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.” Child up to thirteen (13) years of age who has been determined and documented by a qualified professional to be a ￿child with a disability￿ as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1401); is eligible for early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. §§ 1431, et seq.); is eligible for services under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 701); meets the definition of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (42 U.S.C. § 12102); is considered at-risk for health and/or developmental problems as a result of established biological Risk Factors, and/or as a result of identified environmental Risk Factors including, but not limited to, Homelessness, abuse and/or neglect, lead poisoning, and prenatal drug or alcohol exposure; or is a Child who is between thirteen (13) years of age and eighteen (18) years of age, inclusive, who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for him or herself, or is under court supervision. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Very Low Income refers to when the Gross Income or Allowable Net Income, adjusted to Family size, does not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Children with special needs, who are homeless or who are from a family with very low income must be given priority over all other children on the CCAP waiting list. Among these three priority groups, children are selected for services on a first-come, first-served basis by county based on the date of application. 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] Describe: The Lead Agency provides an additional 35% reimbursement to a provider providing care to a child with special needs. 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] Describe: If a Parent of an Eligible Child is Homeless at the time of initial application or at time of redetermination, such Parent will be approved for Child Care Affordability. A ninety (90) calendar day grace period will be provided to the Parent to allow time for submission of required eligibility documentation as required by federal law (45 C.F.R. § 98.41). During such grace period, the Child shall be deemed to be eligible for the Child Care Affordability Program. (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: a. Does the Lead Agency define any other priority groups? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, identify the populations prioritized and describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes services: 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: If a Parent of an Eligible Child is Homeless at the time of initial application or at time of redetermination, such Parent will be approved for Child Care Affordability. A ninety (90) calendar day grace period will be provided to the Parent to allow time for submission of required eligibility documentation as required by federal law (45 C.F.R. § 98.41). During such grace period, the Child shall be deemed to be eligible for the Child Care Affordability Program. 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: If a Parent of an Eligible Child is Homeless at the time of initial application or at time of redetermination, and meets other eligibility requirements, such Parent will be approved for the Child Care Affordability Program. Licensed child care programs and License-exempt child care, upon request, provide documentation that the Children receiving Child Care Affordability Program Payments are age-appropriately immunized and meet the latest recommendation for Childhood immunizations in Maine, as recommended by the Department’s Center for Disease Control (CDC). A Licensed child care program must have a current record of immunization on file for each Child, which clearly documents each Child’s present immunization status based on the Department’s Day Care Immunization Standards (available at https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious- disease/immunization/documents/Daycare-Immunization-standards- revised.pdf and published August 8, 2021), within 30 days of the Child’s first admission to the Child care and updated as needed thereafter. For License-exempt providers, the Child Care Affordability Program allows for a 90 calendar day grace period to be granted while Parents are taking the necessary actions to comply with the immunization requirements. Children who are in foster care: Licensed child care programs and License- exempt child care, upon request, provide documentation that the Children receiving Child Care Affordability Program Payments are age- appropriately immunized and meet the latest recommendation for Childhood immunizations in Maine, as recommended by the Department’s Center for Disease Control (CDC). A Licensed child care program must have a current record of immunization on file for each Child, which clearly documents each Child’s present immunization status based on the Department’s Day Care Immunization Standards (available at https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious- disease/immunization/documents/Daycare-Immunization-standards- revised.pdf and published August 8, 2021), within 30 days of the Child’s first admission to the Child care and updated as needed thereafter. For License-exempt providers, the Child Care Affordability Program allows for a 90 calendar day grace period to be granted while Parents are taking the necessary actions to comply with the immunization requirements. 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: Children's Licensing and Investigation Services provides technical assistance to the provider if needed regarding strategies to obtain necessary information or resources that will support the family in obtaining the documentation. Families are refereed to Help Me Grow Maine for assistance in accessing resources and finding services needed, including those that support immunization and other health and safety requirements.