HB 499 from the 2022 Regular Session established the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP) Program. Through ECCAP, the cost of child care is shared by you, your employer, and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). The amount contributed by the Cabinet is based upon your family’s size and income level. This means your child care expense could be significantly reduced.
Eligibility
- Employees must work for a Kentucky employer with an employer participating in the program.
- The child care provider must operate in Kentucky and participate in the Kentucky All STARS program.
An employee whose family meets the eligibility requirements for the
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) pursuant to 922 KAR 2:160 shall be referred to that program by the cabinet. An employee cannot participate in both.
Application
Employees should seek employers willing to participate in the program.
Steps to Apply
Employer
- Create a Kentucky Online Gateway (KOG) account.
- Set up a Kentucky Integrated Child Care System (KICCS) portal account.
- Fill out Section I of the application in the KICCS portal to get started.
Employee
- After the employer completes Section I, the employee will fill out Section II in KICCS.
Child Care Provider
- Once the employee finishes Section II, the child care provider will complete Section III in KICCS.
The fastest and easiest way to apply for the ECCAP Program is through the KICCS online application portal. If you are unable to apply online you can complete a DCC-600
Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership paper application and submit it by
email or mail, to the Division of Child Care at the address below.
Mailing Address:
Division of Child Care
275 E Main St, 3C-F
Frankfort, KY 40621
Current ECCAP Employers Reapplying
If you are already part of the ECCAP program, the application process must still be completed through the KICCS portal.
Steps to Complete the Application to Reapply
Employer
- The employer will start the process by filling out Section I in the KICCS portal.
Employee
- After the employer finishes, the employee will complete Section II in KICCS.
Child Care Provider
- Finally, the child care provider will fill out Section III in KICCS.
State Contribution Match Scale
The
state match percentage is based on the employee’s household income compared to the State Median Household Income (SMI). The percentage of the match decreases based on how high above the SMI the family’s income rises.
For example: An employer would apply to participate in this program and provide part of an employee’s child care cost to be matched by state funds. If the employee’s child care costs are $1200/month, the employer commits to providing $400/month toward the cost of that employee’s child care. The state would match that contribution of $400/month, leaving the family to contribute $400/month, or one-third of the total cost.
The state match to the contribution provided by the employer will be determined using the following scale established by KRS 199.885.