Audit of Child Care Development Fund Childcare Services During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program provides subsidized childcare services to low-income families, families receiving temporary public assistance, and families transitioning from public assistance, so family members can work or attend training or education. CCDF regulations require State, territorial, and Tribal Lead Agencies to have a Statewide Disaster Plan (or Disaster Plan for a Tribe's service area). These Disaster Plans incorporate guidelines for continuation of childcare subsidies and childcare services. These regulations also allow Lead Agencies broad flexibility to operate the CCDF program and adapt policies to maintain continuity of services for families affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Childcare services are critical in emergency situations; they allow healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers to continue working during an emergency response. On March 13, 2020, the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Child Care, which administers the CCDF program at the Federal level, directed Lead Agencies to a 2017 Information Memorandum (IM). The IM explains the flexibilities and waivers that Lead Agencies have to respond to emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic. We intend to identify the approaches that Lead Agencies have adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and safety of the children and the providers in their CCDF childcare program.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Administration for Children and Families	Audit of Child Care Development Fund Childcare Services During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic	Office of Audit Services	A-07-20-06092; W-00-20-20022	2021