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.” Children with special needs are those who due to a disability require specialized training, services or environmental adaptations. A disability is defined as a functional limitation or health condition that interferes with a child's ability to walk, talk, see, hear, breathe or learn. A special need may be any special medical, developmental, and/or atypical behavior or condition that requires additional support to help the child successfully grow and develop to his or her full potential. Children with special needs may also include children with environmental or familial factors that create barriers to the child's optimal achievement. This could include a federal or state disaster, limited English proficiency, history of abuse or neglect, determination that children are at risk of abuse or neglect, family violence, homelessness, age of mother, level of maternal education, mental illness, developmental disability, parental chemical dependency or history or substance abuse. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Families with household income less than or equal to 47% of the SMI guidelines, adjusted for family size, at program entry and equal to or greater than 67% of the SMI, adjusted for family size, at program exit. 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] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [x] Describe: Eligible for Expedited Child Care: 3 months to submit verifications and participate in activity. (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [x] Describe: Families with an MFIP child only grant receive 20 hours per week of MFIP child care for children under age seven if caregiver has a mental health diagnosis. a. Does the Lead Agency define any other priority groups? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes, identify the populations prioritized and describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes services: The priorities groups established under the Basic Sliding Fee child care program are as follows. First priority is for families who do not have a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma or who need remedial or basic skill courses to pursue employment or education leading to employment. Within first priority, priority is given to minor parents, then parents under 21 years old and then other parents. Second priority is for families in which one parent is a veteran. Third priority is for all other non-TANF families who do not meet the specifications of other priorities. Counties can choose to prioritize families within the third priority in their county or tribe’s biennial Child Care Fund Plan. Fourth priority is for families who move from one county to another and are eligible for Portability Pool. Fifth priority is for families who previously received TANF and have completed their transition year (the first year after their TANF case closed). 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: Families experiencing homelessness are presumed eligible for child care assistance for up to three months after they apply. Applications are processed within five business days and they are presumed eligible during the three-month period. The family must meet authorized activity, cooperation with child support enforcement and verification requirements by the end of the three- month period. 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: Children who are homeless have 30 days after enrollment in child care to show that they meet the immunization requirements or are exempt from the immunization requirements. Licensed child care providers and child care programs receiving payment through the Child Care Assistance Program must follow this policy. https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/ed/homeless.html https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/ed/homeless.html Children who are in foster care: Children who are in foster care or are waiting to be placed in foster care have 30 days after enrollment in child care to show that they meet the immunization requirements or are exempt from the immunization requirements. Licensed child care providers and child care programs receiving payment through the Child Care Assistance Program must follow this policy. 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: A resource document specific to children who are homeless or in foster care was developed in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Health. This document provides information about requirements and free or low-cost shots available through the Minnesota Vaccines for Children Program. It also directs child care providers to contact their licensor if they need more information. https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/ed/homeless.html