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	Office for Children and Youth
	Child Care Assistance

For Child Care Related Statistics go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov For Quality-Related Resource Tools go to: http://nccic.org Then click on desired category.

Am I Eligible?

How and where do I apply for child care assistance?

Service Area County Map

Am I eligible for child care assistance? In order to be eligible for child care services, a child must be under the age of 13 (or under age 19 and physically or mentally unable of caring for himself or herself). The parent must fall within one of the following Eligibility Guidelines by Priority Group:  Back to Top Eligibility Guidelines by Priority Group  TANF Parent(s) (Priority I) - Eligibility for child care services for TANF parent(s) is determined by the MDHS, OCY Designated Agent. The Referral for TANF Child Care form and computer information screen, received from TANF Case Manager, must be included in each child’s file. The two forms verify eligibility of TANF parents who are participating in an allowable TANF activity and are given priority for child care. The TANF parent is required to participate in an allowable TANF program activity. Each participant must comply with all program requirements. TCC Parent(s) (Priority II) - The referral form received from the MDHS Case Manager will indicate that this parent is to be considered for TCC child care services and when child care services are to begin. Parent(s) leaving Priority II should be placed in the appropriate priority based upon income, family size or other determining factors. Very Low-income, At Risk of Going on TANF (Priority III) - In order to qualify for full-time child care, the parent must be working at least (25) hours per week, or be enrolled full-time in high school or enrolled in a full-time GED program. Unpaid work hours required to complete course work for the school curriculum and/or work study may be counted towards the work requirement for the parent. Documentation must be provided on a case by case basis. In a two-parent family, each parent must be working at least (25) hours per week. The family’s gross income must be at 50 percent or below the State Median Income. Children in Protective Services are eligible for child care services without regard to the income. Foster parent(s) and Protective Services parents must meet the same work or school requirement as non-foster parent(s) but without regard to the amount of the foster parent’s income. Irregular hours of employment and income should be averaged. Low-income, At Risk of Going on TANF (Priority IV) - In order to qualify for full-time child care, the parent must be working at least (25) hours per week, or be enrolled full-time in high school or enrolled in a full-time GED program. Unpaid work hours required to complete course work for the school curriculum and/or work study may be counted towards the work requirement for the parent. Documentation must be provided. In a two-parent family, each parent must be working at least (25) hours per week. To be Priority IV, the family’s gross income must be at above 50 percent of the State Median Income and at or below 85 percent of the State Median Income. Irregular hours of employment and income should be averaged. Low-income, At Risk of Going on TANF (Priority V) - Based upon the availability of funding, children of parent(s) in an approved full-time educational or training program and working less than 25 hours per week regardless to where the family income falls up to the 85 percent of SMI. Low-income, At Risk of Going on TANF (Priority VI) - Based upon the availability of funding, children of parent(s) in an approved full-time educational or training program and not working up to the 85 percent of SMI. Back to Top Income Eligibility Chart Based on Monthly Employment Income Family Size 85% of SMI* 50% of SMI* Two $2,333 $1,417 Three $2,917 $1,750 Four $3,416 $2,000 Five $4,000 $2,333 *SMI = State Median Income Back to Top How and where do I apply for a child care certificate? To apply for a certificate, an application must be filed with one of the following nine OCY Designated Agents located across the state. See the table below for the contact information of the Designated Agent in your area: Back to Top     SERVICE AREAS       OFFICE          DIRECTOR TELEPHONE NUMBER CENTRAL   Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Yazoo  Central Mississippi Planning  and Development District   P. O. Box 4935  Jackson, MS 39296-4935 Mr. F. Clarke Holmes Chief Executive Director       (601) 981-1511 FAX (601) 981-1515 1-866-981-1511 EAST CENTRAL Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Smith    East Central Planning and Development District   P. O. Box 499  Newton, MS 39345 Mr. Bill Richardson Executive Director (601) 683-7409 FAX (601) 683-7410 1-800-258-9873 GOLDEN TRIANGLE Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, Winston  Golden Triangle Planning and Development District   P. O. Box 823  Starkville, MS 39760-0828 Mr. Rupert L. "Rudy" Johnson Executive Director (662) 324-7860 FAX (662) 324-7328 1-888-286-1193 ICS, Inc. Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Panola, Pontotoc, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Union  Institute of Community Services, Inc.   P. O. Box 160  Holly Springs, MS 38635  Eloise McClinton Executive Director (662) 252-1582 FAX (662) 252-7181 1-888-905-2681 NORTH CENTRAL Attala, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Leflore, Montgomery, Yalobusha  North Central Mississippi Planning  and Development District   711 South Applegate  Winona, MS 38967 Mr. Robert Berry, Jr. Executive Director (662) 283-2675 FAX (662) 283-5875 1-888-283-5832 NORTHEAST  Alcorn, Benton, Marshall, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo  Northeast MS Planning and Development District   P. O. Box 600  Booneville, MS 38829 Ms. Sharon Garner Executive Director (662) 728-6248 FAX (662) 728-2417 1-800-939-3489 SOUTH DELTA Bolivar, Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington   South Delta Mississippi Planning and Development District   P. O. Box 1776 Greenville, MS 38702 Mr. William B. Haney, Jr. Executive Director (662) 378-3831 FAX (662) 378-3834 1-866-876-2218 SOUTHERN Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, Wayne   Southern MS Planning and Development District   700 Hardy Street   Hattiesburg, MS 39401 (228) 868-2311 FAX (228) 868-7094   MAIL CHILD CARE INFO TO Southern MS Planning and Development District 700 Hardy Street  Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Mr. Gary Lukens Deputy Director (601) 545-2137 FAX (601) 545-2164 1-888-867-6733 SOUTHWEST Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, Wilkinson   Southwest MS Planning and Development District   100 South Wall Street  Natchez, MS 39120 Mr. Wirt Peterson Executive Director (601) 446-6044 FAX (601) 446-6071 1-800-471-9738 Back to Top Back to Top