Child Care Information Services

Child Care Information Services of Berks County (CCIS) provides the following services:

Information about child care and community resources
Child care referrals
Child care funding for eligible families

CCIS, a program of the Berks County Intermediate Unit, is funded by the Department of Public Welfare. The program’s primary goal is to help Berks County families find and select affordable, quality child care.

CCIS provides child care funding to low- and moderate-income working families, to students pursuing a high school diploma, and to County Assistance Office clients who are attending approved work or training programs.

Interested families must meet income guidelines and demonstrate a need for child care in order to qualify. Eligible families may enroll at the provider of their choice, as funds are available. Child care resource and referral services are available to all families, free of charge.

Do you need help paying for child care?

To qualify for low income funding:

You must complete an application.

You must be a resident of Berks County.

Your child must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.

You must meet income guidelines.

You must be employed at least 20 hours per week, or be a full-time elementary/junior/senior high school student, or be in a combination of work and training.

You must pay a weekly co-payment based on family household gross income.

If you are a parent or caretaker who meets the above requirements:

Call our office (610-987-2247) to request an application.

Download and print an application.

English

Español

Or apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us.

Do you receive cash assistance (TANF) or food stamps (FS) and need help paying for child care?

To qualify for TANF/FS funding:

You must be in an approved work or training program.

You must be referred to us by your County Assistance Office (CAO) caseworker.

If your family meets these requirements, talk to your welfare caseworker or call our office at 610-987-CCIS(2247) or 1-800-257-3038 for assistance.

Do you need help finding child care?

Resource and referral services are available to all families. These free services include:

Child care referrals from a statewide database;

Lists of all registered/certified child care providers in Berks County;

Child care consumer information;

Parenting materials; and

Referrals to federal, state, and local social service agencies

Call our office at 610-987-CCIS(2247) or 1-800-257-3038 or search online at www.compass.state.pa.us/childcaresearch.

Are you a child care provider?

CCIS serves as a resource for child care providers by offering information about:

How to become registered/certified

Staff training opportunities

Grants and other funding sources

Child development

For assistance, call the CCIS office at 610-987-2247 or 1-800-257-3038.

If you are a regulated child care provider, you might want to visit Provider Self-Service at www.pelican.state.pa.us/provider in order to:

Manage your PELICAN Child Care Provider certifications;

View and update your PELICAN Child Care Worker Provider Profile information; and

View and print child care provider forms and information.

Are you an employer, training institute, or community agency?

Representatives from the CCIS office are available to speak to groups of individuals interested in our services. Materials for your employee/student resource center are also available.

Do you need more information?

CCIS representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you need more information, please contact the CCIS office at 610-987-CCIS(2247) or 1-800-257-3038. Se habla Español.

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