(CCAP) Child Care Affordability Program

Translations of CCAP materials (application, flyers, Rule, etc) are available in: Arabic / Kinyarwanda / Lingala / Portuguese / Spanish / Swahili. Linked materials on this FCCAM page are to the English version.

DHHS/OCFS website pages:

The Office of Child and Family Services Child Care Affordability Program has updated state rules to align with federal guidelines. For a full copy of the rules click HERE. Significant changes/clarifications are outlined below.

  • Prospective Payment: Changing the payment structure for paying child care providers
    from paying for services after they are complete to paying for services ahead of service.
  • Paying by Enrollment: Changing the payment structure for paying child care providers
    from paying by enrollment of a child in child care versus paying by attendance of that
    child in child care.
  • Capping Parent Co-Payments: Changing cap of parent co-payments within the program
    so that eligible families who make below 85% of State Median Income pay 7% or less of
    their eligibility income to child care. Families who make between 85% to 125% of State
    Median Income pay 10% or less of their income to child care.
  • Payment by the Market Rate: Changing the rates at which the Child Care Affordability
    Program will pay providers, which will now be set at the State’s market rate, formerly set
    as the market rate or the private pay rate, whichever was less expensive.
  • Simplifying hours of care: CCAP will now award for two levels of care: part time or full
    time care. Formerly CCAP designated awards as either full time, part time, half time or
    quarter time care.
  • Expanding the definition of At-Risk Children: to support expanded eligibility under
    the Federal Rules, which allows the State to define who falls under the Child Protective
    Services definition.

NEW weekly hours of enrollment for ALL ages:
– Part Time: 1-29 hours
– Full Time: 30-50 hours
CCAP has eliminated the “Half Time” and “Quarter TIme” hours of enrollment.

How will this change enrollment hours?
Families currently awarded half-time and quarter-time enrollment hours will now be covered for part-time enrollment hours. Families do not have to do anything for this change to occur, it will happen automatically!

The Department will pay for 38 weeks of Part-time care during the school year and 14 weeks of Full-time summer care based on the family’s need-of-care. The Part-time School Age rate has been increased at a prorated amount (see chart for increased amounts) for all counties and all Provider types to additionally account for 2 school vacation weeks when school age children’s attendance may exceed 29 hours per week. For families awarded part-time enrollment hours the payment will remain at a part-time rate year round.

The Baxter Provider Portal enrollment verification process will ask YES or NO questions to determine if a child will remain enrolled in the child care program for the prospective payment dates.

  • Who is Eligible?
    • Families must meet income guidelines.
    • Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must be currently employed, enrolled in school or a job training program, or retired.
  • How family applies for CCAP? (There are 3 ways to apply.)
    • Print, complete, and return the application by mail:
    • Call OFCS 1-877-680-5866 or (207) 624-7999 Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
    • Visit your local DHHS office to receive a printed application or call 1-877-680-5866 or (207) 624-7999.
  • The checklist for the CCAP application is page one of the application and is a PDF on the website.
  • Providers should be sure that families applying for CCAP sign this linked Release of information form. Having this form signed means CCAP can connect with the provider if a family’s application isn’t complete and many times this allows for quicker action in completing the application.

CCAP provides contracted providers with:

  • Paid holidays, and training time
  • Paid vacation week

Providers question the loss of income because of the difference between the county market rate and their normal publicly posted rates.

  • Providers cannot charge parents the difference between the rate they agreed to contract for and their public posted rate. FCCAM promotes best practice to be providers’ at a minimum should have their public posted rate reflecting the current market rate.
  • Reimbursement is based on enrollment (as of 5/19/2025)
  • Parent fee amounts can be found on the copy of the award letter sent to the parent and provider at the time of initial determination.

State of Maine Vendor Code is needed for provider to get payments through CCAP contract. Even if providers are not sure if they are going to contract and take CCAP families, all providers should have a vendor code in order to receive any payment from the State of Maine. Best practice is to get that vendor code ASAP if you do not already have it in place.

  • State of Maine Substitute W-9 & Vendor Authorization Form – To receive money from the State of Maine you must be enrolled in the State’s vendor payment system. Form also is used to update your information.
    • Form Instruction sheet.
    • Submit the Vendor Activation Form by U.S. Postal Mail to the Agency you are doing business with (e.g. Dept of Human Services, Dept of Labor, etc.). The Agency will enter the information into the system.

Facebook: Maine Child Care Subsidy Program

DHHS / Office of Child and Family Services / CCAP / General Email:    CCSP.DHHS@Maine.gov
Toll Free Number:  1-877-680-5866 or Augusta:  624-7999 or Fax 287-6308

Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) Contacts

General Assistance

Toll Free 1-877-680-5866 or (207) 624-7999
Fax (207) 287-6308

CCAP Eligibility Specialist