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.” In Missouri, a child with special needs is under the age of 18, or under the age of 19 and still in school, who meets one (1) or more of the following verified criteria: A child receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI); a child receiving services through the Department of Mental Health; a child with a physical or mental disability or delay verified in writing by a medical professional or mental health professional; a Protective Service Child; An Adoption Subsidy Child; or a child under court- ordered supervision. Child care rates for children classified as having special needs are paid at the rate of the child's "functional age," and child care providers providing care to children classified as having special needs are paid a 25% rate differential. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Families with very low incomes are defined as families with income less than 30% of the State Median Income (SMI), or approximately 100% FPL. 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] [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [x] [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: 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: For children who meet the definition of protective services, the Lead Agency expedites the child care assistance process as these families are not required to demonstrate a financial need and are not subject to the eligibility unit’s income maximums. 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: When families are found to be eligible for child care subsidy, homelessness is a valid need for child care and children are authorized for 23 full-time days while the family obtains any requested documentation. 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: Any child who is homeless or in the custody of the Children's Division and cannot provide satisfactory evidence of the required immunizations may be enrolled in child care. As noted above, § 210.003.2(3), RSMo, provides that satisfactory evidence shall be presented within 30 days of enrollment and shall confirm either that the child has completed all immunizations appropriate for his or her age or has begun the process of immunization. If the child has begun the process of immunization, he or she may continue to attend as long as the process is being accomplished according to the schedule recommended by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The Lead Agency requires all contracted providers, regardless of the number of children being served, to allow children experiencing homelessness a grace period of up to 30 days, once enrolled, to allow families sufficient time to secure immunizations or proof of immunizations to align with § 210.003.2(3), RSMo. Children who are in foster care: Any child who is homeless or in the custody of the Children's Division and cannot provide satisfactory evidence of the required immunizations may be enrolled in child care. As noted above, § 210.003.2(3), RSMo, provides that satisfactory evidence shall be presented within 30 days of enrollment and shall confirm either that the child has completed all immunizations appropriate for his or her age or has begun the process of immunization. If the child has begun the process of immunization, he or she may continue to attend as long as the process is being accomplished according to the schedule recommended by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The Lead Agency requires all contracted providers, regardless of the number of children being served, to allow children experiencing homelessness a grace period of up to 30 days, once enrolled, to allow families sufficient time to secure immunizations or proof of immunizations to align with § 210.003.2(3), RSMo. 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: The Lead Agency coordinates with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Immunizations and refers families and providers to their website for information about immunizations. The website https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/index.php contains information about vaccines for children and information about free vaccines.