Previous Story
‘There is no reason not to compensate daycares’
|
Posted on Apr 30 2008
Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao said there is no reason for DCCA not to compensate center-based childcare providers if they have submitted required documents and other pertinent documents.
“Compelling reasons for the childcare providers not receiving payments could be attributed to providers not meeting the deadline for submission, not submitting required documents such as W-9 forms and other pertinent documents such as attendance log sheet for affected clients,” Faisao said.
Another reason why center-based childcare providers have not received payment is that a meticulous review by a department reviewer spotted errors in the submissions of childcare providers.
Members of the CNMI Daycare Association have complained of delays in the issuance of payments by DCCA. When they finally received their February checks, they said there were many new deductions that had not been there when the program was still under the Public School System.
Faisao said it is surprisingly alarming that the providers still don’t comprehend that DCCA will compute the actual hours that the parents worked or attended education and the child was placed at the childcare center.
“As it was clearly provided to all childcare providers (center base) that attended the April 22, 2008, meeting at Office On Aging Conference Room, as long as the parents can provide a documentation that he/she was working at place of employment/attending school on any official holidays or school break days; then there is no reason for DCCA not to compensate the providers,” Faisao said.
He added that the childcare fund is an assistance to low-income families, whenever they attend school or working at their place of employment which should be commensurate with the child attendance sheet from the (center base) child care provider.”
CNMI Daycare Association Masina Leuta said the association plans on writing a letter to the Regent IX National Child Care Information Center.
“Hopefully they can give us some answers,” Leuta said.
