2.1 Reducing Barriers to Family Enrollment and Redetermination

Lead Agency enrollment and redetermination policies may not unduly disrupt parents’ employment, education, or job training activities to comply with the Lead Agency’s or designated local entity’s requirements. Lead Agencies have broad flexibility to design and implement the eligibility practices that reduce barriers to enrollment and redetermination. Examples include developing strategies to inform families and their providers of an upcoming redetermination and the information that will be required of the family, pre-populating subsidy renewal forms, having parents confirm that the information is accurate, and/or asking only for the information necessary to make an eligibility redetermination. In addition, Lead Agencies can offer a variety of family-friendly methods for submitting documentation for eligibility redetermination that considers the range of needs for families in accessing support (e.g., use of languages other than English, access to transportation, accommodation of parents working non-traditional hours). 2.1.1 Eligibility practices to reduce barriers to enrollment a. Does the Lead Agency implement any of the following eligibility practices to reduce barriers at the time of initial eligibility determination? Check all that apply and describe those elements checked. i. [x] Establishing presumptive eligibility while eligibility is being determined. Describe the policy, including the populations benefiting from the policy, and identify how long the period of presumptive eligibility is: Colorado allows for the county option to provide services prior to the final eligibility determination. The presumptive eligibility period begins the date the application is received and ends the date eligibility can be determined or within 30 calendar days of the application date, whichever is sooner. ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: Child care eligibility for families participating in TANF (Colorado Works) is based on their eligibility for Colorado Works. Families determined work-eligible for Colorado Works who have a child care need are referred to the county child care team to have their child care authorized within five business days (8 CCR 1403-1, 3.115). Additionally, counties are allowed and encouraged to utilize verification from other public assistance programs to determine eligibility to reduce the amount of verification a family is required to provide (8 CCR 1403-1, 3.125 (S). iii. [ ] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: iv. [x] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: Colorado has an online application called PEAK (Program Eligibility and Application Kit) that allows families to enter basic information and provides information on programs for which they may be eligible. The family is able to apply for a variety of services in PEAK including but not limited to CCCAP, Head Start, SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF based on their needs and interest. v. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [ ] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: Counties are required to review current applications for completeness and notify the family of any missing information needed for the eligibility determination or approve or deny the application if all of the necessary verification is received within 15 calendar days from the date the application was received by the county (8 CCR 1403-1, 3.125 (R). viii. [ ] None. b. Does the Lead Agency use an online subsidy application? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe why an online application is impracticable. c. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: Families participating in Colorado Works are deemed eligible for child care services based on their eligibility for Colorado Works and are provided child care for at least 12 months and may continue to receive child care services as long as the family has a child care need and is eligible for Colorado Works. Families who receive Colorado Works do not redetermine for child care services. When a family is no longer eligible for Colorado Works, they are automatically transitioned onto Low Income Child Care unless they are ineligible for Colorado Works due to: an Intentional Program Violation; having income that exceeds 85% of the State Median Income; or, if the child has 22 or more unexplained absences from authorized care within the last 30 days prior to the household being determined ineligible for Colorado Works and two failed documented attempts to contact the parent have been made within the 30-day period. [ ] No. 2.1.2 Preventing disruption of eligibility activities a. Identify, where applicable, the Lead Agency’s procedures and policies to ensure that parents do not have their employment, education, or job training unduly disrupted to comply with the State’s/Territory’s or designated local entity’s requirements for the redetermination of eligibility. Check all that apply. i. [x] Advance notice to parents of pending redetermination. ii. [x] Advance notice to providers of pending redetermination. iii. [ ] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [ ] Online documentation submission. v. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [ ] Consultation available via phone. viii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [x] Other. Describe: Because counties administer the CCCAP, counties are allowed and encouraged to offer various services including online documentation submission, extended office hours, and phone consultations. b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No.