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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 03/2021 Authorizing care – Sanctions 9.1.5.3 Non-compliance with Employment Services (ES) Agencies apply Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) sanctions when participants do not comply with Employment Services requirements. Eligibility for MFIP child care continues as long as the caregiver remains eligible for MFIP. See Chapter 4.3.3.9 (MFIP sanctions) for information about how MFIP sanctions affect a family’s eligibility for child care assistance. The effect of MFIP Employment Services sanctions on child care authorization depends on a variety of factors. Most Employment Services sanctions are related to participation in MFIP Employment Plan activities. Whether a change in activity participation will affect a family’s case depends on their reporting type. See Chapter 8.3.6 (Reporting types) for more information about determining a family’s reporting type. In general, do not approve an adverse action related to an Employment Services sanction until the participant has actually been sanctioned. This does not happen until after the Notice of Intent to Sanction (NOITS) phase. Notification that the participant has been sanctioned should come from the job counselor, not the financial worker. 12-Month Reporters At application and redetermination At application and redetermination, 12-Month Reporters must have their child care hours authorized based on their verified activity schedule. See Chapter 9.1.5 (Authorizing care – Employment Plans) for more information about authorizing care for families with Employment Plans. During 12-month eligibility period In general, child care hours cannot be reduced during a family’s 12-month eligibility period for families who are 12-Month Reporters. If sanctioned due to non-compliance with some but not all activities in the Employment Plan: • Do not decrease authorization as long as the client is still participating in some part of their Employment Plan activities or employment outside of an Employment Plan. If sanctioned due to non-compliance with all activities in the Employment Plan: • If participating for any number of hours in activities in the Employment Plan, continue to authorize care at the same level until redetermination. • If not participating for any number of hours in activities in the Employment Plan BUT participating in employment outside of an Employment Plan, continue to authorize care at the same level until redetermination. • If not participating for any number of hours in activities in the Employment Plan AND not participating in employment outside of an Employment Plan, put the client into Extended Eligibility. Care should