CONTACTS
Khalilah LeGrand, Communications, (402) 853-1320, khalilah.legrand@nebraska.gov
Leah Bucco-White, Communications, (402) 471-9356, leah.bucco-white@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) understands the value of child care and the importance of maintaining and retaining child care providers in Nebraska. Starting March 1, the Department will pay the $45.25 fee charged by the Nebraska State Patrol for completing background checks for existing child care staff and household members employed or living in family child care homes before October 1, 2019.
The new fingerprinting law, which went into effect September 1, 2019 requires providers and employees to pay the $45.25 cost of the background check. DHHS announced the payments for existing employees and other adults living in family child care homes in a letter sent to child care providers. For existing providers, the Department will make payments directly to the Nebraska State Patrol, which also removes a step and could speed up the process of receiving results.
“We realize the important role of child care workers in Nebraska and we want to support them whenever we can," said Dannette R. Smith, DHHS Chief Executive Officer. “The new law better protects Nebraska children and aligns us with federal regulations. We are pleased to be able to offer financial assistance to ease some of the burden to providers and help them to get into compliance with this mandate."
The Department identified more than $500,000 in federal child care program funds to cover the existing employee background checks after concerns were raised about the burden the cost of the background checks puts on businesses and individuals.
The cost of fingerprinting for new child care workers hired after October 1, 2019 remains the responsibility of the new hire.
DHHS, in collaboration with the Nebraska State Patrol, has developed a two-year implementation schedule for the criminal history background checks for existing child care workers. Providers are being notified by mail when their staff must complete the new background reviews.
The new law was passed this year to bring Nebraska into compliance with the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, which funds child care licensing activities in the state. The state could risk fiscal penalties with federal funding should Nebraska not comply with this federal mandate. It applies to all licensed Family Child Care Homes I and II, Child Care Centers, School Age Only Centers, Preschools and residential child caring agencies.