Alaska's child care aid system goes offline this weekend ahead of Dec. 1 changes

The state is asking families and child care providers to finish anything they need to do in Alaska's online child care system before it goes offline this weekend to get ready for changes that take effect Dec. 1.

The Alaska Child Care Information System, or AKCCIS, will be down from midnight Friday, Nov. 6, until 12:01 am Monday, Nov. 9, the state's Child Care Program Office said in a notice Wednesday.

Starting Dec. 1, more working families will qualify for help paying for child care. Families earning up to 105% of the state median income will be eligible, up from 85%. For a family of four, that's about $135,000 a year. Providers who take state payments will also get higher rates.

Under the new rules, the state's infant rate will cover children up to 18 months instead of 12, and the school-age category will include children up to age 13. The rules also add a category for children receiving protective services.

Families use AKCCIS to apply for child care assistance and look for providers. Providers outside Anchorage, which runs its own licensing, use it to start getting licensed, and it's also where the public can file health and safety complaints about child care programs and read inspection reports. The state 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.

Families can also get help applying through the state's regional assistance offices.