Alaska takes its child care information system offline this weekend ahead of Dec. 1 rule changes

The Alaska Child Care Program Office will take the Alaska Child Care Information System, known as AKCCIS, offline from midnight Friday, Nov. 6, through midnight Sunday, Nov. 8, for updates ahead of state regulation changes that take effect Dec. 1.

In a notice Wednesday, the office asked providers and families to submit anything that needs to be uploaded or worked on in the system before the downtime. AKCCIS will be available again at 12:01 am Monday, Nov. 9.

Families use AKCCIS to apply for child care assistance and to find providers, according to the Alaska Department of Health. Providers outside Anchorage, which runs its own licensing, use it to begin state licensing. The system also takes online complaints about health or safety at child care programs and shows inspection reports. The department says concerns about child abuse or neglect should go to the Office of Children's Services hotline, 1-800-478-4444, or to 911 if a child is in immediate danger.

The department filed the new rules with the lieutenant governor Oct. 21. The filed permanent regulations raise the income limit for assistance from 85% to 105% of the state median income. They expand the program from three categories to five, adding PASS IV, for children receiving protective services, and PASS V, for families earning 86% to 105% of that median. They also extend the infant definition from 12 to 18 months and widen the school-age category to include children up to age 13. Alaska News has covered the expansion and provider rate increases.

Alaska News reported Sept. 1 that providers taking state subsidy payments had to report their rates through AKCCIS by Sept. 30, under categories the state had not yet adopted at the time.

Families can also ask regional assistance offices for help with applications.