EEC holds virtual systems training for contract providers on KinderWade and CCFA

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) conducted a full‑day virtual training for contract providers focused on EEC’s KinderWade wait‑list system and the Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) application, Department staff said during the session.

EEC’s Priority Access Manager Elise Tibbetts opened the session and framed it as a systems training intended to “give you the how to, use these systems” for child care financial assistance, while Bethany Glass, director of childcare financial assistance, said attendees would hear from multiple EEC teams responsible for policy, program integrity and product systems.

Why it matters: EEC staff told providers the two systems together manage the family journey from initial wait‑list intake (KinderWade) through eligibility determination, authorization and ongoing administration in CCFA. Staff emphasized accurate data entry, shared records and common procedures so funding offers, documentation and billing flow correctly across systems.

What EEC demonstrated - KinderWade: Brenda Hodzowich and other EEC staff led a demo of wait‑list intake steps, including soft eligibility screening, capturing priority access codes, and printing a confirmation notice. Staff instructed providers to place every family that seeks a contract seat on the state wait list (with two narrow exceptions for DTA and DCF referrals). EEC repeated that families must not be rejected from the wait list because of citizenship status alone, and that families have 15 days to respond to a funding‑availability notice.

- CCFA: Presenters from EEC’s product and systems team (Kristen Berry…