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Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Chapter 4. Application, Eligibility Determination & Documentation

REVISED 04/27/2026

6 the case narrative. The information that must be shared with recipients is the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) brochure, Look What I Can Do handout, and the Benefits of Developmental Monitoring and Screening for Young Children handout.

If services are needed to support CPS and CWS with a referral, the parent/responsible adult must sign the application, Recipient Responsibilities and Voucher. Depending on the reason for CWS, it may be the responsible adult (ex. pending adoption) or parent (ex. domestic abuse situations) that must sign.

For foster care, the agency designee must complete and sign the application. Designated agency staff should only sign if the child/ren is in custody of the county.

Refer to Chapter 9: Attachment 5 Child Care Voucher Procedures Timeline Chart & the SCCA - CPS, CWS, and Foster Care Referrals Job Aid for more information regarding the application process.

The DCDEE-0456 Application for Child Care Services will only be used in two circumstances. One is when the recipient mails a printed DCDEE- 0456 to the local DSS/LPA to apply for Subsidized Child Care Assistance. The other circumstance is when child care is needed for a child in foster care.

A referral from the DSS/LPA must be made in foster care cases. When a referral for SCCA is received from a DSS worker for a child in foster care, the paper version of the DCDEE- 0456 may be completed and signed by the DSS designee. The DSS designee may either complete and sign the DCDEE-0456 or the Intake Application from NC FAST.

VII. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

An applicant/recipient requesting Subsidized Child Care Assistance must be a resident of North Carolina and must apply for assistance in the county in which they reside, and that county is responsible for payment. There is no requirement for duration of residency. The residency requirement does not