Hub for Child Care Financial Assistance Programs Changes

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has been working to make significant changes to the state’s child care financial assistance regulations that went into effect October 1, 2023.

As EEC rolls out changes to our policies and procedures, we will be updating this page to ensure that you are supported through the phased deployment process. 

EEC understands the policy and procedure changes are significant and is committed to supporting providers through the process of rolling out these policies and procedures in a manner which is thoughtful, supportive and minimizes disruptions to families seeking or receiving child care financial assistance. We want to get these changes right in response to the needs of families and providers. 

Please check back frequently.

Overview

In partnership with families and stakeholders, EEC is focused on expanding equitable and dignified access to high-quality early education and care. This work includes a series of system reforms focused on significantly updated and new child care financial assistance regulations, policies, and procedures, reprocured contracts for CCR&Rs and contracted providers, and the beginning stages of modernizing the EEC digital experience.

EEC formally kicked off the regulation review process in December 2022, with the goals of revising the regulations to: increase overall system efficiency, prioritize family needs and experience, and modernize and update the overall child care financial assistance system. With revised regulations comes updates policies and procedures that utilize modern technology to be more flexible, accessible and user friendly.

These changes all focus on simplifying the application process, reducing the paperwork burden for families and programs, and updating policies to better support homeless families, families with disabilities and families impacted by domestic violence.

Regulations & Policies

• Read the regulations
• Read the interim policies
• Read the policy advisories

2024 Policy Refresher Sessions

In May 2024, EEC provided three Policy Refresher sessions for providers, including CCRR and Mass211 staff. These sessions provided an update on where we are in the policy reform process, highlighted key policy changes that were communicated in the CCFA Policy Advisory 2024-7, and encouraged attendees to ask questions related to Child Care Financial Assistance.

Additional Resources

May 2024 CCFA Policy Refresher Slide Deck

Principles of Engagement Training

This course outlines the values driving EEC’s effort to modernize our guidance, which is to provide a more family-centered operating model with a customer service approach.

View transcript 

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Additional Resources

Family Engagement Framework

Principles of Engagement Slide Deck

Family Journey Training

This full-day course walks trainees through the refreshed view of the family journey procedures, from intake to reauthorization.

View transcript 

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Additional Resources

Family Journey Slide Deck

Provider Experience Training

This full-day course provides a comprehensive overview of expectations for providers and covers enrollment and attendance, reimbursement based on enrollment, and change reporting.

View transcript 

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Additional Resources

Provider Experience Slide Deck

Kick-off Sessions

EEC hosted two kick-off sessions for family access administrators on September 26 and 28.

Family access administrators are responsible for administering child care financial assistance that includes eligibility, enrollment and placement, as well as resource and referrals.

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Additional Resources

Kickoff Session Slide Deck

2024 CCFA Contracted Providers

Following a successful reprocurement of contracted provider services, EEC awarded new contracts to 110 early education and care programs across the Commonwealth, investing more than $400 million a year to purchase seats in high-quality early education and out-of-school time programs for children eligible for child care financial assistance.

These new contracts were effective October 1, 2024.

See below for listings of providers contracted to provide these services by region.

Additional Resources

List of Income Eligible EEC-Contracted Providers by Region

List of Priority Populations EEC-Contracted Providers by Region