Mississippi Child Care Payment Program
(Child Care Tuition Assistance for Parents)
The Mississippi Child Care Payment Program is a federally funded program designed to provide parents with assistance with child care tuition. Parents may choose any type of child care while participating in this program.
Parents who meet the income and work requirement for participation in the Certificate Program will be responsible for paying their child care provider a monthly co-payment fee. In addition, parents will be responsible for published tuitions rates. For example, if a parent has a child enrolled in AZQ Preschool and the preschool's published tuition rates are $390 per month and the Child Care Certificate Program pays $300 per month, the parent is responsible for paying the $90 difference to the child care provider in addition to their monthly co-payment.
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 him or herself). The parent must fall within of the following Eligibility Guidelines by Priority Group:
Eligibility Guidelines by Priority Group
| Priority I | TANF Parent(s) - Eligibility for child care services for TANF parent(s) is determined by the MDHS, Division of Economic Assistance. The TANF parent is required to participate in an allowable TANF program activity. Each participant must comply with all program requirements. |
| Priority II | Transitional Child Care (TCC) - Families are eligible for TCC based on a referral from their TANF caseworker. |
| Priority III | Very Low-Income, At Risk of Going on TANF - In order to quality for full-time child care, the parent must be workingat least twenty-five (25) hours per week, or be enrolled full-timein an approved educational program. Documentation must be provided on a case by case basis. In a two-parent family, each parent must be working at lease twenty-five (25) hours per week, and/or enrolled in school full time. 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 income. Foster parent(s) and Protective Services parent(s) are served at the request of their social worker. |
| Priority IV | Low-income, at Risk of Going on TANF - Based upon the availability of funding, children of parent(s) in an approved full-time educational or training program and/or working the required 25 hours per week whose income falls between 50 and 85 percent of the SMI. |
Income Eligibility Guidelines for Participation in the Mississippi Child Care Certificate Program
Families meet the income eligibility requirements if their monthly income is less than or equal to the figures listed:
Application for Child Care Certificate Program
An application may be obtained from the DECCD website by calling DECCD, or through email. To apply for services, an application must be completed and returned to DECCD.
For CCPP help please call 1-800-877-7882 or email ccpayment@mdhs.ms.gov.