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• FAAs must inform parents of all service need options while exploring any challenges they identify at the first interaction. • FAAs must connect parents without a service need to employment, education, or training resources in their area, such as their MassHire Career Center or other employment services programming based on their goals. • Full-time service need is defined as 25 hours or more per week. • Families with new employment at the time of authorization can use an employment letter or Employment Verification Form (EVF) to confirm their service need. • Families that provide an employment letter or EVF must be issued a 12- month authorization and will be entered into CCFA as “employment”. • The parent must provide paystubs at reauthorization if initially authorized with an employment letter or EVF because it was a new job. • “New Employment” and “New Self-Employment” are no longer selectable options in the CCFA system.

RESOURCES

The information in this policy advisory supersedes all provisional authorization and/or Seeking Approved Activity policy references in the following sections of the Interim Income Eligible Child Care Financial Assistance policies:

▪ Service Need - Seeking Approved Activity (middle of pg. 15) ▪ Service Need - Combining Service Need Activities (middle of pg. 17) ▪ Eligibility - Authorization Periods (pp. 17-18) ▪ Eligibility – Authorization Periods – Reauthorization (middle of pg. 18) ▪ Parent Fees (pg. 23)

This advisory provides updated guidance only with regard to all other Child Care Financial Assistance provisions previously shared through the following policy communications:

▪ Interim Income Eligible Child Care Financial Assistance Policies - October 1, 2023 ▪ Interim DTA-Related Child Care Financial Assistance Program Policies - October 1, 2023 ▪ EEC Policy Advisory - Field Operations 7-2024 – Child Care Financial Assistance

Please visit EEC’s online Hub for Child Care Financial Assistance Programs Changes for the most recent regulations, interim policies, and policy advisories.

For assistance with the implementation or interpretation of these interim Child Care Financial Assistance policies, please contact EEC at eecsubsidymanagement@mass.gov.