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Child care vouchers of Kosciusko County will be on a temporary freeze while the Mental Health Association of Kosciusko County, who took over the voucher program from Combined Community Services in October, changes to intake only.
By moving to intake only, MHA will no longer write checks to pay the providers - the money will come from the state. As intake only, MHA will deal with clients and keep accurate information on providers.
The freeze begins July 4 and is expected to last no more than 90 days.
"The people already on aren't going to have a problem," said Savanah Ryan, client intake. "It's going to be the ones who are trying to get on."
She said anyone who wants to be in the program should contact the MHA before July 4.
To see if a family qualifies for child care vouchers, call 269-1939 or toll free at 866-269-0930. Approval is based on income level and the size of the family. For example, a family of three can make up to $1,548 per month gross to qualify, while a family of six can earn up to $2,500 per month gross and still qualify for the vouchers.
The vouchers are available for those who work full- or part-time or if the parent(s) is in school, including many teenage mothers who want to finish their high school diplomas, or a parent involved in trade school or certified educational training.
Anyone who applies for the vouchers must be a Kosciusko County resident.
Even when the freeze starts, Ryan said a person can contact the MHA and get on the waiting list.
"We're one of the last voucher agents. A lot of the other counties are intake only," said Stephanie Phine. She said she was unaware of any reason the state is going to intake only.
According to Phine and Ryan, currently there are 271 children in the program; 141 families; and 43 providers are being paid through the program. Every two weeks, $36,000 is being paid out for child care.
