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.” Means a child, under 18 years of age, who has a verified medical, physical, developmental, educational, or emotional disability or significant special need, as confirmed by He-C 6910.09(j), requiring additional funds for accommodation or classroom adaptation in the child care setting. e. “Families with very low incomes.” Families that have a monthly gross income lower than 100% FPG. 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: 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] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 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: Children who are experiencing homelessness are eligible from application date. Eligibility workers request an application, an intake and the provider that the child is attending. We also ask them the other qualifying questions (bloodline/citizenship, activity, employment etc.) but they have 10 days to provide proof and the 1863 form. They have 30 days to upload/provide their verifications. They must have a child care provider in mind/available. The application is an accelerated eligibility determination. The family and child care provider receive a notice of decision (NOD) letter showing that the eligibility period is for 30 days. Once verifications are provided, they will receive another NOD stating that they have 12 months of eligibility. 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: Licensed Programs: He-C 4002.10 Child Record Requirements (d) The program shall request and maintain on file for each child documentation of immunizations in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-a, RSA 141-C:20-b, and He-P 301.14. (e) The documentation described in (d) above shall be on file on the first day the child is in attendance at the program or, pursuant to 45 CFR § 98, 41(a)(1)(i)(C), for children experiencing homelessness or for children in foster care within 60days of the first date of attendance, to allow families or persons responsible for their care to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. License-exempt programs: e-C 6916.10 Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Including Immunizations (i) Exemptions from the immunizations required under (h) above shall be in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-c and pursuant to 45 CFR Part 98.41(a)(1)(i)(C) for children experiencing homelessness or children in foster care. Providers may enroll children and allow for 60 days for families to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. He-C 6917.10 Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Including Immunizations (m) Exemptions from the immunizations required under (l) above shall be in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-c and pursuant to 45 CFR Part 98.41(a)(1)(i)(C) for children experiencing homelessness or children in foster care. Providers may enroll children and allow for 60 days for families to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. Children who are in foster care: Licensed Programs: He-C 4002.10 Child Record Requirements (d) The program shall request and maintain on file for each child documentation of immunizations in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-a, RSA 141-C:20-b, and He-P 301.14. (e) The documentation described in (d) above shall be on file on the first day the child is in attendance at the program or, pursuant to 45 CFR § 98, 41(a)(1)(i)(C), for children experiencing homelessness or for children in foster care within 60days of the first date of attendance, to allow families or persons responsible for their care to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. License-exempt programs: He-C 6916.10 Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Including Immunizations (i) Exemptions from the immunizations required under (h) above shall be in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-c and pursuant to 45 CFR Part 98.41(a)(1)(i)(C) for children experiencing homelessness or children in foster care. Providers may enroll children and allow for 60 days for families to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. He-C 6917.10 Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Including Immunizations (m) Exemptions from the immunizations required under (l) above shall be in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-c and pursuant to 45 CFR Part 98.41(a)(1)(i)(C) for children experiencing homelessness or children in foster care. Providers may enroll children and allow for 60 days for families to obtain and provide documentation of immunizations. 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: BCDHSC contracts with NH Children’s Trust to service and maintain the BCDHSC consumer education website, NH Connections, Home - NH Connections (nh-connections.org). This website includes wellness and safety resources for families at Resources - NH Connections (nh-connections.org). The NH Connections website address is included on the cover of the referral packet that all eligible families receive and the brochure. In addition, BCDHSC contracts with SNHS/Child Care Aware of NH to provide child care resource and referrals, their outreach specialists provide support to eligible families by contacting them directly during the grace period to assist them in accessing documents, completing forms, and connecting them with a live advocate/support person in the Family Outreach Centers across the state, to walk them through process and to access additional services. The Child Care Licensing Unit posts information on the consumer website, as well as providing a link to this website on its web page. In addition, the Licensing Unit will refer families to their BFA outreach specialist, SNHS/Child Care Aware of NH and more frequently the Family Outreach Centers. NH also has 2-1-1, which assists families in finding a health care provider, and of course a range of other services including housing: https://www.211nh.org/ The link for this is also available on NH Connections: https://www.nh-connections.org/resources/ The Immunization Department also directs parents to call 2-1-1 to find a health care provider, and provides information about free immunizations: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease- prevention/immunizations/immunization-guidance-parents