Page 6

6

When a family qualifies for the service need of Protective due to substance use disorder treatment or rehabilitation, FAAs must work with the parent to obtain a self-attestation of the parent’s treatment plan and the following documents to confirm service need: o Written statement on professional letterhead from a certified medical authority or treatment program staff which includes the name and type of program, start and expected end date, and hours per week.

▪ Parental Leave This updated service need provides parents who are on a temporary leave from employment, education, or training for reasons connected to the birth of a child, the placement of a child in the family, or the care of a child, a 12-month authorization for full- time care. This service need can be used at initial authorization or reauthorization for one parent in a household. If a parent has additional service needs, they must be entered, including employment or Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefits. All countable income must be entered and a parent fee assessed, if applicable. If the parent reports the parental leave within an active authorization, this service need may remain until their reauthorization. They may continue to be eligible for this reason at reauthorization based on their documentation.

FAAs must confirm the parent’s name, the start and expected end date of leave, and the reason for leave included in ONE of the following documents for this service need: o letter from employer/educational or training program; o letter from doctor/adoption agency; o document showing paid medical leave; or o signed self-attestation that the parent is on parental leave.

▪ Military This new service need qualifies families with a parent who is active in the U.S. military, including the National Guard, and deployed or activated to a combat zone, hazardous duty zone, or venue for preparation for deployment to a combat or hazardous duty zone. Families with a service need of Military will qualify for a 12-month authorization for full- time care. In a two-parent household, the second parent does not need to have their own service need. If the primary or second parent (if part of household) does have any other service need, it must be entered and a parent fee assessed if applicable.

FAAs will confirm a parent’s status with the following documents for this service need: o military orders that confirm parent is in the U.S. military and is currently deployed or activated to a combat zone, hazardous duty zone, or venue for preparation for deployment to a combat or hazardous duty zone

▪ Reminders: