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▪ Pathway to Full-Time Employment Pathway to Full-Time Employment is a new service need that acknowledges the different ways employed parents may be working towards full-time employment, such as job training, education, and internships. Pathway to Full-Time Employment also allows for parents to work towards increasing their hours or finding more stable employment.

When parents are working, or working in combination with education and/or training, for at least 15 hours, but less than 25 hours per week, with no other allowable service need activity, FAAs may add on this service need to provide a 12-month authorization for full- time child care. If the current authorization includes Pathway to Full-Time Employment as a service need, this service need may not be used as a service need at the next reauthorization. Travel time should be offered and included if applicable.

Families must provide documentation that reasonably establishes the parents’ hours and wages of employment and other service need. As a reminder, parents may provide proof of their weekly hours and earned income from within the last 26 weeks that they feel is most reflective of their employment. College, education and training hours are calculated based on the verified class, clinical, college credit or work study hours. FAAs should refer to Interim Income Eligible Child Care Financial Assistance Policies for additional details about calculating hours.

▪ Protective Protective is a new service need that acknowledges other challenges that may be getting in the way of a parent being able to work or their family’s stability. This service need is for a parent who is experiencing, or has experienced, domestic violence or who is participating in substance use disorder treatment or rehabilitation. These service needs may be used to qualify a family for a 12-month authorization for full-time care, even if the parent is working or attending an education or training program. Families will still be required to submit income information, and a parent fee may be assessed.

• Domestic Violence When a family qualifies for the service need Protective due to domestic violence, FAAs must work with the parent to obtain a signed self-declaration attesting to a situation of domestic violence involving the parent and/or child and ONE of the following documents to confirm service need: o Court, medical, psychological, criminal, child protective services (DCF), social service, school or police records; o Documents that show that the applicant parent has obtained an order of protection or has taken other legal steps to end the domestic violence; o Evidence of seeking a safe place such as a shelter; or o A letter reflecting that the parent participates, or has participated, in domestic violence counseling services, including support groups.

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment or Rehabilitation