{"id":4136,"date":"2026-02-22T20:20:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T03:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azcces.info\/?page_id=4136"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:16:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:16:38","slug":"provider-faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/azcces.info\/index.php\/provider-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"NCRP Provider FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Date last updated: 2\/27\/26<\/p>

Purpose<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>This page contains some of the most Frequently Asked Questions we receive from providers using our system. We will continue to update this page as we receive more questions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Table of Contents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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TERMINOLOGY<\/a>
KINDERSYSTEMS TERMINOLOGY<\/a>
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE<\/a>
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS<\/a>
PROVIDER DOCUMENTATION<\/a>
CHILD CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATIONS AND PAYMENT PROCESSING<\/a>
PROVIDER TYPE AND STATUS<\/a>
KINDERCONNECT\/KINDERSIGN\/KINDERSMART<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Terminology<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  1. What is CCES?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

    The Department of Economic Security (DES) Child and Community Services Division (CCSD) is implementing a Child Care Electronic System (CCES) to develop the ability to conduct business with child care providers in a digital environment and improve important business processes and practices for providers and DES, and build resources for parents with full access to child care information and services. The first part of the CCES is electronic attendance tracking which will be implemented through the awarded vendor, KinderSystems\u00ae.<\/p>

    1. What is a Non-Certified Relative Provider?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

      DES Child and Community Services Division (CCSD) offers the opportunity for individuals to be Non-Certified Relative Providers (NCRP). An individual must be related to the children in need of care by either blood, marriage or court decree and only includes: grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt\/uncle, or a sibling at least 18 years of age that does not reside in the home. The parent\/guardian must already be approved for DES Child Care Assistance for their child(ren). The parent\/client authorized for child care assistance must contact the DES Family Support and Eligibility Specialist and request an NCRP that meets the criteria. Once this individual is referred, the CCSD NCRP team will contact the individual to complete the process for becoming an NCRP.<\/p>

      1. What are the teams within the Child and Community Services Division (CCSD) that a Provider will have contact with?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

        There are several teams within the Child and Community Services Division (CCSD) that an NCRP may have contact with for support.<\/p>

          1. The first team is the Provider Network and Support NCRP Team. This is the team of state licensing surveyors licensed who are assigned to work directly with the NCRPs. Each NCRP is assigned a state licensing surveyor.<\/li>
          2. The next team is the Payment Processing Unit or PPU. This is the team that processes all billing submitted for payment and addresses questions about the billing and payment process.<\/li>
          3. The NCRP may also be in communication with the Family Support and Eligibility (FSE) team. This is the team that accepts applications for child care assistance, determines eligibility for child care assistance, completes the certificates of authorizations for child care assistance, and processes redeterminations and any changes as it relates to child care eligibility.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            KinderSystems Terminology<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            1. What is KinderSystems\u00ae?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

              A suite of software programs and team of industry experts focused on helping government agencies administer child care services with improved operations and accountability.<\/p>

              1. What is KinderConnect\u00ae?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                KinderConnect\u00ae is a web-based portal for providers, caregivers, parents, and guardians. It is the host for time and attendance tracking and reporting.<\/p>

                1. What is KinderSign\u00ae?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                  KinderSign\u00ae is an application for iPad and Android tablets that streamlines child care attendance tracking. The solution gives NCRP providers an efficient way to collect attendance, report absences, send and receive messages, approve or deny transactions, and view case information.<\/p>

                  1. What is KinderSmart\u00ae?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                    KinderSmart\u00ae is a mobile app for iPhone or Android devices that streamlines child care attendance tracking. The solution gives sponsors an efficient way to report attendance, report absences, read messages, and approve transactions.<\/p>

                    1. What are the specific user roles available for KinderConnect\u00ae?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                      Operator<\/em> \u2013 anyone who uses or \u2018operates\u2019 the electronic system. This could be any internal DES roles, a provider role, or a family role.<\/p>

                      Internal DES Roles:<\/span>
                      System Administrator<\/em> \u2013 DES IT Systems staff. A system administrator has the highest level of access in order to provide support with attendance and system errors.

                      Region Administrator<\/em> – DES Payment Processing Staff and Provider Network & Support Staff. A region administrator has access to provider attendance data for monitoring and billing practices.

                      Provider Role:<\/span>
                      Provider Administrator<\/em> \u2013 this is the NCRP Provider\u2019s role. A provider administrator has certain privileges like being able to create other operators at that provider\u2019s location or submit attendance for payment.

                      Family Roles:<\/span>
                      Sponsor<\/em> – a primary caretaker, such as the parent, guardian or any other person that the child\u2019s primary caretaker approves to check their child or children in and out of care. Each sponsor that the provider enters must be uniquely identified by a ten-digit phone number. Once a sponsor is entered into the system the provider must then associate the sponsor with the child(ren) that she or he is authorized to check in and out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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                      1. Will the NCRP be required to use the CCES?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                        All NCRPs will be required to submit attendance electronically. New NCRP\u2019s will be trained and supported in using the CCES. At renewal of the Provider Registration Agreement, existing providers will transition to the CCES. The Provider Network and Support Administration will support NCRPs with enrollment in the CCES. Communication will be sent out to all providers with a plan and timeline for CCES training and enrollment.<\/p>

                        1. What training is available for Providers using CCES?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                          Training will be provided by KinderSystems\u00ae for all NCRPs on how to use KinderSign, KinderSmart and KinderConnect. An NCRP will participate in training before they begin their participation in the CCES. Providers will start using the system to capture attendance on the 1st day of the following month the provider is trained. The training provided will include a live webinar with a main presenter and an assistant presenter and\/or a scheduled pre-recorded webinar with a live presenter (who is there mainly to answer questions that are asked during the training.<\/p>

                          1. Will training be available in Spanish?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                            Yes. Training and support will be available in Spanish.<\/p>

                            1. Who should the NCRP contact if they need assistance with KinderConnect, KinderSmart or KinderSign?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                              Dial (833) 859-3433 or email at SupportAZ@KinderSystems.com<\/a>. Support staff are available from 6:00 AM – Midnight, Mountain Standard Time, 7 days a week.<\/p>

                              1. What types of support are available to the NCRP participating in CCES?<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

                                The Child and Community Services Division Provider Network and Support NCRP Team is available to support an NCRP using KinderSystems\u00ae and transitioning to electronic attendance and submission of attendance for payment. The NCRP should continue to contact the NCRP team with questions about the CCES Participation Agreement, authorizations or billing questions.

                                Contact KinderSystems\u00ae at (833) 859-3433 or SupportAZ@kinderSystems.com for any of the following:<\/p>