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CAPS Policy – Eligibility Requirements No.: CAPS/00-6 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 07/01/2025 Revision Effective: 07/01/2025

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 32 of 109 6.5.9 If a parent reports that the child is not a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, or refuses to provide required verification documents, the child will not be eligible to receive CAPS services.

6.5.10 If verification of the child’s citizenship is available from another state or federally recognized program, a copy of the automation/system screen indicating citizenship or alien status may be used and filed in the case record. If verification of the child’s citizenship was obtained from another state public agency, a fax/copy of the verification document may be accepted.

6.5.11 Families may receive an additional 45 calendar days from the date their application was processed to verify citizenship requirements. The 45 calendar days granted will not postpone the eligibility determination. However, if citizenship is not verified by the end of the 45-day period, the child for whom citizenship cannot be verified will be determined ineligible for ongoing child care assistance due to a program violation.

Child’s Immunization Requirement 6.6.1 Current immunizations are required for children to receive CAPS.

6.6.2 A Certificate of Immunization is not required to be present in the CAPS record for children enrolled in school settings, children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or children receiving care in licensed child care providers since these requirements are already met based on school/licensing and TANF requirements.

6.6.3 A Certificate of Immunization is required to be kept in the CAPS case record for all non-school aged children who are receiving care through an informal provider.

6.6.4 Families may receive an additional 45 calendar days from the date their application was processed to verify immunization requirements. The 45 calendar days granted will not postpone the eligibility determination. However, if immunization is not verified by the end of the 45-day period, the child for whom immunization cannot be verified will be determined ineligible for on-going child care assistance due to a program violation.

6.6.5 Exceptions to Immunizations Through Georgia law, the Department of Public Health allows for two types of exemptions from the immunization requirements: medical and religious. Each child must have one of two items on file – either a valid Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) or a signed, notarized statement, which is called an affidavit of religious exemption. Exemption Type Description Medical A. Medical exemptions are used only when a child has a medical condition that keeps him from being able to receive a specific vaccine(s), not all vaccines. B. A medical exemption must be marked on the Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231). A letter from a physician, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), or physician assistant (PA) attached to the certificate will not be accepted as a medical exemption. It must be marked on the certificate. C. A physician, APRN, or PA must re-evaluate the need for a medical exemption at least once each year and issue a new certificate of immunization at that time. The date of expiration on the section of the certificate marked “medical exemption” should be one year from the date of issue and never be longer than one year. Religious A. For a child to be exempt from immunizations on religious grounds, the parent or guardian must furnish the school/child care facility with a notarized Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization (DPH Form 2208). B. The Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization form should be filed instead of the Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231). The affidavit does not expire.

Visit http://dph.georgia.gov for forms that were referenced in section 6.6.5 and more information about immunizations.