DCYF: Proposed attendance-based payments would change how Working Connections providers are paid
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Summary
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families told providers that both House and Senate budgets would shift Working Connections childcare to attendance-based payments, with differing formulas (Senate: reimburse up to 15 days then per-day; House: full month if ≤10 absences, half if ≥11). DCYF said implementation would be delayed for training and rulemaking, with centers starting Oct. 1 and family homes July 1.
Julie Watts, deputy director of government affairs at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and Brianne Boggs, deputy chief financial officer, told childcare providers that both the House and Senate budget proposals would move the Working Connections Childcare subsidy toward attendance-based payments rather than the current enrollment-style payments.
Brianne Boggs said the Senate approach would reimburse providers for up to 15 days of attendance in a calendar month and then pay per additional day, with implementation for centers beginning Oct. 1, 2026, and for licensed family homes later. The House proposal would pay the full month if a child has 10 or fewer absences and half a month if a child has 11 or more absences.
"This is a very significant change in how ... providers will be paid going forward," Boggs said, framing the proposals as a major policy shift that the conference process will need to resolve.
DCYF staff emphasized these are proposed budgets, not final law. Julie Watts urged providers not to change current billing practices now: the department expects to have time for rulemaking, provider training and staff training if the final budget includes such a policy. Barbara Serrano, chief public affairs officer, reiterated that centers would see an Oct. 1 implementation date and licensed family homes a July 1 implementation date if the policy is adopted.
Providers in the chat asked technical questions about how attendance would be tracked, whether different attendance software would be acceptable, and whether the payment change would close rural providers. DCYF said providers would continue to attest to days and service units in billing and that auditing would compare attestations to the attendance system only when auditing billings; DCYF also said it intends to support providers through training but could not yet detail all implementation mechanics.
Why it matters: attendance-based payment formulas could materially change monthly revenue for many providers, especially centers with variable attendance. DCYF identified the proposals as a significant policy change and said final implementation would follow conference negotiations and rulemaking.
Next steps: the department expects the Legislature to finish by March 12; the two chambers were in conference at the time of the webinar. DCYF said it will publish the webinar recording and slides on its government affairs page within a day or two and plans a follow-up webinar after the final budget and conference language are released.