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.” The Lead Agency defines a child with special needs as a child through age 17 who has a current Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) or Individual Education Plan (IEP) in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or who receives supplemental security income (SSI). e. “Families with very low incomes.” The Lead Agency defines economically disadvantaged children (children whose families are low-income) as children living in families with a home income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The agency ensures co-payments that are specific to income level and offers lower-income families services at 100% reimbursement, to ensure that this most vulnerable population is least affected by copayments that may make affordable child care difficult. 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] [x] [x] [x] [ ] [x] Describe: The employment and training activity requirements may be reduced to an average of 15 hours per week for households that qualify for special needs child care. Families with very low incomes [ ] [ ] [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 Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [x] Describe: The employment and training activity requirements may be waived for parents or persons acting as parents who are experiencing homelessness and who demonstrate that they are seeking employment or participating in a transitional living program. If a household is experiencing homelessness, the household shall have 90 calendar days from the date of its initial determination of eligibility to submit documentation supporting the initial determination of eligibility. (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: Children in need of protective services or in foster care automatically qualify for child care assistance and can begin receiving assistance from the initial referral by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The Lead Agency collaborates with DCFS on these cases. Children in Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships are also prioritized and are not placed on a waiting list. 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: Families experiencing homelessness are certified eligible and receive a 90 day grace period to secure eligibility documentation. In addition, they are referred to the homeless liaison to provide assistance in securing necessary documentation. The state's Homeless Coordinator role is housed in the Lead Agency. The state's Homeless Coordinator, also known as the McKinney-Vento Liaison, works with local education agencies to coordinate these services. 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: Children who are past due on immunizations are asked to send an appointment card. Children experiencing homelessness are given a grace period of 90 days to provide an appointment card or up-to-date immunizations. Children who are in foster care: Children who are past due on immunizations are asked to send an appointment card. Children in foster care are given a grace period of 90 days to provide an appointment card or up-to-date immunizations. 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 Lead Agency is the licensing agency and contracts with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies and local community networks that further support local-level enrollment. Policy and procedure allow for a grace period for families experiencing homelessness to comply with reporting and documentation requirements of child care assistance. Such families can begin receiving child care assistance prior to producing such documentation, including the requirement for documentation of immunization. In addition, Lead Agency staff may review state immunization records directly through the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids (LINKS) in collaboration with LDH, even if that information is not provided by the family, to try to facilitate children receiving services as quickly as possible. Foster care children do not apply for services: they are referred to the Lead Agency by DCFS and are categorically-eligible for care based on their need; consequently, a grace period for documents and verification is not applicable for these children.