Program Instruction: ACYF-IM-CC-97-02 |
|
Administration for Children and Families |
Administration on Children, Youth and Families |
|
| 1. Log No: ACYF-IM-CC-97-02 | 2. Issuance Date: 10/27/97 | |
| 3. Originating Office: Child Care Bureau | ||
| 4. Key Words: Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) - Statutory Changes to the State-Level Aggregate Reports and the Case-Level Disaggregate Reports for States and Territories | ||
| TO: | State and Territorial Child Care Administrators and Other Interested Parties |
| SUBJECT: | Child Care and Development Fund Reporting Changes for States and Territories |
| REFERENCES: | The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PL 104-193) and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (PL 105-33). Information Memorandum Log No. ACYF-IM-CC-97-01. |
| PURPOSE: | To inform States and Territories of changes for collection of state-level aggregate and case-level (disaggregate) CCDF data. Technical assistance information is also included. |
| BACKGROUND: | State-level aggregate child care program and individual case-level information for the Child Care and Development Fund is required by Sec. 658K of the Child Care Development Block Grant Act as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This report collection has also been modified by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. |
| REPORTING CHANGES FOR THE STATE-LEVEL AGGREGATE REPORT: | The state-level aggregate report will
become an annual report in Federal Fiscal Year 1998. However,
the first aggregate report continues to be due December 31, 1997,
as stipulated by the statute. This due date has
NOT been changed by PL 105-33.
Beginning October 1, 1997, the ACF-800 state-level data will be collected annually instead of biannually as required in the original legislation. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved form and instructions are enclosed for the first state-level aggregate data collection which is due December 31, 1997 (see attachment A). The first state-level aggregate report will cover the period of April 1, 1997 to September 30, 1997 as indicated in Information Memorandum Log No. ACYF-IM-CC-97-01. The second state-level aggregate data collection is due December 31, 1998, and is for the reporting period of October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998. |
| TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON STATE-LEVEL DATA STANDARDS: | Also attached is a technical bulletin (see attachment B) regarding data standards for the submission of state-level aggregate data for the first ACF-800. This bulletin was developed in cooperation with the Child Care Information System Technical Assistance Group, a group of 10 States who have provided information to us on technical assistance issues which States have around reporting. |
| STATE-LEVEL REPORT SUBMISSION STRATEGIES: | The state-level aggregate report may be submitted in one of two ways: through the Internet or on paper through the mail. An internet site will be established for the direct submission of the ACF-800 or States may mail a paper copy of the report to both the regional and central ACF offices (faxes may be accepted if followed by the paper copy through the mail). Details for the submission of the state-level report will be provided closer to the December 31, 1997 submission date. |
| CHANGES IN THE CASE-LEVEL (DISAGGREGATE) REPORT: | Several refinements and
streamlining of the case-level data elements have been made as
a result of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and recommendations
from the States involved in the Child Care Information System
Technical Assistance Group. These changes are incorporated into
the revised ACF-801 and instructions (see attachment C). On September
15, 1997, the attached Federal Register announcement regarding
the ACF-801 Form and instructions was re-posted (see attachment
D). States and Territories are encouraged to send their comments
to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within the first 30 days
of the comment period, since OMB is required to make final determination
of approval within 30 to 60 days following the Federal Register
posting dates. States and Territories may also send comments to:
Administration for Children and Families |
| SUBMISSION DATE FOR THE CASE-LEVEL REPORT: | Due to the statutory changes in the data elements, we have decided to delay the submission of the first quarterly case-level (disaggregate) report until August 31, 1998, a delay of six months from our original proposed due date of February 15, 1998. The first reporting period will be April 1, 1998 to June 30, 1998. We anticipate that States will use one of two methods for electronically submitting reports: Connect:Direct or modem dial-up. Details for the submission of the case-level report will be provided closer to the August 31, 1998 submission date. |
| DATA USES: | Data from the reports will be reported to Congress every two years. The first report to Congress is due July 1, 1998. Additionally, the data will be used in a variety of tables and charts to assist the department in addressing national child care needs and in providing technical assistance to improve the quality of child care for low-income families. Data will be aggregated into tables for public availability through the Child Care Bureau Internet web site. |
| CHILD CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE | The Child Care Bureau recently awarded a contract for information systems technical assistance and development to SRA and Ellsworth Associates. We are pleased to announce the creation of a Child Care Automation Resource Center as part of that contract. The Resource Center has liaisons with information systems backgrounds who are ready to assist you with your information systems questions and concerns. You may contact the center at 888-821-6997 weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). |
| FUTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: | Over the next few months technical assistance will be provided to States and Territories through workshops, a national conference, additional technical bulletins, a data element dictionary, a "help desk" resource service, software and utility assistance, and automated report feedback. The sampling specifications will be published at a later date. |
| REPORTING PROBLEMS: | The Child Care Bureau will provide training and technical assistance to lead agencies to ensure the availability of the best data possible. Lead agencies anticipating problems in complying with the statutory reporting requirements should contact the department for technical assistance. |
| QUESTIONS: | Questions about this information memorandum should
be directed to:
State-Level Reports: Reports Manager, 202-690-6782, ccb@acf.dhhs.gov Case-Level Reports: Michael Dubinsky, 202-401-3442, mdubinsky@acf.dhhs.gov Sampling: Michael Dubinsky Information Systems: Margreta Silverstone, 202-690-5724, msilverstone@acf.dhhs.gov |
|
Joan Lombardi |