal Mandatory Funds. The Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette Islands Reserve and the following Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations are eligible to receive Tribal Mandatory Funds:

• Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Association;
• Arctic Slope Native Association;
• Association of Village Council Presidents;
• Bristol Bay Native Association;
• Chugachmuit;
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council;
• Copper River Native Association
• Kawerak, Inc.;
• Kodiak Area Native Association;
• Maniilaq Association;
• Tanana Chiefs Conference; and
• Tlingit and Haida Central Council

How does an Indian Tribe apply for CCDF funds?

A federally recognized Indian Tribe (or consortium of federally recognized Indian Tribes) must complete a tribal plan, using the preprint provided by the Child Care Bureau, that describes the CCDF services that will be available in its tribal community. The plan must be submitted to ACF for review by July 1 and is effective on October 1 of that funding year. Once approved, a CCDF plan is effective for a two-year period.

Each spring, the Child Care Bureau mails a Program Instruction to all federally recognized Indian Tribes that describes the CCDF application and plan process.

What is the difference between an "Exempt " and "Non-exempt" tribal grantee?

A Tribe that receives a fiscal year CCDF allocation equal to or greater than $500,000 is considered a "non-exempt" grantee. This distinction means that 1) the Tribe must expend no less than 4 percent of the aggregate CCDF funds in a fiscal year on quality activities; and 2) the Tribe must operate a certificate program that offers parental choice from a full range of providers (i.e., center-based, group home, family and in-home care).

What is Public Law 102-477?

The Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (P.L. 102 477) was enacted to:

• Demonstrate how Indian tribal governments can integrate the employment, training and related services they provide in order to improve the effectiveness of those services;
  

• Reduce joblessness in Indian communities; and
  

• Serve tribally determined goals consistent with the policy of self-determination.
  
  

Public Law 102-477 permits tribal governments to consolidate a number of federal programs to integrate their federally funded employment, training, and related services programs into a single, coordinated comprehensive program. The CCDF is one of the programs that may be consolidated under P.L.. 102-477.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) serves as the Lead Agency for all P.L. 102-477 plans. In accordance with P.L. 102-477, eligible tribal applicants may choose to streamline tribal services by submitting a consolidated plan for employment, training and related services to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Department of the Interior.

Each spring, the Child Care Bureau mails a Program Instruction to all federally recognized Indian Tribes that describes the procedures for consolidating the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program with other employment and training funding sources under a P.L. 102-477 plan.

What are the benefits of Child Care/Head Start Collaborations?

Both the Child Care Bureau and the Head Start Bureau are committed to providing quality services that are vital for the growth and development of children and are also a valuable support for parents. Collaboration between the two programs has a number of benefits, including helping to:

• Construct and renovate facilities;
  

• Promote continuity in services to children from infancy through school-age;
  

• Meet the needs of working parents by providing full-day, year round services; and
  

• Provide joint training and career development opportunities for providers.
  
  

The development of early childhood facilities that serve both programs is an area that is particularly suited to collaboration. Tribes can apply to use CCDF and Head Start funds for the construction or renovation of facilities. By leveraging funds from both programs, with other sources, Tribes will have more resources for a quality facility. In addition, by bringing together Child Care and Head Start services and drawing on the strengths of these programs, the facility will better serve the needs of children and their families.

What is a Market Rate Survey?

A market rate survey is designed to determine the rates charged by child care providers and paid by the users of the service, within a certain geographical area. The market rate is the price for child care services charged to families who receive no help in paying for their child care. The objective in determining subsidy rates is to have the price paid by a government subsidy plus the portion of the fee paid by the family equal with the amount paid by non-subsidized families. This helps to provide subsidized families access to child care services across a range of providers.

A market rate survey is required in section 3.2 of the Tribal Plan Preprint (section 98.43(b)(2) of the CCDF Final Rule, dated July 24, 1998). A tribal CCDF applicant may conduct its own market rate survey, or base its payment rates on the State’s market rate survey -- if the Tribe’s service area is included in the State’s survey.

Can a Tribe use CCDF funds to construct or renovate a child care facility?

Yes, Tribes may use CCDF funds for constructing and renovating child care facilities. In accordance with uniform procedures, however, Tribal Lead Agencies must first request and receive approval from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) before using CCDF funds for construction or major renovation.

To obtain approval, a Tribal Lead Agency must show that adequate child care facilities are not otherwise available and that the lack of facilities will inhibit future program operations. Under the law, use of funds for construction or renovation cannot result in a decrease in the level of child care services compared to the preceding fiscal year.

How can a Tribe assess the community’s need for constructing or renovating a facility?

• assessing the condition and adequacy of existing facilities;
  
• examining the current need for child care in the community (including population demographics; what type of child care meets the needs of the community);
  
• projecting whether the need for child care is likely to continue or change in the future;
  
• determining the best location and evaluating the site for the proposed facility;
  
• determining the size of the facility based on community needs and available resources; and
  
• estimating start-up and operating costs for the facility and evaluating whether adequate resources exist to meet these costs.
  
  

How can a Tribe leverage construction/renovation funds from the sources in addition to CCDF?

There are several Federal grant and loan programs available to finance the construction or renovation of facilities. In addition, some private foundations may have funds available. The Administration for Children and Families encourages collaboration between child care and other programs in order to maximize resources and meet the needs of children and families. In particular, Tribes applying to use CCDF funds for construction/renovation must demonstrate child care/Head Start collaboration if there is a Head Start program in the service area.

The Corporation for National and Community Service was formed to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs. Each year, more than 1.5 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds help meet local needs through a wide array of service opportunities. These include projects in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security and other critical areas through the Corporation's three major programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America.

For information about national service projects in Indian Country, please visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/indian_communities/index.asp. This site includes funding announcements and partnership opportunities, resource documents, and descriptions of current national service activities in Indian Country.

Additionally, the President's service initiative, the USA Freedom Corps, has established a Volunteer Network that allows nonprofit and public organizations to recruit volunteers posting volunteer opportunities through the Network's website. For information on becoming a part of the Network, see http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/for_orgs/join/index.asp.