Health and Welfare briefs JFAC on early learning, SWITC and childcare funding after reorganization

Summary

Analysts and agency leaders described the reorganization moving many developmental disability services into Medicaid, outlined SWITC improvements and START certification progress, and defended a temporary pause and later re‑opening of Idaho Child Care Program enrollments tied to budget constraints.

Analysts for the Department of Health and Welfare told the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Feb. 20 that services for people with developmental disabilities have been restructured in a reorganization that moves many services into Medicaid and places early learning and childcare in a new division.

Alex Williamson, a Legislative Services analyst, said the division formerly called Developmental Disability Services will be retitled Early Learning and Development and that much of the developmentally disabled (DD) service work will appear in the Medicaid budget in future hearings. The packet includes several requests: a START certification program continuation (year 3 of 4, one‑time request of $249,200), proposed installments of $15 million one‑time additions to the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) from available federal Child Care and Development Block Grant carryforward, and an ongoing $4.2 million ICCP request.

Statewid…

Health and Welfare briefs JFAC on early learning, SWITC and childcare funding after reorganization

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading