Information for Providers:
Every day Workforce Solutions Panhandle Child Care Services (CCS) helps thousands of families afford the cost of quality child care services. Learn how you can participate in our program and become a provider.
PROVIDERS INFORMATION QUICK LINKS |
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Becoming a Workforce Solutions Panhandle
CCS Provider: (back to top)
As a provider in our program, you play an important role in assisting low-income families in becoming self-sufficient and offering them quality child care. A TDFPS licensed or registered provider of child care services in the Panhandle area may apply to have a provider agreement with Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS.
To become a provider you are responsible for meeting and maintaining the following requirements:
Licensing and Registration
To have an agreement to provide child care services, a provider must:
- Have a current license or registration with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) as a licensed child care center, licensed child care home, or a registered child care home
- Be licensed as a youth camp by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- Be operated and monitored by the United States Military Services
Note: Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS will also consult with other agencies such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, to determine whether a provider has a satisfactory compliance history.
Abiding by Terms of the Provider Agreement
A prospective child care provider will sign a provider agreement with Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS and must agree to:
- Abide by the terms of the provider agreement
- Follow procedures outlined in the Workforce Solutions Panhandle Child Care Services Provider Manual
- Abide by any and all issuances from Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS.
Providers are also required to:
- Report any changes in the location, licensing status, or general operation of the facility to Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS
- Maintain records on Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS children enrolled
- Track attendance for Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS-referred families
- Report absences of Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS children
- Collect and document parent fees and report any non-payment of fees
- Invoice Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS either once or twice a month for services provided
- Supply requested documentation during monitoring visits.
Advantages to becoming a Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS Provider:
- Texas Rising Star provider program
- Support from Provider Services Specialists
- Provider data base
- On-site training
- Access to resources and training materials.
Note: Having a provider agreement does not guarantee that a provider will have children referred by Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS. Federal and state rules require that all referrals be based on parent choice.
Texas Rising Star Program: (back to top)
The Texas Rising Star program was developed to provide families with high quality child care. To be a Texas Rising Star, child care providers must meet quality requirements that:
- Exceed the state's minimum licensing standards
- Are designed to enhance the intellectual, physical, and social development of the children in care.
The Texas Rising Star Program is a voluntary program for child care providers that establishes quality standards that exceed minimum expectations. Child care providers interested in becoming a Rising Star provider must:
- Have a permanent license or registration with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS)
- Maintain good standing with TDFPS (Child Care Licensing Plan 2 or 3)
- Meet director qualifications
- Meet caregiver/staff qualifications
- Increase staff training
- Have smaller group sizes
- Have planned curriculum/activities
- Have positive caregiver/child interaction
- Ensure health and safety
- Follow nutrition/mealtime guidelines
- Have a parent involvement program.
Steps to Becoming a Rising Star:
- Upon deciding to participate in the Texas Rising Star program, providers will need to take the following steps:
- Request an application packet from Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS
- Complete a self-assessment with your staff
- Return the completed application packet
- The Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS Provider Services Specialist conducts a preassessment visit
- Subsequently, an onsite assessment is scheduled convenient to your schedule
- An exit interview is conducted at the end of the assessment
- Scoring is completed and delivered with the certificate
- A quality improvement plan is developed
- Monitoring is scheduled by certification level.
Workforce Solutions Panhandle
Child Care Services Provider Manual: (back to top)
The Workforce Solutions Panhandle Child Care Services Provider Manual has been developed to assist providers with information about the child care program. It will:
- Provide you with an overview of the child care program
- Explain the enrollment process
- Inform you about the billing, reporting and payment process
- Serve as a reference for any questions about the program.
If you have any questions about our program that this reference guide does not sufficiently address, please contact a Provider Services Specialist at (806) 372-2836.
Additional Links for Providers: (back to top)
eVision allows child care providers to submit attendance information required for payment to Workforce Solutions Panhandle CCS through an internet application. The application allows for a number of functions to include:
- Reporting attendance
- Adding children to attendance record
- Make corrections
- Record contact information about children in care.
Additional child care information is available through the organizations and agencies listed below.
Care Links
Additional child care information is available through the organizations and agencies listed below. Texas Workforce Commission information includes:
- Child Care Services
- Child Care Providers Lists
- Child Care Rules
- Child Care Licensing
- Child Care Reports
- Child Care State Plan
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) information includes:
- Public Policy
- Early Childhood
- About Accreditation
- About Conferences
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services information includes:
- Child Care Licensing
- Child Care Standards and Regulations
- Child Care Licensing Offices
- Information for Child Care Professional