AmeriCorps Childcare Program
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Program Information
Program Information
AmeriCorps Childcare Benefits Program
The AmeriCorps Childcare Benefit Program is available for qualified, active, full-time AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, NCCC, and FEMA Corps Members who need the benefit to serve; eligibility requirements are listed below for each AmeriCorps program. Childcare benefits are paid directly to qualified childcare providers for all or of part of the member's childcare costs during their active time of service with AmeriCorps; childcare benefit payments cannot be paid directly to AmeriCorps members. Childcare benefits may not exceed applicable payment rates as established in the state in which the childcare is provided under the Childcare and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(4)(A)).
Application Process
To learn about your eligibility requirements, follow the link to our AmeriCorps Childcare Benefit Program Fact Sheet
Whether you are an AmeriCorps member or childcare provider, please use the AmeriCorps Member and Childcare Provider Checklists to confirm that you have all the documents to complete your Childcare benefit application.
AmeriCorps Childcare Program Member Checklist
AmeriCorps Childcare Program Provider Checklist
For your convenience, you can choose to apply online. Please utilize and share the below links to our online applications; and if you choose to fill out a paper application, click the Forms/Resources button located at the center of the homepage to find and print the forms you need.
AmeriCorps Member Online Application
AmeriCorps Provider Online Application
For a description on the Types of Childcare Providers, please click below.
To find out if your provider of choice is approved to receive childcare payments from AmeriCorps, please review the AmeriCorps Childcare Provider State Guide.
To find a Childcare Provider near you, please click below.
If your childcare provider doesn't meet your state's requirement to participate, please select a different childcare provider.
GAP Solutions (GAPSI) has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help answer questions that AmeriCorps State & National, VISTA, and NCCC members may have about the AmeriCorps Childcare Program (ACCP). If you find you have further questions not addressed by the FAQs or need assistance in applying please feel free to contact our childcare coordinators toll free at 1-855-886-0687.
AmeriCorps Childcare Provider State Guide
The table below is to be used only as a guide. Please note that the State eligibility requirements for childcare providers can change at any time.
To verify if your provider of choice is eligible to participate in the AmeriCorps Child Care benefit program, contact GAP Solutions with your eligibility questions atDisclaimer:
- Your provider of choice must be over the age of 18,
- May not be the child's biological, step, or adoptive parent, or the child's legal guardian, adult acting in loco parentis, or the spouse of a legal guardian or adult acting in loco parentis, or the child's sibling if living in the same household.
- The AmeriCorps Childcare program cannot assist providers with completing state training /background check requirements.
- Providers will not be eligible for back payment if they are not in compliance with state regulations. If you decide to hire a childcare provider that does not yet have any of the certifications or training requirements your state mandates, please know that your benefit will not retroactively start from your first date of AmeriCorps Service. Instead, your benefit will start from when your childcare provider completes all requirements. In the event your childcare provider is unable to get certified to participate in the AmeriCorps childcare program, you would be left without a benefit for the period of time this provider rendered childcare services to you. Because of this we highly encourage members to choose a childcare provider that meets all requirements before you hire them.
License Exempt Centers:
Certain states may allow certain licensing exemptions for centers if they are part of a public or private organized educational system (a school or facility operated by a religious institution caring for children during short periods of time). Also, recreational center-based programs whose purpose is to provide social, recreational, or religious activities for school age children, such as scouting, boys club, girls club, sports, or the arts may also be license exempt. The Table below helps you understand if your state exempts any of the above programs.
| CHILD CARE PROVIDER TYPES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATE | LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS | LICENSED FAMILY & GROUP HOMES | LICENSE EXEMPT (CHURCH, PUBLIC SCHOOL, YMCA) | UNLICENSED (RELATIVE, FRIENDS, ETC.) | *UNLICENSED PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS |
| Alabama | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Relative providers are exempt from licensing requirements; all others must comply with Health and Safety Requirements, monitoring inspections and criminal background checks. |
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Relative Providers are exempt from licensing requirements; all others must be certified to participate. The Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form is required. |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | YES* | YES* | Relative providers caring for 5 or less children are approved; others must be registered to participate. Organizations: Churches are exempt. Others must have an afterschool license to participate; also known as Out of School Time license. |
| California | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Relative providers are exempt from licensing requirements; all others must be registered with TrustLine to participate. Providers can get more information here. |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Relative providers are approved. However, the AmeriCorps member must complete and submit the Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form.. All other providers must be licensed. |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Care by a relative is approved; or by a non-relative in the child's home. FFN (Family, Friend, Neighbor) care is exempt from licensing requirements. |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Florida | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Florida law requires that anyone who provides childcare in their home for more than one unrelated family must be either registered or licensed
through the Department of Children and Families. Some counties do not allow registration. You must use a licensed provider. See below to see if
your county does not allow. To register and complete Florida's background check; click here for information. Unlicensed Provider Registration in the following counties is not permitted as they have local ordinance requiring licensure. You must use a licensed childcare provider.
|
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Informal care can be provided only when no other licensed care is available within a reasonable geographic area, or if childcare is determined to meet the special needs definition. Informal caregivers must be 21
years of age and must not be included in the family unit. A childcare license is needed if caring for more than 3 children. The Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form is required. All informal caregivers are required to complete CPR training. This must be completed to start receiving payments from AmeriCorps. Informal caregivers must be over 21 years of age. |
| Guam | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Blood relatives are exempt from licensing requirement. |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed providers, including blood relatives, must be certified with Idaho Stars to participate. Click here for information on getting registered. |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | YES* | YES* | Licensed exempt centers must submit a copy of their Letter of Exemption from DCFS before they can participate. Letter of exemption is valid for 2 years. For all other unlicensed providers, the AmeriCorps Member must complete the Unlicensed Childcare Provider Affidavit. |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | All unlicensed providers must become CCDF Certified. Click here for information on getting certified. Provider will need a current First Aid/CPR Certification to complete certification. |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed providers are exempt. Providers with 5 or more unrelated children must be registered and complete Iowa's childcare background checks. Must also have valid First Aid and CPR training to participate. Click here to get registered. |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Non-relative unlicensed providers must pass the Child Abuse and Neglect registry check to participate. Click here for more information. |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Allows for existing registered unlicensed providers (more information can be found here). Blood relatives are exempt from licensing requirement. A childcare license is required if caring for more than 3 unrelated children. |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* | Blood relatives are exempt from ALL requirements. |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed must complete a GSQ Great Start to Quality virtual course for License Exempt Providers. Click here to find available trainings. The AmeriCorps member must complete the Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form. |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed providers must only provide care to related children, and/or provide childcare to children from single unrelated family at one time. The provider must also have a valid First Aid and CPR training. The childcare provider may not live in the member's home. |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Individuals caring for four or less unrelated children are considered license exempt. There is no cap on the number of related children up to the third degree (CCDF page 126-128). |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Blood relatives are exempt from licensing requirements. The childcare provider may not live in the member's home. |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Only state registered family homes are eligible for benefit payments. |
| New York | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | YES* | No | Unlicensed relatives are not exempt by the state of NC. NC only exempts faith based programs that hold a Notice of Compliance. |
| North Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | The state only approves providers that are related to the child by marriage, blood or court decree. The childcare provider may not live in the member's home. |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | YES* | No | Day Camps must be accredited by the ACA and have the annual ACA certificate and day camp registration. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed providers are eligible to participate if care is provided in the member's home (in-home care) or if by a relative. |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed care is allowed; however the childcare provider must be listed with the state of Oregon as an approved childcare provider. Benefit will be effective from date of listing. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | Yes | No | YES* | Unlicensed providers must have valid First Aid and CPR certificates. Relative providers are not required this training. The AmeriCorps member must also complete and submit the Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form as part of their application. |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Relative providers are approved for the unregulated rate. The unregulated rate is also approved to unlicensed providers only providing care for one family. All other providers must be registered. Click here for more information. |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Texas | Yes | Yes | No | YES* | Unlicensed providers must be registered or listed with the state to participate. Click here for more information. Relatives don't need to be listed to participate. |
| Utah | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Unlicensed providers must be registered with the state to participate. Click here to become an approved FFN (Family, Friend and Neighbor) provider. Blood relatives are exempt from requirement. |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | If caring for more than 2 families, then the provider is required to register with the state or be licensed. Click here for more information on these requirements. |
| Virgin Islands | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | YES* | Yes | Programs holding a vendor agreement can participate in the benefit. If your program is not yet exempted as a subsidy provider, you can apply to be approved; To become a subsidy provider click here for information. Provider must show they have vendor agreement as proof that they are approved as subsidy provider. Unlicensed providers caring for 4 or less unrelated children are exempt from requirement. |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | The AmeriCorps member must complete and submit the Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form. Non-relative providers must complete the Health & Safety Training. Click here to register for training. |
| Washington DC | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Relative Care Providers and In-Home Care Providers are exempt from the licensing requirements and are referred to as “care-of-last–resort”. Relative Care Providers and In-Home Care Providers are exempt from the licensing requirements, must provide proof that the caregiver is free of tuberculosis and must maintain first aid and CPR certifications. The AmeriCorps member will be required to complete and submit an Unlicensed Provider Affidavit form. |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | YES* | YES* | In-home care by relative providers is allowed. Exempt centers (out of school time programs) must be registered to participate. Click here for more information. |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Yes | YES* | Only unlicensed providers already registered are eligible. More info can be found here: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cccertification. Blood relatives are exempt from the requirement but the AmeriCorps member must complete and submit the Unlicensed Provider Affidavit Form. |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |