Alternative Methodologies
These resources can help guide CCDF Lead Agencies that use alternative methodologies to establish payment rates.
Federal Guidance
Subsidy Payment Rates Based On Alternative Methodologies and Cost Analyses
Program Instruction CCDF-ACF-PI-2018-04 Lead Agencies on alternative methodologies and cost analyses to establish subsidy payment rates.
Webinars
Child Care Cost Estimation Modeling to Inform Decisionmaking
This webinar walks participants through the stages of developing cost models and explores how they can inform policy decisions.
Tips for Completing a Narrow Cost Analysis
The webinar lets participants learn how to use available data and the Provider Cost of Quality Calculator (PCQC) to conduct a narrow cost analysis.
Requirements and Options for Increasing Subsidy Payments and Setting Rates
This webinar helps CCDF Lead Agencies understand the requirements and options for including cost-of-care information when setting subsidy rates.
Addressing Equal Access through Alternative Methodologies and Cost Analyses
This webinar explains alternative methodologies and narrow cost analyses to inform subsidy payment rates considering equal access.
Let's Talk About Alternative Methodologies Webinars
This is a series of national webinars about the use of cost-based alternative methologies and improving the use of cost data for Lead Agencies.
Documents and Reports
Using Market Rate Surveys or Alternative Methodologies Across the CCDF Plan Cycle
This document outlines the steps for conducting a market rate survey or approved alternative methodology and the narrow cost analysis.
Provider Cost of Quality Calculator
The PCQC helps estimate the annual costs and revenue of operating a center or home-based child care program at different quality levels.
Narrow Cost Analysis: A Three-Part Series for CCDF Lead Agencies
This report guides Lead Agencies that perform a narrow cost analysis iwhen considering cost information when setting payment rates.
Market Rate Surveys and Alternative Methodology to Inform Subsidy Payment Rates
This resource provides research- and expert-informed guidance on collecting data on child care prices and costs for setting subsidy payment rates.
Alternative methodologies, payment rates, and equal access
See additional resources in the CCTAN library on this topic.