February 18, 2008

The state of Vermont's Child Development Division (CDD) is now accepting public comments on its proposed regulations for the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (formally known as the Child Care Subsidy Program). The regulations have not been updated since 1990. Many of the changes reflect current policy.

According to CDD, the proposed regulations "substantially revise the program that provides child care subsidy assistance to eligible Vermont families." They clarify specific measures, qualifications and review for program eligibility and set standards for a major service component of the Vermont Child Care Program. The fee scale and the reimbursement rate scale are not in the proposed rules in order to make it easier to make changes to them in the future.

This is an excellent opportunity to share your concerns or ideas regarding the program with state administrators. It is also an opportunity to make a general plug for the importance of increasing resources available to young children.

We have until April 15 to comment on the proposed regulations. Comments may be submitted in several ways:

• By email: carmen.mentasti@ahs.state.vt.us
• By fax: (802) 241-4676 
• By mail: Carmen Mentasti, Child Development Division, 103 South Main Street, Building A, Waterbury, VT 05671-5500

In addition to accepting written comments, CDD will hold numerous public hearings throughout the state:   

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 (5:30 - 7:00 PM)
Windham Child Care Association
130 Birge St.
Brattleboro

Thursday, March 13, 2008 (4:00 - 6:00 PM) at the following Vermont Interactive Television sites:

Mt. Anthony Lodge (Basement)
504A Main St.
Bennington

Stafford Academic Center
Castleton State College, Room 142
Castleton

Morrill Hall
Vermont Technical College, Room 102
Randolph Center

Stanley Hall
State Office Complex
103 S. Main St.
Waterbury

Community College of Vermont (CCV)
Learning Center
145 Billings Farm Rd.
White River Jct.

Vermont Interactive TV Site
Blair Park, 451 Lawrence Place
Williston

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 (6:00 - 8:00 PM)

Child Care Resource
181 Commerce Street
Williston

Thursday March 20, 2008, 5:30 - 7:00 PM at the following Vermont Interactive Television sites:

Johnson State College
337 College Hill
Johnson

Vermont Department of Labor
5 Green Mountain Dr.
Montpelier

North Country Union High School
209 Veterans Ave.
Newport

Bellows Free Academy North Bldg.
4 Hospital Dr.
St. Albans

Stanley Hall
State Office Complex
103 S. Main St.
Waterbury

Vermont Interactive TV site
Blair Park, 451 Lawrence Place
Williston

For more information about the proposed subsidy regulations, contact Carmen Mentasti at (802) 241-3108 or Carmen.mentasti@ahs.state.vt.us.

This process is separate from the Kids Are Priority One Coalition's campaign to secure the estimated $18 million needed to bring the program's eligibility guidelines to current levels and reimbursement rates to market rate. For more information about this campaign, contact Kim Friedman, Organizing Director, at kfriedman@svcable.net or (802) 348-9879.