Child Care Management Services
Tarrant County Child Care Management Services (CCMS) helps eligible families access child care scholarships that support parents while they work, search for employment, attend school, or complete job training. This article explains how the CCMS program works, how families apply, what information may be required, how to manage child care services after approval, and which official offices and systems provide support.
Child Care Management Services Overview
Child Care Management Services (CCMS) is a program managed by Child Care Associates through a contract with the Workforce Development Board. The program provides child care scholarships to families in the Tarrant County community through the Child Care Services (CCS) program.
Families who qualify for CCS assistance can receive help paying for child care so parents can continue employment, look for work, attend school, or participate in job training. The scholarship program is designed for eligible families who meet required conditions established through the state child care assistance system.
The official Tarrant County CCMS website provides access to parent applications, document uploads, wait list updates, provider information, and other program services.
CCMS Program Eligibility
Families must meet basic eligibility requirements before receiving child care scholarship assistance. Eligibility is based on factors such as residency, the child's age, legal status, family circumstances, income, and approved activities such as work, education, or training.
Basic CCS eligibility requirements include:
The family must live in Texas.
The child must be under age 13, or under age 19 with a disability.
The child must be a U.S. citizen or have legal immigration status.
The family must meet additional work, school, job search, training, or income requirements.
Families can review current eligibility details through the Texas Child Care Connection child care scholarship information.
Work And Training Requirements
CCS scholarships support families who need child care because of employment, education, or workforce activities. Parents may qualify when child care is needed for work, job searching, school, or job training activities that meet program requirements.
Families should review current requirements before applying because eligibility information must be confirmed during the application process. A family’s circumstances may need to be verified before scholarship approval.
CCMS Application Process
Families interested in receiving child care assistance begin by creating an account and completing the application process through the official child care assistance system. The process includes an eligibility screening, wait list application when applicable, document review, and a final eligibility determination.
The general application process includes:
Create a Parent Central account.
Complete and submit the Eligibility Screener and Waitlist Application.
Provide requested documents when contacted during the review process.
Complete a Standard Application if the family may qualify.
Receive an eligibility decision notification.
Families can begin the application process through Texas Child Care Connection for Families.
Documents And Records
During the application process, a caseworker may request documents needed to review eligibility. Families should provide accurate information and respond to requests to prevent delays in processing their application.
Tarrant County CCMS provides a parent document upload system for submitting records. Applicants may use their TWIST ID from CCMS paperwork to identify their records. If a TWIST ID is unavailable, the system may allow identification using the last four digits of a Social Security number.
The CCMS parent document upload page requires information such as the submitter’s name, date of birth, contact information, document type, and attached files.
Waiting List Information
Enrollment in the CCS program depends on available funding. When funding is not available for all eligible families, applications may be placed on a wait list.
Tarrant County CCMS currently manages a CCS wait list. Families are pulled from the wait list approximately every two weeks. Applications are generally reviewed in order, although some groups may receive priority based on federal, state, or county rules.
Families selected from the wait list must complete the full application process again to confirm that they still meet eligibility requirements. Circumstances such as income, employment, household information, or child information may change during a long wait period.
Choosing Child Care Providers
Families approved for CCS assistance can choose a child care provider that accepts the scholarship program. Selecting a provider is an important step because the provider must meet program requirements and participate in the CCS system.
Child care options may include licensed child care centers, licensed child care homes, registered child care homes, and other approved care options. Families can search for providers through the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Search system.
Provider Quality Options
Families may consider providers participating in Texas Rising Star, a quality rating and improvement system for eligible child care programs. Texas Rising Star providers meet additional quality standards beyond minimum licensing requirements.
Parents can review information about quality child care programs through Texas Child Care Connection and use available provider information when choosing care that fits their family needs.
Attendance Tracking Rules
Families receiving CCS assistance must report child care attendance every day. Parents are required to record both check-in and check-out for each child.
Attendance may be reported through TX3C systems, including:
TX3C: KinderSign, an application available at participating child care provider locations.
TX3C: KinderSmart, a mobile application for reporting attendance using a personal smartphone.
The Interactive Voice Response system for children receiving care from a relative provider.
Only a parent may report attendance unless a provider is allowed to record a check-in or check-out under specific circumstances. Parents should review attendance records regularly because missing attendance information may affect program participation.
Attendance Corrections
Parents may make corrections or backdate attendance records for up to six days in the past. Families receive notifications when a child accumulates unexplained absences.
A child who reaches 40 unexplained absences during a 12-month eligibility period may be terminated from the CCS program and no longer receive the child care scholarship.
Changing Child Care Providers
Families who need to move from one child care provider to another should contact their CCMS caseworker before making the change. Provider transfers should be requested at least two weeks in advance.
Planning ahead helps ensure that required steps are completed before a child begins care with a different provider.
Managing Parent Responsibilities
Parents participating in CCMS have responsibilities related to attendance reporting, maintaining accurate records, communicating changes, and following program requirements.
Families should update CCMS when information affecting eligibility changes and should respond to requests from caseworkers. Keeping contact information current helps families receive important program notices.
Parent Share Of Cost
Families receiving CCS scholarships may be responsible for a portion of child care costs. This payment is known as the Parent Share of Cost (PSoC) or copayment.
The amount is based on factors including family size and household income. Families can review current income limits, parent share of cost information, and available calculators through the Texas Child Care Connection scholarship information page.
CCMS Provider Support
CCMS also supports child care providers participating in the CCS program. Providers must follow program requirements related to attendance, payments, provider agreements, and quality initiatives.
Providers receiving CCS funding must participate in the Texas Rising Star program. Information about provider requirements and participation is available through the Tarrant County CCMS provider page.
Provider Payments And Changes
CCS providers receive payments according to program procedures. Providers must communicate certain facility changes, such as ownership, location, license, or rate changes, according to CCMS requirements.
Providers should use official CCMS communication channels for questions about billing, attendance, agreements, and program requirements.
Fraud Reporting Process
Suspected child care fraud involving a provider or parent receiving benefits improperly can be reported through the Texas Workforce Commission. Reports should include as much specific information as possible.
Families and providers can review the official Texas Workforce Commission fraud reporting information for reporting options.
Contacting The Right Office
CCMS questions should be directed to the Tarrant County CCMS office responsible for child care scholarship services. Families may contact the office for assistance with applications, case questions, document submissions, provider changes, and program information.
The Tarrant County CCMS contact page provides office information, service hours, and available contact methods.
Departments And Offices
Tarrant County CCMS
500 Grapevine Hwy, Suite 400
Hurst, Texas 76054
817.831.0374
Child Care Management Services FAQs
How can I check my CCMS application or waitlist status?
Families waiting for child care scholarship assistance can review their application progress through the official systems used for the CCS program. Tarrant County CCMS maintains a waitlist process when funding is limited, and families are selected according to application order and applicable priority rules. When a family is reached, additional information may be requested to confirm current eligibility. Applicants can use the Texas Child Care Connection for Families application system to manage application steps and receive program updates.
What happens if my family information changes after approval?
Families receiving CCMS assistance should keep their information current and report changes that may affect their case. Changes involving household details, eligibility information, or child care arrangements may require review before updates are completed. Families can use available CCMS parent services and submit required records through the official Tarrant County CCMS document upload page when additional documents are needed.
Why do I need to record my child’s attendance every day?
Parents participating in the CCS program must report attendance daily by recording both check-in and check-out for each child. Attendance can be reported through approved TX3C options, including KinderSign or KinderSmart. Parents should review attendance records carefully because unexplained absences may affect continued participation in the program.
How do I change my child care provider?
Families who need to move their child to a different provider should begin the transfer process in advance. A provider change request should be made at least two weeks before the planned change so the required steps can be completed before care begins with the new provider. Families can review provider search options through Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Search when looking for available child care programs.
Where can I find information about child care quality options?
Parents can review quality information when choosing a provider through Texas Rising Star and other official child care resources. Texas Rising Star helps families identify eligible child care programs that meet additional quality standards. More information is available through the Texas Child Care Connection Texas Rising Star information page.