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Index: Education / Subcategory: Early Childhood

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Date posted: 02/26/2009

Chart Directory:

The Larimer County Department of Human Services Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) subsidizes childcare for families who meet income limits and program criteria. CCAP is funded by the Child Care and Development Fund which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families.

What this chart shows: Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Cases, Children Enrolled, & Cost per Case, Larimer County, 2004 - 2008

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Cases, Children Enrolled, & Cost per Case, Larimer County, 2004 - 2008

Data Source: Larimer County Department of Human Services, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2004 through 2007, the general trend has been a decrease in the number of cases and children served by CCAP, with a corresponding increase in the average cost per case. In 2008, the trend reversed and there was an increase in the number of cases (22%) and children (17%) served by CCAP.

In January 2008, the Larimer County Department of Human Services reinstated the family income criteria to < (less than or equal to) 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and the funding shortfall has come from TANF transfers. If federal funding remains flat, the income limits may need to be lowered again at the beginning of the next fiscal year (July 2009).

The number of cases (988) and children (1,823) benefiting from CCAP peaked in 2002 (See data table). In October 2002, the Larimer County Department of Human Services was forced to reduce the income eligibility criteria for CCAP due to essentially flat federal funding over the previous five years and an increasing caseload. Family income criteria dropped from < (less than or equal to) 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, to < 140% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, leaving approximately 456 participating children ineligible for the program. The effects of the new guidelines were evident in 2003, when the monthly average number of children in the program decreased by 23% (426 children). (See CCAP Income Eligibility Report Brief)

Additional Information:

Eligibility categories of the Child Care Assistance Programs include:

  1. Low income (see income limits) one or two parent families who are participating in at least one eligible activity:
  1. Families enrolled in the Colorado Works Program
  2. Families eligible for Special Circumstances Child Care as determined by a Child Protection caseworker (managed by Children, Youth & Family Division of Larimer County Human Services)

On Compass -

Outside Compass -

Standards or Target: N/A

Data Table:

Average Monthly CCAP Statistics, Larimer County

Average Number of Cases

Average Number of Children

Average Cost per Household

2000

916

1,711

$414

2001

887

1,656

$472

2002

988

1,823

$533

2003

733

1,397

$540

2004

777

1,480

$542

2005

740

1,419

$576

2006

648

1,307

$639

2007

577

1,162

$725

2008

705

1,362

$713

See chart