Monthly Units
Beginning July 1, 2021, all base rate payments for licensed family homes will be authorized as a monthly unit. Providers can claim the monthly unit if the child was in care during any day covered by the authorization. If the authorization is for less than the full month, the system will automatically adjust for the days authorized in the month. Families must request changes to the authorized monthly units.
DCYF is Implementing Monthly Units to:
- Align authorizations more closely with the private pay market.
- Simplify the invoice process for providers.
- Provide consistent payment for providers.
- Reduce overbilling and overpayments.
DCYF authorizes:
- Full-time monthly units when:
- A child is eligible for a full-time authorization based on the consumer’s schedule.
- A child is scheduled to be in care with the provider full-time (or full-time in the summer for school-age children).
- A child is authorized for care with only one provider, and a full-time monthly unit is adequate to cover the child’s scheduled care.
- Full-time monthly units are equal to 22 full days for non-school-age children. (See below for school-age children).
- Part-time monthly units for all care not meeting the criteria for a full-time authorization. Part-time monthly units are based on the average actual scheduled full and half days with a provider. A part-time monthly unit authorization may exceed the amount of full-time authorized care based on scheduled child care for an approved activity.
Additional monthly units may be authorized for:
- Scheduled overtime only if overtime is scheduled and the base monthly unit is not adequate to cover the scheduled overtime.
- Scheduled sleep time only if sleep time is allowable, scheduled, and the base monthly unit is not adequate to cover the scheduled sleep time.
- Temporary care for an approved activity for a half-day or more, for three months or less, and for approved activities that are not expected to be scheduled for every month of the consumer’s eligibility period. Temporary care may be authorized more than once in an eligibility period.
School-Age Children
- Full-time monthly units for school-age children are equal to 22 full days in July and August.
- 50 full days are included in school-age authorizations for non-school days September – June. (paid a monthly average of five full days). The full days are included in all school-age monthly units when:
- The child typically needs care during the school year; and
- The child is in care with only one provider; or
- The child is expected to be in care with the provider during no school periods.
- The full-time school-age monthly units will reduce for the September – June school year to:
- 17 half days and five full days for children who need care before or after school.
- 17 partial days (paid at 75% of full day rate) and five full days for children who need care before and after school.
- School-age children authorized 30 half-day units will have their authorization increased to 46 half-day units for June 2021 only.
- The authorization will change to a monthly unit equal to 22 full days for July and August 2021. The monthly unit will decrease for the school year, September 2021 through June 2022.
Note: Families must maintain eligibility. Families whose child care has been terminated, do not complete their eligibility reviews, or who are not eligible at their review may have authorizations that end before June 2021. - Providers will recieve notices after each change.
- School-age children scheduled for full-day care on regular school days may be eligible for a full-time monthly unit.
Full-time partial day monthly unit applies when a school-age child is eligible for full-time authorization, does not need care for more than five hours during a typical full-time school day, and needs care before and after school an average of three or more days per week. The monthly unit is equal to 17 partial days and five full days per month from September – June 2021 and 22 full days for July and August 2021.
Part-time partial day monthly unit applies when a school-age child is not eligible for full-time authorization and needs care before and after school, one or more days per week, based on average actual scheduled care.
Full-time school-age monthly unit applies when a school-age child is eligible for full-time authorization, does not need care for more than five hours during a typical full-time school day, and needs care before or after school an average of three or more days per week. The monthly unit is equal to 17 half days and five full days per month from September – June 2021 and 22 full days for July and August 2021.
Part-time partial-day monthly unit applies when a school-age child is not eligible for a full-time authorization and needs care before or after school, one or more days per week, based on average actual scheduled care.
SSPS Invoices – Claiming Monthly Units
Claim “1” monthly unit if the child was in care during any day covered by the authorization. If the authorization is for less than the full month, the system will automatically adjust for the days authorized in the month.
The process of authorizing and paying the non-standard hours bonus, registration fees, and field trip fee reimbursement is not changing. Family copays are waived for July – September. DCYF will pay the family copay directly to providers.
If you have questions, contact us at providerhelp@dcyf.wa.gov or call 1-800-394-4571.