2.3 Prioritizing Services for Vulnerable Children and Families

Lead Agencies must give priority for child care assistance to children with special needs, families with very low incomes (considering family size), and children experiencing homelessness. A Lead Agency has the flexibility to prioritize other populations of children. Note: Statute defines children with disabilities, and CCDF rule gives flexibility to Lead Agencies to include vulnerable populations in their definition of children with special needs. CCDF defines “child experiencing homelessness” as a child who is homeless, as defined in Section 725 of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a). 2.3.1 Lead Agency definition of priority groups Describe how the Lead Agency defines: d. “Children with special needs.” A child (birth up to 13) who has been determined eligible as a child with a disability, in accordance with Chapter 6A-6, F.A.C., and is participating in a program for children with a disability provided by the school district or a child who has an individualized educational plan (IEP) or family support plan (IFSP). e. “Families with very low incomes.” Very low incomes are attributed to families with an income at or below 100 percent FPL. 2.3.2 Prioritization of child care services Identify how the Lead Agency will prioritize child care services for the following children and families. a. Complete the table below to indicate how the identified populations are prioritized. Population Prioritized Prioritize for enrollment in child care services Serve without placing on waiting list Waive co- payments as described in 3.3.1 Pay higher rate for access to higher quality care Use grants to reserve spots or contracts Other Children with special needs [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: a. Does the Lead Agency define any other priority groups? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes, identify the populations prioritized and describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes services: In accordance with s. 1002.87(1), F.S., priority is given to at risk-children. Section 1002.81(1), F.S., defines an at-risk child as: (a) a child from a family under investigation by DCF or a designated sheriff’s office for child abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation, (b) a child who is in a diversion program provided by DCF or its contracted provider and who is from a family that is actively participating and complying in DCF-prescribed activities, including education, health services, or work, (c) a child from a family that is under supervision by the DCF or a contracted service provider for abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation, (d) a child placed in court- ordered, long-term custody or under the guardianship of a relative or nonrelative after termination of supervision by the DCF or its contracted provider, (e) a child in the custody of a parent who is considered a victim of domestic violence and is receiving services through a certified domestic violence center, (f) a child in the custody of a parent who is considered homeless as verified by a DCF certified homeless shelter. Priority is also given to children from working families that are economically disadvantaged. ￿Economically disadvantaged￿ means having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent FPL and includes children of working migratory families or agricultural workers who are employed by more than one agricultural employer during a year, and whose incomes vary according to weather conditions and market stability. 2.3.3 Enrollment and grace period for children experiencing homelessness Lead Agencies must allow (after an initial eligibility determination) children experiencing homelessness to receive CCDF services while required eligibility documentation is obtained. Lead Agencies must establish a grace period that allows children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care to receive CCDF assistance while providing their families with a reasonable time to take any necessary actions to comply with State, Territory, or local immunization and other health and safety requirements. The length of such a grace period must be established in consultation with the State, Territorial, or Tribal public health agency. Note: Any payment for such a child during the grace period may not be considered an error or improper payment. a. Describe the strategies to allow CCDF enrollment of children experiencing homelessness while required eligibility documentation is obtained: Notwithstanding their inability to provide full documentation at initial eligibility determination, an ELC shall permit enrollment, care and services to children experiencing homelessness as verified by a DCF certified homeless shelter (Rule 6M-4.208(2), F.A.C.). This applies not only to children experiencing homelessness but all children in care. DCF collaborated with FL DOH around this requirement. b. Describe the grace period for each population below and how it allows them to receive CCDF assistance while providing their families with a reasonable time to take any necessary actions to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements. i. Provide the policy for a grace period for: Children experiencing homelessness: Parents have a 30-day grace period to submit immunization records to the child care provider as directed by DCF in consultation with Florida DOH. The requirement is set by our partners in child care licensing at DCF. This is the same requirement for all families. There is no additional grace period provided to children experiencing homelessness. DCF collaborated with FL DOH around this requirement. Children who are in foster care: Parents have a 30-day grace period to submit immunization records to the child care provider as directed by DCF in consultation with Florida DOH. The requirement is set by our partners in child care licensing at DCF. This is the same requirement for all families. There is no additional grace period provided to children in foster care. DCF collaborated with FL DOH around this requirement. ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the length of the grace period was established in consultation with the State, Territorial, or Tribal public health agency? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: c. Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates with licensing agencies and other relevant State, Territorial, Tribal, and local agencies to provide referrals and support to help families with children receiving services during a grace period comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements: To improve access to child care for homeless families, the definition of "at-risk child" includes a child in the custody of a parent considered homeless as verified by DCF designated lead agency on homelessness (s. 1002.81(1)(f), F.S.) and those receiving services through domestic violence shelters. The DCF-recognized referring entities authorize the need for child care services for their clients. The referring entity submits the child care authorization (referral) to the applicable ELC to receive child care services. Immunization records are not collected by the SR agency as a condition of initial eligibility for child care. Child care providers are responsible for obtaining and keeping on file a record of the child's immunizations, physical development and other health requirements. Parents have a 30-day grace period to submit immunization records to the child care provider. School-aged children attending public or non-public schools are not required to have student health examination and immunization records on file at the child care facility as such records are on file at the school where the child is enrolled. Immunization records are available at no cost via the online statewide registry (FL SHOTS). Parents have a 30-day grace period to submit immunization records to the child care provider as directed by DCF in consultation with Florida DOH. The requirement is set by our partners in child care licensing at DCF. This is the same requirement for all families.