The child care program is a parent choice program. Parents have the option to select a regulated provider from all of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) licensed or registered facilities or an eligible relative provider. Parents are encouraged to visit facilities before choosing which provider will best meet the family’s needs.

To become a regulated provider with Workforce Solutions East Texas, a provider must be:

If you need information on becoming licensed or registered, follow the link to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services web site.

Parents who desire regulated care may choose any licensed or registered facility. Workforce Solutions East Texas will contact the child care facility to place, update, or discontinue care for children receiving child care assistance. Regulated providers are reimbursed for the days authorized, including absence days and nine (9) holidays. Most parents receiving care are assigned a monthly parent share of cost to be collected by the provider. Effective June 1, 2007, regulated providers are not allowed to charge the parent the difference in the Workforce Solutions reimbursement rate and their published rate for parents who are participating in the Choices, Food Stamp Employment & Training program, parents in protective care, or parent’s with a zero ($0) income.

Regulated providers must complete the Regulated Provider Packet prior to a referred child being enrolled. Billing may be mailed to our office or faxed to (903) 939-2271 followed by a phone call to 903-526-1105 or 1-800-735-2988 to verify it was received. Regulated providers with computer internet access are eligible to track and submit attendance and contact logs electronically through the E-Vision application. If you are interested, contact a Workforce Solutions Child Care Program Coordinator at 1-800-735-2988.

Becoming A Relative Provider

Relative providers must meet the following criteria to be eligible to be reimbursed for child care through Workforce Solutions East Texas:

  • Be 18 years of age or older and,
  • Be related to the child(ren) by blood, marriage or court decree,
  • Maintain a separate residence from the family receiving child care financial assistance,
  • Be a grandparent, great-grandparent of the children,
  • Be an aunt or uncle of the child(ren),
  • Be a brother or sister of the child(ren),
  • Not appear on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Registry,
  • Must be a listed family home with the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS),
  • Have a bank account to receive reimbursement by direct deposit,
  • Copies of birth certificates, marriage license, and/or court decree must be provided to verify the relative is eligible to be a provider,
  • Documentation of residency is required.

All relative providers are independent contractors and not employees of Workforce Solutions East Texas.

Relative providers must complete the Relative Provider Packet, provide a listed permit from (DFPS) and must be determined to be an eligible relative provider before a child can be referred for the child care program. Billing forms are mailed to the provider and may be submitted with contact logs once a month. Billing may be mailed in or faxed to (903) 939-2271 followed by a phone call to 903-526-1105 or 1-800-735-2988 to verify it was received. Providers are reimbursed for child care services provided via direct deposit.