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Title 13: Social Service Resources Page 73 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter G: Child Care Assistance Determining Eligiblity Revised June 14, 2024 Establishing the Certification Period Establishing the Certification Period Legal reference: 441 IAC 170.3(1)“c” Policy: Certification periods shall be established for a 12-month period except for the following situations: ▪ A family includes a child who will turn 13 years old within 6 months from the end of a 12-month certification period. ▪ A family needs CCA to attend post-secondary education and they will exhaust their 24-month funding limit within 6 months from the end of a 12-month certification period. Procedure: The certification period for a family shall be established for a 12-month period. Do not establish a shorter or longer certification period except when one or more of the situations described in this section applies to the family. In that case, base the length of the certification on the household’s circumstances. Use the following chart to assign the certification period:

Situation Certification length Child will turn 13 If the child will turn 13 within 6 months after the end of a 12- month certification period, establish a longer certification period for this family (up to a maximum of 18 months). 24-month funding limit will be reached If the 24-month funding limit will be reached within 6 months after the end of a 12-month certification period, establish a longer certification period for this family (up to a maximum of 18 months). Comment:

1. Ms. A applies for CCA for her children on July 15. The application is approved effective July 15, 2016. Her need for service is ongoing full-time employment. The certification period will be established from July 15, 2016, to July 14, 2017 (12 months). 2. Ms. B applies for CCA for her children on July 15, 2016. Her need for service is ongoing full-time employment. One of her children will turn 13 on September 10, 2017. The certification period will be established from July 15, 2016, through September 9, 2017 (14 months). 3. Mr. C applies for CCA for his children on July 15, 2016. His need for service is full- time post-secondary education. His 24-month funding limit will be reached on December 20, 2017. The certification period will be established from July 15, 2016, through December 20, 2017 (17 months).