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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 08/2021 Weekly authorization to high quality providers 9.1.12 • Children eligible for Expedited Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness qualify for 30 hours of child care per week and meet this requirement. • For all other children, determine the number of hours that the child qualifies for using the guidance for authorizing child care in Chapter 9.1 (Child care authorization). • Count authorized hours needed for travel time and breaks toward meeting the 30 hours of child care needed per week. • In a two-parent family, count only times when a parent is not available to care for the child towards the 30 hours of child care needed per week. • The amount of care needed can be averaged between two weeks. For example, if child care is needed for 20 hours one week and 40 hours the next week, that averages to 30 hours per week and the child would qualify for this policy. Authorizing care Children who qualify will have Service Authorizations of 50 hours per week (100 hours biweekly). The parent and provider can determine a schedule of up to 50 hours per week (100 hours biweekly). If the parent and provider agree to a weekly schedule of care, it will typically result in payment at the applicable maximum weekly rate, not to exceed the provider’s charge. Providers are not required to offer the full 50 hours of care per week (100 hours biweekly). Decrease in authorized hours allowed during the 12-month eligibility period The authorized hours can decrease when: • The child starts kindergarten • The family has a redetermination • The child’s family is a Schedule Reporter and the child begins qualifying for less than 30 hours of child care per week based on the parents’ activities • The child’s family is a Schedule Reporter who qualified under Expedited Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness and begins qualifying for less than 30 hours of child care per week after the three month period. • There is a change in custody schedule or parenting time arrangement that results in a child qualifying for less than 30 hours of child care per week.

Decrease in authorized hours not allowed during the 12-month eligibility period The authorized hours cannot decrease when: • A child turns six • The provider’s status as a high quality provider changes • The child moves to a new provider • The child’s family is a 12-Month Reporter and there is a reduction in the parent’s activities. • The child’s family is a 12-Month Reporter experiencing homelessness and the three month period ends.