definitions

“Admission” is when a child(ren) who is determined eligible for the Child Care Subsidy Program begins services at a child development facility. “Applicant” is the parent(s) or guardian(s) who makes the initial application for subsidized child care. “Approved” is a case status meaning eligibility for subsidized child care has been established. “Child Care and Development Fund” or “CCDF” is the federal program authorized under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act and reauthorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, and again by the CCDBG Act of 2014. “Child and Family Services Agency” or “CFSA” is DC’s child protection agency which has the legal authority to protect children who are victims of, or at risk of, abuse or neglect. “Child Care Subsidy Program” is DC’s program that assists income-eligible families and those with special family or child circumstances to pay for the cost of child care. “Child development facility” is a center, home, expanded home, or other structure that provides care and other services, supervision, and guidance for children, infants, and toddlers on a regular basis, regardless of its designated name. “Child development center” is a child development facility located in premises other than a dwelling occupied by the operator of the facility. This definition encompasses facilities generally known as child care centers, preschools, nursery schools, before- and after-school programs, and similar programs and facilities. “Child development home” is a private residence that provides a child development program for children. Child development homes also include those facilities classified as “expanded child development homes.” “Expanded child development home” is a child development home in which child care is provided by two or more caregivers for up to 12 children. “Child with disabilities” is a child younger than the age of 19 with conditions or characteristics that reflect a need for particular care, services, or treatment, most commonly physical and/or mental disabilities and/or delays. “Co-payment” is the amount a child’s family is required to pay to the child development facility for the daily cost of subsidized child care. “Department of Human Services” or “DHS” is the DC agency that supports residents to connect to work opportunities, economic assistance, and supportive services. “Department of Human Services, Child Care Services Division” or “DHS CCSD” is the office at DHS that completes the eligibility process for subsidized child care in DC. “Department of Employment Services” or “DOES” is the DC agency that supports residents, job seekers, and employers to connect to opportunities and resources that empower fair, safe, effective working communities. “Economic Security Administration” or “ESA” is the DC agency that qualifies eligibility for benefits under the TANF, Medical Assistance, SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), Child Care Subsidy Program, Burial Assistance, and Interim Disability Assistance. “Eligibility redetermination” is the periodic renewal of child care eligibility in order to continue receiving assistance. “Eligibility worker” is a DHS CCSD staff or Level II child care provider staff person responsible for determining a child’s eligibility for subsidized child care. “Eligible” is used when a child(ren) has met all the criteria to be approved for receipt of a child care subsidy. “Enrollment” is when a child is determined eligible and is enrolled in the Child Care Subsidy Program. “Families with very low incomes” means a family having income at or below 150 percent of the FPL. “Federal poverty level” or “FPL” is a measure of income issued annually by HHS and used to determine whether the income level of an individual or family qualifies them for certain federal benefits and programs. “Guardian” is an appointed legal guardian of a child by a court or an adult standing in loco parentis. “Gig worker” is a worker whose primary income is derived from the on-call temporary work they perform, such as ridesharing companies and food delivery drivers. “Gross annual family income” is the combined countable income, before taxes, of all family members living in the same household who are included for purposes of determining family size. “Homelessness” is defined as experiencing the particular conditions and situations provided for in subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 11434a (2) including a child who is experiencing a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who are: • Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; • Living in emergency or transitional shelters (including DC transitional housing); • Abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care placement; • In a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans; • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or similar settings; • Migratory children, as defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 USCS§ 6399), who qualify as homeless because they live in circumstances described above; and • Unaccompanied youth, including youths who are not in the physical custody of a parent(s) or guardian(s), qualify as homeless because they live in the circumstances described above. “Individualized Education Program” or “IEP” is a written statement that specifies the special education programs and services to be provided to meet the unique educational needs of a child with a disability. The IEP is developed by a team of individuals knowledgeable about the child, including representatives from the child’s school, the child’s parent, and the child if appropriate. “Individual Family Service Plan” or “IFSP” is a legal document that outlines the developmental supports and services children found eligible for early intervention services provided under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act receive from early intervention programs. “In loco parentis” is an adult(s) with whom a child is living who has assumed responsibility for the day-to-day care and supervision of the child. "Income eligible" is an individual below an established income threshold for eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy Program. “In-home care” is child care provided in the home of the child receiving a child care subsidy. "Job search" is a structured period during which the participant is required to search for and/or obtain employment. “Level I child care provider” is a child care provider that has a current valid Child Care Subsidy Provider Agreement and can provide subsidized child care services. “Level II child care provider” is a child care center that has a current valid Child Care Subsidy Provider Agreement, can provide subsidized child care services, and is authorized to conduct initial eligibility determinations and redeterminations for families seeking child care subsidy. “Non-temporary change” is a cessation of work or attendance at a training or education program that exceeds 90 calendar days and is not included in the definition of “temporary change.” “The Office of Administrative Hearings” or “OAH” is an independent agency that serves as an administrative court and specializes mainly in cases involving government agency decisions and actions against individuals. “The Office of the State Superintendent of Education” or “OSSE” is the state education agency for DC charged with raising the quality of education for all DC residents. “Overpayment” is a circumstance that occurs when a child care provider receives a payment that is greater than the correct payment to which the payee was entitled based on services provided and documented, whether as the result of an OSSE error, inadvertent household or vendor error, or for other reasons. "Parent" is a natural parent, stepparent, or parent by adoption who has custody or control of a child, including joint custody as defined in § 38–301 of the Code of the District of Columbia. “Postsecondary education” is an education program following high school that leads to a degree, certification or other recognized credential, including undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs at universities or colleges and other professional certification courses. “Provider” is an operator of one or more licensed child development center(s), a licensed child development home or expanded home, or a person approved as an in-home caregiver that enters into an agreement with OSSE to provide subsidized child care services. “Recipient” is a child who is determined eligible for and receives subsidized child care. “Resident” or “residence” is where a person(s) has established a physical presence, the actual occupation and inhabitance of a place of abode with the intent to dwell for a continuous period. In the absence of the contrary, the residence of a child shall be presumed to be the residence of the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s). “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” (formerly known as Food Stamps) or “SNAP” is a federal government program that provides food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people to help them maintain adequate nutrition and health. “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program” or “SNAP E&T” is an employment and training service to able-bodied adults without dependents who participate in SNAP. “Subsidized child care” is care that is provided in a licensed child development facility or in a child’s home for fewer than 24 consecutive hours a day for which the government provides reimbursement to the child care provider. “TANF recipient” is an individual who receives assistance or benefits through the TANF program. “TANF payee” is a guardian(s) or custodian(s) who is providing care to a child who is not their natural child and receiving financial assistance through ESA on behalf of the child. “Teen parent” is a parent 19 years old or younger at the time of application for child care subsidy. “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” or “TANF” is a program administered by DHS that provides cash assistance to families in need, along with a suite of services to facilitate their path to success. “Termination” is when a child is no longer eligible for the Child Care Subsidy Program and their subsidy is terminated. “Underpayment” is a payment received by a provider that is less than the allowable amount owed for service provided by a particular child care agreement. “Vulnerable child” is defined as: • Child with disabilities; • Child of adults with disabilities; • Child in a family experiencing homelessness; • Child of teen parents; • Child of elder caregivers; • Child enrolled in Head Start, Early Head Start, or the QIN; • Child in a family experiencing domestic/family violence; or • Child with parents participating in addiction recovery programs.