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. [ ] 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: ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: The OEC also uses the shared DSS eligibility system, ImpaCT, to verify parents’ demographic, household composition, income, etc. to avoid requesting duplicative information from parents that would be burdensome. 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: On the C4K website families can use the Online Screener to determine if their family meets some basic eligibility criteria before submitting an application. v. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: The Office of Early Childhood is dedicated to making sure that applications are processed efficiently and timely. The OEC has designed an online Parent Portal for parents to manage their Care 4 Kids application online. Families can create an account and log in to apply for benefits; use a prescreening tool to see if they are eligible; upload documents; view benefits; report change; renew benefits and view notifications and correspondence. This new portal has allowed for applications to be processed efficiently and makes eligibility determinations timely. In addition, the Office of Early Childhood has the child care regulations (Sec 17b-749-09 (c)) that stipulates: Applications shall be processed, and eligibility determined within 30 days of the date that the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) administrator receives the application form; Eligibility shall be determined when sufficient information exists to determine if the family is eligible or ineligible; The CCAP administrator shall determine if the family is eligible for the program without regard to eligibility for payments; The CCAP administrator shall determine if a child is eligible for payment within ten days of the date the provider information is submitted. 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? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] 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. [x] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [x] Online documentation submission. v. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [ ] Consultation available via phone. viii. [ ] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [ ] Other. Describe: b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No.