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.” Documentation that verifies that the eligible child under P.L. 105-7, Part C services, meets one of the following conditions that follow: 1. Has a physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional health condition that is outside of the normal range; or 2. Meets the State Department of Health criteria for environmental risk as defined in HRS 321-351; resides in a Limited English Proficiency household; or is homeless. Per the Department of Health, part C eligibility includes those who are developmentally delayed, or at biological risk. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Gross income is less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 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 or contracts to reserve spots Other Children with special needs [ ] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [ ] [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: 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 or contracts to reserve spots Other (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [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: Other priority groups include: 1. A family whose child is receiving child protective services, and the need for child care is specified in the family unit’s case plan as ordered by the court; 2. A family unit who needs child care payments to comply with First-to-Work program participation requirements; and 3. A Former TANF participant who is eligible for Transitional Child Care Prioritize for enrollment, serve without placing these populations on waiting lists, waive co-payments and pay higher rates for access to higher quality care. 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: Households shall meet the definition of families experiencing homelessness. Households that meet the definition of homelessness shall be provided a child care authorization during a stabilization period of at least two months within a 12-month period, to allow the household the opportunity to submit verification for ongoing child care subsidies. If verifications necessary to determine on-going eligibility are not received within the stabilization period of two months, the household will be determined ineligible and given proper adverse action notice. Child care subsidies issued during the stabilization period is considered non- recoverable by the Department unless fraud has been established. 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: The provider shall allow a grace period of up to three (3) months from the child’s first day in care to obtain the evidence of examinations and immunizations, in accordance with the administrative rules of the Department of Health (DOH) Chapter 11-157, provided that evidence of tuberculosis clearance is provided prior to child’s start in care, in accordance with Chapter 11-164.2. DOH is the agency that established these requirements for the State of Hawaii through the administrative rule-making public process. Children who are in foster care: The provider shall allow a grace period of up to three (3) months from the child’s first day in care to obtain the evidence of examinations and immunizations in accordance with the Administrative rules of the DOH Chapter 11-157, provided that evidence of tuberculosis clearance is provided prior to child’s start in care, in accordance with Chapter 11-164.2. DOH is the agency that established these requirements for the State of Hawaii through the administrative rule-making public process. 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: The Hawaii Administrative Rules HAR §11-157- 6.2(b) provides a grace period of up to three (3) months from the child's first day in care to obtain the evidence of compliance with examinations and immunizations, in accordance with the Department of Health Examination and Immunization Chapter 11-157, and health needs for each child, provided that the TB clearance is required prior to the start of care, in accordance with Chapter 11-164.2. The Hawaii Department of Human Services has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) TB Control Branch to provide information about no-cost TB clearances that can be issued by the TB clinics statewide and about the DOH's family health centers which house the DOH public health nurses which can provide immunization services.