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CAPS Policy – Family Unit No.: CAPS/00-5 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 00/00/0000 Revision Effective: 00/00/0000

CAPS Policy Manual

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Family Composition CAPS Requirements Biological or Marital Affiliation Children 17 years of age or younger who are related to a parent as their biological child or through marriage shall be included in the family unit. Spouses are included in the family unit. Partners who have children in common shall be included in the family unit, regardless of marital status. Adoptive Children

Children legally adopted are treated as biological children. Families must meet CAPS eligibility requirements for children in the family unit, including adoptive children. Unmarried Parents

If a couple resides together and each has a child(ren) of their own and share no child(ren) in common (by blood, marriage or adoption), they are considered two separate family units. Family Members Expected to Return

A family member who is away from the family residence for reasons of employment, education, training, or military deployment, and who returns regularly or is expected to return shall be considered a member in the family unit. This includes children who are part of a shared custody agreement in cases of separated or divorced parents. Joint Custody

In situations where separated, divorced, or unmarried parents have joint physical custody of their child(ren), only one parent is required to be eligible to receive child care assistance. At the request of the custodial parent, care can continue at a different provider if within the state of Georgia with the non-custodial parent. If care is already being provided outside of Georgia in a bordering state, care can continue at the same provider. Care will not be authorized outside of Georgia for a different provider. Multiple Family Households In situations where adults, who are not spouses, reside together and who do not have a child in common, children in the household shall be considered part of the family unit with their parent. Multi-Generational Households A. Although more than two generations of a family may live in one household, they shall be considered as separate family units as long as the biological parent retains legal custody of the child. B. In situations where the parent retains legal custody, the grandparents shall not be counted as members of the same family unit with the parent and child. C. In situations where the legal custody of the child rests with the grandparents, the biological parent shall not be counted as a member of the family unit when residing in the same household. Minor Parents For the purposes of CAPS eligibility, a person 17 years of age or younger and their child shall be considered their own family unit.

POLICY REVISION HISTORY Date Description of Change