The Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) will implement an enrollment freeze on the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), effective Feb. 1, 2025, due to program funding shortages. This decision comes in response to a combination of factors, including newly introduced federal regulations and increased state-mandated provider rate adjustments. Unfortunately, these changes have not been accompanied by sufficient funding at either the federal or state level to fully support the necessary adjustments, leading to the need for this difficult but necessary step.
CCAP is designed to assist low-income families who are homeless, working, searching for work, or currently enrolled in school with childcare assistance.
“Issuing an enrollment freeze is not something we take lightly,” DHS Director, Jamie Ulrich, said. “We understand the negative impact this will have on the families and communities we serve, but with a lack of funding, this is something we have to do to continue supporting our enrolled families.”
Weld County is one of many counties in Colorado to implement this freeze, including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson and Larimer. This enrollment freeze will mean that general information will be accepted in lieu of a full application, however submissions received on or after February 1, 2025, will be placed on a “freeze list” and eligibility will not be determined until the freeze has been lifted. Families who are currently enrolled in CCAP, as well as families who receive CCAP through either TANF or Child Welfare services, will not be affected, assuming they continue to meet eligibility criteria.
The enrollment freeze will be implemented for an undetermined period.
