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.” The Lead Agency defines a child with special needs as a child who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself as verified by a qualified health professional, a physician, physician's assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, qualified mental health professional. Services are prioritized by providing services to a child between the ages of 13 to 19 when that child is identified as having special needs. A special needs child is a child who has multiple and/or severe functional needs that requires ongoing specialized care. Written verification is required and should state the nature of the special needs and if for a child age thirteen (13) under age nineteen (19) state that the child is unable to care for themselves. e. “Families with very low incomes.” The Lead Agency defines families with very low incomes as families who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). 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] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: 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 experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [x] Describe: The Lead Agency does not have a waiting list, but if one is implemented children experiencing homelessness would be served without being placed on a waiting list. (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [ ] [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: Services are prioritized for parents participating in the Alternative Response for Newborns (ARSEN) program. ARSEN is a child protection response involving substance exposed newborns which is designed to provide referral services to and monitor support services for a person responsible for the child's welfare. CCAP will pay child care while the parent works with ARSEN program and waive the co-payments for these families. Services are also prioritized for parents participating in the Crossroads program. The Crossroads Program is designed to assist teen parents under the age of 21 continue their education. 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: Households who indicate on an application or review that they are experiencing homelessness must be approved for services for the month of application before supplying all necessary verifications. Households are provided a 90-day grace period from the date of application to supply all necessary verifications to continue assistance. 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 experiencing homelessness who are admitted to an early childhood facility and have not adhered to the recommended schedule shall provide proof of immunization or a certificate of immunization within thirty calendar days of enrollment or be excluded from the early childhood facility. Children who are in foster care: Children who are in foster care who are admitted to an early childhood facility and have not adhered to the recommended schedule shall provide proof of immunization or a certificate of immunization within thirty calendar days of enrollment or be excluded from the early childhood facility. 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: To help providers educate families on immunization requirements, the Lead Agency’s licensing staff provides information on the North Dakota Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. The VFC program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines to children 0 through 18 years of age who are either Medicaid eligible, American Indian or Alaskan Native, uninsured or underinsured (a child whose health insurance benefit plan does not cover vaccines or a particular vaccine). The VFC program limits vaccine administration fees and does not allow participating sites to charge eligible patients for the vaccine. The VFC program covers all vaccines routinely recommended for children through 18 years. The Lead Agency’s Public Health Immunization Unit maintains an interactive webpage where public users can find a VFC provider in their area.