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| The next generation of a critically important tool for DHS and Minnesota counties to administer the Child Care Assistance Program recently passed a major milestone. The first authorized child care provider was entered into the new release of the Minnesota Electronic Child Care information system (MEC²). |
| This project is a partnership between the Transition Support Systems and Transition to Economic Stability divisions. |
| In the coming weeks, more than 20,000 child care providers will added to the new version of the system, which assists counties in determining family eligibility, making payments to child care providers, tracking child care expenditures and ensuring program integrity. Counties currently handle these functions differently, often using manual processes that vary greatly across the state. |
| When completed and launched statewide in March 2008, the new system will automate various aspects of the Child Care Assistance Program and be linked to MAXIS, the system that determines eligibility for cash, health care, group residential housing, foster care and food programs. |
| The increased level of integration should further smooth the ability of DHS to provide quality service to families and providers, according to Kate Wulf, director of Transition Support Systems in Children and Family Services, and a co-sponsor of the MEC² integration project with Ann Sessoms, director of Transition to Economic Stability. |
| Children and Family Services Assistant Commissioner Chuck Johnson called the MEC² milestone an important step in modernizing the look and feel of MAXIS. |
| “This project also furthers our system modernization work by creating a graphical user interface for MAXIS,” he said. |
| More than 18,000 Minnesota families receive monthly Child Care Assistance Program benefits. More information about CCAP is on DHS’ Web site. |
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