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: Eligibility is based on a documented child care authorization form from the DCF or its contracted provider, a DCF-designated Lead Homeless Coalition Continuum of Care agency, or a Certified Domestic Violence Center. The coalition shall authorize the following for 12-months of child care funding: - at-risk as defined in Section 1002.81(1), F.S., - economically disadvantaged, - homeless, - special needs children, - and a parent who has an Intensive Service Account or an Individual Training Account under Section 445.009, F.S. Exhibit II, section C.5.1.2, of the Grant Agreement requires coalitions to act upon referrals within 10 calendar days of referral receipt to determine eligibility for SR services for at-risk children or children of families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or transitioning off of TANF. iii. [x] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: If a new child is added into a household that currently has authorized SR services, the previously established children in services will have their child care authorization dates extended to align with the new sibling’s authorization date. iv. [x] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: Per Rule 6M-4.300(3)(a), F.A.C., ELCs shall review each submitted application and required documentation within 20 calendar days of submission to determine if the parent is potentially eligible pursuant to Section 1002.87(1), F.S. v. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [ ] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: 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: In accordance with 6M-4.200(b)b, F.A.C., during the 12-month authorization of child care funding, child care services will continue in increments defined by the referring agency each time child care authorization is renewed. If an additional referral is granted to the parent that extends the purpose for care beyond the initial 12-month authorization period, the ELC shall authorize the parent for an additional 12-month authorization 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. [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. [x] Consultation available via phone. viii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [x] Other. Describe: Text messaging, video conferencing, fax, and letters are also used. b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No.