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3.2 Increasing Access for Vulnerable Children and Families

Lead Agencies are required to give priority for child care assistance to children with special needs, which can include vulnerable populations, in families with very low incomes and to children experiencing homelessness (658E(c)(3)(B); 98.46(a)). The prioritization of CCDF assistance services is not limited to eligibility determination (i.e., the establishment of a waiting list or the ranking of eligible families in priority order to be served).

Note: 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) (98.2).

3.2.1 Describe how the Lead Agency defines: Effective Date: 10/01/2018

a) "Children with special needs": Draft regulations, once passed, will define special needs to be 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, including but not limited to: 1. The child has been diagnosed by a physician, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, licensed or certified psychologist, or licensed mental health practitioner; to have a behavioral or emotional disorder which deviates substantially from behavior appropriate to the his or her child's age, or which significantly interferes with intellectual, social, or personal adjustment; 2. A physical handicap or health impairment that causes chronic or acute health problems, that has been diagnosed by a physician, physician assistants and nurse practitioners practicing within his or her scope of practice. These can include but is not limited to: recovery from surgery, heart condition, orthopedic impairment, tuberculosis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, leukemia or inherited abnormality. Per current regulations, 392 NAC 1-003, Special Needs is defined as: Requirement for extra care because of an acute or chronic physical or mental condition. Acute special needs include temporary conditions that require special medical attention and isolation from other children, e.g., recovery from surgery, etc. Chronic special needs include long- standing medical or behavioral problems that require medical, behavioral or other Nebraska Page 86 of 314