The Child Care Program Office (CCPO) in Alaska serves as the central state agency administering the Federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). Its core mission is to champion and maintain a system of high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care services throughout Alaska, ensuring that children have enriching early learning experiences and families receive the support they need. The Alaska Child Care Program Office is integral to the well-being of Alaskan communities by focusing on several critical functions:
Licensing and Regulation of Child Care Facilities
A primary responsibility of the Alaska Child Care Program Office is the rigorous licensing and regulation of child care facilities across the state. This crucial function ensures that all licensed facilities meet stringent state standards designed to protect the health, safety, and developmental needs of children in care. The process includes meticulous application reviews, in-depth inspections, and consistent compliance monitoring. By upholding these high standards, the Alaska Child Care Program Office provides parents with the assurance that their children are in safe, nurturing, and quality-focused environments.
Child Care Subsidies and Financial Assistance for Alaskan Families
The Alaska Child Care Program Office is also dedicated to enhancing child care affordability through the management of subsidy programs and financial assistance. These programs are designed to help eligible families manage the costs of child care, making quality care more accessible for working families and those in need. The CCPO oversees the application process for both families seeking assistance and child care providers who wish to serve subsidized families. This dual approach ensures that public funds are appropriately allocated to support both families and providers in maintaining sustainable and accessible child care options within Alaska.
Enhancing Child Care Quality and Capacity Building Across Alaska
Through the strategic distribution of funds from the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the Alaska Child Care Program Office actively works to build capacity and elevate the quality of child care programs statewide. The CCPO channels grants to key partners such as the Child Care Resource & Referral agency and directly manages the Child Care Grant Program. These financial resources are vital for initiatives aimed at improving program quality, expanding the availability of child care slots, and ensuring that diverse needs are met – particularly for infants, school-aged children, and children with special needs. The Alaska Child Care Program Office’s investment in quality and capacity building strengthens the entire child care ecosystem in Alaska.
The Alaska Department of Health, through the Governor’s Child Care Task Force, is continually seeking improvements to the CCPO to further enhance the availability and affordability of quality child care throughout Alaska. For detailed information about the Child Care Task Force, including their recent reports and recommendations, please visit: https://health.alaska.gov/Commissioner/Pages/cctf/default.aspx.
To report an incident or complaint regarding child care in Alaska, please contact the Child Care Program Office via email at [email protected] or by phone at 907-269-4500 or toll-free at 888-268-4632.
For language interpretation services, please contact our main office at 907-269-4500 or 888-268-4632.
