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.” A child under the age of 19 who meets the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) definition of disability by having a medically determined physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations, that can be expected to result in death, or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months. e. “Families with very low incomes.” A family with the total family income at or below 50% of the State Median Income (SMI). 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] [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 [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] 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: The Lead Agency priorities teen parents, military parents, and children meeting the definition of Protective Service. Applications for these priority populations are expedited when received. Should the Lead Agency need to implement a wait list for services, these priority populations would receive services over families that would not fall under one of these priority population categories. 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: Homeless children and children in foster care who receive child care payment assistance shall be granted a 24-hour grace period from the date of admission into a child care payment- approved program to obtain the necessary immunization records. Payment for these children during the grace period shall not be considered an error or an improper payment. The timeframe for immunizations is established by the MSDH for the enforcement of health, safety, and welfare. 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 in foster care who receive child care payment assistance shall be granted a 24-hour grace period from the date of admission into a child care payment- approved program to obtain the necessary immunization records. Payment for these children during the grace period shall not be considered an error or an improper payment. The timeframe for immunizations is established by the MSDH for the enforcement of health, safety, and welfare. Since MSDH requires proof of vaccination or exemption for children enrolled in licensed childcare facilities (121 and 122 forms), the MSDH Office of Immunizations can be contacted directly at (601) 576-7751 to assist licensed childcare facilities, case workers, foster families, or families experiencing hardship with acquiring proof of immunization for children who have received vaccinations in Mississippi or other states. Immunizations can also assist with locating local options for vaccine clinics and providing temporary documentation of immunization compliance, as needed, for children needing to get caught up on immunizations. 1. Upon receiving a call identified by any of the above-mentioned circumstances, our Immunizations staff will do one or both of the following: a. Transfer the call directly to one of our School Compliance/Exemption staff members. b. Provide the caller with the email address of one of our School Compliance/Exemption staff members. 2. If the caller is simply needing proof of vaccination or vaccination record, they will be asked to provide the child’s full name and date of birth and/or provide documentation that they have guardianship of the child or are a licensed childcare facility, which can be provided via email. The Office of Immunizations will then return the proof of vaccination or vaccination record by fax or encrypted email to the guardian and/or licensed childcare facility. 3. If the caller is needing to know local options for vaccine clinics, Immunizations staff can quickly provide them with that information over the phone or send it to them through email if preferred. 4. If the caller needs temporary documentation of immunization compliance, due to the circumstances listed above, the caller will be provided with the name and email of a School Compliance staff member and will be asked to send justification for the reason they need the temporary compliance. Upon receipt, these requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis for children who have received vaccinations in Mississippi or other states and can typically be answered within 24-48 hours. 5. If the caller has a vaccination record from another state for a child needing to get enrolled in a licensed childcare facility in MS, the caller will be provided with the email address of one of our School Compliance staff members and/or the fax number for the Office of Immunizations. Once the record is received, one of our clinicians can update the child’s vaccination record in the Mississippi Immunization Registry and appropriate forms or records can be provided to the caller as needed/requested. Children who are in foster care: Homeless children and children in foster care who receive CCPP assistance shall be granted a twenty-four (24) hour grace period from the date of admission into a CCPP-approved child care program to obtain the necessary immunization records. Payment for these children during the grace period shall not be considered an error or an improper payment. Since MSDH requires proof of vaccination or exemption for children enrolled in licensed childcare facilities (121 and 122 forms), the MSDH Office of Immunizations can be contacted directly at (601) 576-7751 to assist licensed childcare facilities, case workers, foster families, or families experiencing hardship with acquiring proof of immunization for children who have received vaccinations in Mississippi or other states. Immunizations can also assist with locating local options for vaccine clinics and providing temporary documentation of immunization compliance, as needed, for children needing to get caught up on immunizations. 1. Upon receiving a call identified by any of the above-mentioned circumstances, our Immunizations staff will do one or both of the following: a. Transfer the call directly to one of our School Compliance/Exemption staff members. b. Provide the caller with the email address of one of our School Compliance/Exemption staff members. 2. If the caller is simply needing proof of vaccination or vaccination record, they will be asked to provide the child’s full name and date of birth and/or provide documentation that they have guardianship of the child or are a licensed childcare facility, which can be provided via email. The Office of Immunizations will then return the proof of vaccination or vaccination record by fax or encrypted email to the guardian and/or licensed childcare facility. 3. If the caller is needing to know local options for vaccine clinics, Immunizations staff can quickly provide them with that information over the phone or send it to them through email if preferred. 4. If the caller needs temporary documentation of immunization compliance, due to the circumstances listed above, the caller will be provided with the name and email of a School Compliance staff member and will be asked to send justification for the reason they need the temporary compliance. Upon receipt, these requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis for children who have received vaccinations in Mississippi or other states and can typically be answered within 24-48 hours. 5. If the caller has a vaccination record from another state for a child needing to get enrolled in a licensed childcare facility in MS, the caller will be provided with the email address of one of our School Compliance staff members and/or the fax number for the Office of Immunizations. Once the record is received, one of our clinicians can update the child’s vaccination record in the Mississippi Immunization Registry and appropriate forms or records can be provided to the caller as needed/requested. 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: Families with no countable income, income requirements are waived if eligibility is verified by the Lead Agency. If self-referred, eligibility is determined by the Lead Agency and income requirements are waived, if the family has no countable income. The Lead Agency refers families to the county health departments and other providers participating in the Federal Vaccines for Children program that supplies vaccines free of charge to children who receive Medicaid, Native Americans, or Alaskan Natives, and children who have health insurance that does not cover vaccination. Families experiencing homelessness are allowed a grace period to supply documentation. Children in this group are allowed a 24-hour grace period by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) to supply immunization records once eligibility determination is complete, a family has a 24-hour grace period to supply immunization records after attendance with a child care provider has begun.