2.1 Reducing Barriers to Family Enrollment and Redetermination

Lead Agency enrollment and redetermination policies may not unduly disrupt parents’ employment, education, or job training activities to comply with the Lead Agency’s or designated local entity’s requirements. Lead Agencies have broad flexibility to design and implement the eligibility practices that reduce barriers to enrollment and redetermination. Examples include developing strategies to inform families and their providers of an upcoming redetermination and the information that will be required of the family, pre-populating subsidy renewal forms, having parents confirm that the information is accurate, and/or asking only for the information necessary to make an eligibility redetermination. In addition, Lead Agencies can offer a variety of family-friendly methods for submitting documentation for eligibility redetermination that considers the range of needs for families in accessing support (e.g., use of languages other than English, access to transportation, accommodation of parents working non-traditional hours). 2.1.1 Eligibility practices to reduce barriers to enrollment a. Does the Lead Agency implement any of the following eligibility practices to reduce barriers at the time of initial eligibility determination? Check all that apply and describe those elements checked. i. [ ] Establishing presumptive eligibility while eligibility is being determined. Describe the policy, including the populations benefiting from the policy, and identify how long the period of presumptive eligibility is: ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: The Lead Agency has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to share and match data for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On the application, applicants can specify if they are participating in other public assistance programs that may qualify them for child care assistance. Families who are TANF participants are considered categorically eligible for child care assistance. iii. [x] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: The Lead Agency has policies and procedures for Eligibility Specialists to use that ensures the addition of subsidy-eligible child(ren) who need child care assistance extends the family’s eligibility period to align with the 12-month eligibility period for the most recent child receiving assistance. iv. [x] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: The Lead Agency provides a pre-screen function that allows families to enter brief information to determine if they may qualify for child care assistance. This pre-screen capability was promoted throughout the state using this informational flyer with a Quick Response (QR) code for ease of access: https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/do-you- need-child-care-assistance-flyer. v. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [ ] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: The Lead Agency has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to share and match data for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Lead Agency requires a 15-day processing timeframe for eligibility determinations. The subsidy eligibility team assigns staff to cases based on specialized tasks (e.g., protective services cases, current income-based cases, change requests) to assist with processing applications more accurately and efficiently. When a team has a high volume of applications, team members who are cross trained in various cases are able to assist to help keep the workload manageable. viii. [ ] None. b. Does the Lead Agency use an online subsidy application? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe why an online application is impracticable. c. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No. 2.1.2 Preventing disruption of eligibility activities a. Identify, where applicable, the Lead Agency’s procedures and policies to ensure that parents do not have their employment, education, or job training unduly disrupted to comply with the State’s/Territory’s or designated local entity’s requirements for the redetermination of eligibility. Check all that apply. i. [x] Advance notice to parents of pending redetermination. ii. [ ] Advance notice to providers of pending redetermination. iii. [x] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [x] Online documentation submission. v. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [ ] Consultation available via phone. viii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [ ] Other. Describe: b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No.