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 will be considered to be special needs if the child’s independence, self-sufficiency, and safety is dependent on others and requires extra supervision, care, or assistance in the child care setting due to the following behavioral, emotional, or physical conditions: (A) The child has been diagnosed by a physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed or certified psychologist, or licensed mental health practitioner to have a behavioral or emotional disorder which deviates substantially from behavior appropriate to the child’s age, or which significantly interferes with intellectual, social, or personal adjustment; or (B) a physical disability or health impairment that causes chronic or acute health problems that has been diagnosed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner practicing within their scope of practice. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Families who have an income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). 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] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: a. Does the Lead Agency define any other priority groups? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, identify the populations prioritized and describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes services: 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: Citizenship is verified through either a birth certificate or legally recognized documentation (e.g., U.S. Passport, Lawful Permanent Resident card or certificate of naturalization/citizenship, or documentation with an alien registration number). Relationship verification is also required to determine child care eligibility. Citizenship is only required for the child receiving the service. The Lead Agency, when working with new applicants (homeless or not) born in Nebraska have internal access to Vital Statistics, which will verify these requirements. Declaration can also be taken initially, and extra time is allowed to obtain verifications, so long as the applicant is cooperating during the initial request. The Lead Agency will allow the amount of time it takes to obtain the out-of-state birth certificate request as long as the applicant continues to cooperate with the request. The child can begin services while awaiting verification via an out-of-state birth certificate. The Lead Agency will request and pay for out-of-state birth certificates if the applicant needs 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: The Division of Public Health, which administers the Child Care Licensing Services and the Immunization Program, requires each licensed program to require the parent or guardian of each child enrolled in such program to present immunization records within 30 days of enrollment. This applies to all children, including children experiencing homelessness and children who are in foster care. The Lead Agency aligned subsidy requirements with the grace periods established by Public Health. Providers can direct families to the Lead Agency’s Immunization Program website, with web pages specific for child care, children, schools, the general public, etc. Resources are available on the website, and direct contact to the immunization program is also available. Providers may be exempt of this requirement if the child’s parent objects to immunization on religious grounds or if the child’s health would be harmed by immunization and this is certified by a physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Regulation compliance review for licensing monitors if immunization records are available for review, up-to-date, and were obtained within 30 days of the child’s enrollment. License-exempt compliance review also monitors proper immunization documentation. Children who are in foster care: The Division of Public Health, which administers the Child Care Licensing Services and the Immunization Program, requires each licensed program to require the parent or guardian of each child enrolled in such program to present immunization records within 30 days of enrollment. This applies to all children, including children experiencing homelessness and children who are in foster care. The Lead Agency aligned subsidy requirements with the grace periods established by Public Health. Providers can direct families to the Lead Agency’s Immunization Program website, with web pages specific for child care, children, schools, the general public, etc. Resources are available on the website, and direct contact for the immunization program is also available. Providers may be exempt from this requirement if the child’s parent objects to immunization on religious grounds or if the child’s health would be harmed by immunization and this is certified by a physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Regulation compliance review for licensing monitors if immunization records are available for review, up-to-date, and were obtained within 30 days of the child’s enrolment. License-exempt compliance review also monitors proper immunization documentation. 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: The Lead Agency received the preliminary monitoring notice on April 20, 2024. The Lead Agency needs additional time to meet the requirement and does not expect to have it met by October 1, 2024. The Lead Agency has a 30 day grace period however, does not offer support or referrals to help families comply with immunization requirements during that time frame.