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Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Acronyms and Definitions

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Revised 04/2023 Family Unit - Financially responsible adults and their children, (biological or adoptive) who reside in the same household.

Federal Land Trust- lands where the title is held in trust by the United States for the benefit of American Indian tribes or for the benefit of individual American Indians. Specifically in North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Federal Poverty Level - A measure of income issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Federal poverty levels are used to determine your eligibility for certain programs and benefits.

File or Filing- means personal delivery, delivery by certified mail, or delivery by overnight express mailed to the current Division Director or the Subsidy Appeals Coordinator, North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, 2201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2200.

Fluctuating Income- Income is considered to be “fluctuating” when the amount is different for the months of the payment quarter. If something fluctuates, it changes a lot in an irregular way.

Food and Nutrition Services – A federal food assistance program that helps eligible low-income households buy the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.

Food Stamp Employment and Training (E &T) Program – A program that promotes work-related activities for able-bodied food stamp recipients. In North Carolina, E&T participants are provided employment services by the Employment Security Commission (ESC) through a contract with the Division of Social Services. In addition, ESC helps arrange education and training for participants at community colleges and through programs offered by Workforce Development Boards. Local departments of social service refer E&T participants to the local ESC office for services that will lead to employment. Certain remote counties are not served by the E&T program. Foster Care- a period of time a child lives with and is cared for by someone who is not the child's biological parents. Foster Parent- anyone other than that child’s parent (s) or legal custodian (s) who is providing full time care for a child who is in the custody of a North Carolina County Department of Social Services. Fraud – A criminal act in which a family/provider or authorized representative makes a false statement and/or withholds information willfully, knowingly, and with deceitful intent and, as a result, obtains or attempts to obtain assistance or payment for which he/she is not eligible.