Page 824

Child with Special Needs A child with documented special needs may receive be eligible for child care services through the last day the child is 17 years of age. month the child turns age 18. The special needs code on the ACRPR screen will default to “N” for all children and must be changed to “Y” by the case manager if the child has documented special needs (receipt of SSI or verified by a physician’s statement). Fulltime or full-time/part-time care may be requested. The appropriate type of child care services needed for a special needs child will be determined based on the child’s circumstances (age, school enrollment, etc.) and the parent’s weekly participation/work requirements. Termination of Child Care Assistance for Children Turning Age 13 or 18 TANF block grant funds transferred to the DECCD to help fund the Child Care Payment Program become Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) at the time of transfer. CCDF funds cannot be used to serve children that have reached age 13, or age 18 for children with special needs. Case managers must set an alert and terminate child care assistance no less than 21 days before a child’s 13th or 18th birthday. Note: The termination effective date must be the last day the child is age 12 or 17 unless terminated earlier. Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Priority Populations The Child Care Certificate Program has Children must be served in accordance with the policies outlined in the Mississippi Child Care Payment Program Policy Manual. Based on the availability of funding, child care services will be available to children of parents according to the following four priority populations. DECCD will serve the first and second priority populations based on child care referrals processed by DEA case management. If CCDF funds are available, the third and fourth priority populations will be served on a first-come, first-served basis in order of priority. 1st Priority Population (TANF TWP) Children of parent(s) who are in compliance with the TANF Work Program and the requirements outlined in his/her EDP (TANF TWP). Children of non-exempt parents and caretaker relatives who are in compliance with TANF Work Program requirements. TANF eligible children living with non- needy caretaker relatives who are employed earning at or above the federal minimum wage and provide continued employment verification as requested, but not less than every six months.

10068 Volume III | Chapter 10 3rd Priority Population (Very Low-income, At Risk of Going on TANF) Children of parent(s) who transition off TANF due to earned income and remain employed (TANF MISSISSIPPI [ TANF WORK PROGRAM PAYMENT PROCESS: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES]

Revised 04 - 01 - 12 2 - 01 - 1 8