The Child Care Assistance Program of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska assists eligible Ponca members with child care expenses. To qualify, a member needs to reside in one of the fifteen tribally approved service area counties in Nebraska, Iowa, or South Dakota.
PURPOSE
The Social Services Department works collaboratively with State agencies and applicable families to help low income families achieve and continue their independence from state welfare assistance and obtain self-sufficiency.
This program extends the Department’s philosophy of promoting, maintaining, and enhancing levels of social functioning when a person’s ability to do so has been adversely affected by life circumstances.
HELPFUL LINKS
FAQs
What are the Ponca service counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota?
What is meant my “eligible Ponca members”?
- Nebraska: Boyd, Hold, Knox, Wayne, Madison, Stanton, Platte, Burt, Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster, and Hall
- Iowa: Pottawattomi and Woodbury
- South Dakota: Charles Mix
To receive assistance, you have to be an enrolled Tribal member; you must have documentation of your enrollment number.
How does a person become eligible for child care assistance?
ELIGIBLE CHILD
- Must be an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska OR
- Must officially be on Pending Enrollment status (45-day grace period is allowed, with the Tribe making first month’s payment. If enrollment is NOT verified within 45 days, the child becomes ineligible and parent is responsible for payment beginning the second month) AND
- Must be age 12 or younger OR is 13-18 years old and involved in active protective services (PTON must be used as last resort).
ELIGIBLE PARENT/GUARDIAN
- Must be employed OR training for work OR attending an educational institution or program AND be
- Free from sanctions from the State Department of Health and Human Services in the county, town, state in which they reside (NE, IA, or SD), AND
- Free from any past due bill to any daycare agency that provided care to his/her child(ren).
See the Child Care Assistance Application Form.
If I am eligible for services, what are my responsibilities?
- Provide the PTON CCA program with a copy of the denial letter finding individual ineligible for state assistance
- Report changes in household income, job status, employment, school and/or other educational programs to the Child Care Coordinator within 10 working days of the change.
- Report earnings on a monthly basis.
- Providers will only be paid for the dates that the child(ren) actually attended the childcare program, with the exception of illness or family emergency.
- Notify the PTON CCA program prior to changing child care provider.
- See the Client Rights and Responsibilities.
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Department of Social Services maintains a strict policy on the confidentiality of your records. All information you share or which we become aware of through our work with you will remain confidential. This means it will not be shared with anyone outside our staff unless you have given us written permission.
See our Confidentiality Statement and Release of Information Form.
How long does it take to become eligible for assistance?
To expedite the process, complete all documentation in the application packet. If all documentation is present, processing takes up to 10 days.
What all do I need for documentation?
See the checklist for Child Care Items Needed.
Where do I request information to apply?
Contact 402.371.8834 in Norfolk, NE.
PROVIDER INFORMATION
Hints: How to Select a Child Care ProviderWhat are the provider’s responsibilities?
- Providers will only be paid for the dates the child(ren) attend the childcare program , with the exception of illness or family emergency.
- If the provider is not licensed, the provider must obtain a criminal background check and provide a copy of a Social Security card to the PTON CCA program.
- Sign a provider agreement with the PTON CCA program.
- Licensed providers must possess and provide PTON CCA program with a current State Certificate or license
- Maintain documentation on all participants in the program and maintain a file on each participant.
- Be w illing to accept the base rate for the child care.
- Meet Tribal and State requirements for an unlicensed Day Care program.
- Successfully pass a site visit to determine if an unlicensed Day Care program meets PTON requirements.
- Verify all information that is provided by the recipients of the CCP.
- Notify the PTON Department of Social Services within ten days if changes occur in the recipients frequency of child care.
- Turn billing summaries in within 45 days of service with attached verification of co-pay being paid on a monthly basis.
CHILD CARE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS
- For Iowa Pottawattamie and Woodbury Counties
- For Nebraska Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy Counties
- For Nebraska Service Areas: Boyd, Holt, and Knox Counties; Burt County; Hall County; Madison County; Platte County; Stanton County; and Wayne County
- For South Dakota: Charles Mix County
