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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 05/2023 Cooperation with Child Support 4.9 At application or redetermination, if the Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) (PDF) form is required and not completed for each child in the CCAP family with an absent parent, the family is not cooperating with Child Support so is not eligible for child care assistance. Take action to deny or close the family’s CCAP case. See Chapter 3.6 (Accepting and processing applications), Chapter 10.6.3 (Redetermination processing standards), and Chapter 10.6.10 (Redetermination - Reinstatement). To determine if a family is in cooperation with Child Support at application, see Chapter 4.9.9 (Child Support cooperation at application). To determine if a family is in cooperation with Child Support at redetermination, see Chapter 4.9.12 (Child Support cooperation at redetermination). Changes in family composition during 12-month eligibility period During the 12 month eligibility period, families may be sent the Cooperation with Child Support Enforcement (DHS-2338) (PDF) and the Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) (PDF) forms when there are changes in family composition. Changes in family composition may include a child with an absent parent being added to the CCAP family or a parent leaving the CCAP family. See Chapter 8.1.3 (Changes in Household Composition). If the Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) form is not returned, code the “Forms Received” in MEC² as “No,” but do not terminate CCAP eligibility during the 12 month eligibility period for non-cooperation with Child Support. The family must be in cooperation with Child Support by their next redetermination. See Chapter 4.9.12 (Child Support Cooperation at Redetermination). Child Support cooperation for an intact family If both presumed parents are living in the home but paternity is not established, require the family to cooperate with Child Support at application or redetermination to establish paternity. For these families, the requirement to cooperate with Child Support at application and redetermination is met by cooperating with the Child Support agency to establish paternity. If the family does not provide verification of parentage, get a signed statement from the family attesting to the correctness of the information and require Child Support cooperation. While paternity is being established, the parent is included in the CCAP household size. The family may sign and file a Recognition of Parentage (ROP), have it notarized, and file it with the Department of Health to add the father’s name to the birth record. After a Recognition of Parentage (ROP) is filed and the birth record has been updated, the father will be listed on the birth certificate. The birth certificate can then be used as the father’s verification of parentage. After paternity is established, the father would not be considered an absent parent, so the family no longer has to cooperate with Child Support at application or redetermination for the father in the intact family. Child support cooperation requirements at application or redetermination would be required for any other children in the home with absent parent(s). Child Care Support If a court order establishes Child Care Support for a child receiving child care assistance, the Child Care Support is assigned to the State. This means the amount ordered for the absent parent to pay towards the child’s child care costs is assigned to the state to offset the child’s eligible child care costs paid by CCAP.