Alaska Family Services details ACE subsidy rollout: 75 employee applicants, 118 children covered so far

Desiree Scheffler, CEO of Alaska Family Services, told the ACE Fund board that the subsidy program has received 75 family applications representing 75 childcare workers and 118 children, and 55 facility applications as the program moves from application to payments.

"We have received 75 family applications. Those represent 75 childcare employees," Desiree said. She described the subsidy formula: for families already receiving state child-care assistance, the ACE subsidy (ACCE) will pay the CCAP co-pay plus $200 per month per child; for families who do not receive CCAP, the ACCE subsidy will cover 75% of the state rate.

Desiree provided a breakdown of the children named in applications — 33 infants, 16 toddlers, 25 preschoolers and 44 school-age children — and estimated that, at current enrollment, the six-month subsidy cost would be about $469,424. "With this funding formula and the 75 family applications we've received, the subsidy will cover... $469,424 for 6 months," she told the board.

She said implementation steps are underway: staff expect facilities to receive eligibility notices and payment-request forms, with check distribution beginning in September for care that already took place. Desiree also described outreach plans and a fall survey of participating employees and facilities to inform program design and possible adjustments.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the $200-per-child top-up and about how the program will balance open enrollments through the year. Desiree said the open application period was chosen to accommodate staffing changes and that staffing and outreach will determine enrollment growth.

The board heard this as part of the meeting's implementation updates; it later adopted a budget that funds the subsidy program and other ACE initiatives.