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.” ECECD defines "children with special needs" as children with an identified disability, health, or mental health condition requiring early intervention, special education services under an Individualized Education Plan, or other specialized services and supports; or children without identified conditions, but requiring specialized services, supports, or monitoring. ECECD prioritizes child care services for children with special needs based on budget availability. Clients with children that have special needs will not be placed on a waitlist if one is implemented. e. “Families with very low incomes.” ECECD defines families with very low income as those families at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. 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] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [x] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [x] [x] [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: If a family is identified as at-risk by the ECECD, they may be prioritized and are exempt from income and work/education requirements and will have co-payments waived. 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 experiencing homelessness may be served through the at-risk category. The income, work, and education requirements and co-payments are waived for families in the at-risk category. This allows the family 12-months to acquire all required eligibility documentation. 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: ECECD allows providers a grace period of a maximum of 30 days to obtain an up-to-date immunization record or a public health division approved exemption from the requirement for homeless children and youth. ECECD will work with families experiencing homelessness to obtain missing immunization records by coordinating with Homeless Education liaisons when appropriate. Families experiencing homelessness may be served through the at-risk category. The income, work, and education requirements and co-payments are waived for clients in the at-risk category. This allows the family 12 months to acquire all required eligibility documentation. Children who are in foster care: The Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) determines child care eligibility for foster care. ECECD allows a 30-day grace period to comply with immunization requirements. 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: ECECD coordinates with the Public Education Department’s McKinney Vento Homeless Liaisons and the Department of Health’s Immunization Program to provide support to help families with children receiving services during a grace period to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements. ECECD licensing staff are members of the Department of Health's Vaccine Advisory Committee which provides annual recommendations with regard to School and Child Care Immunization Requirements. The Department of Health administers a Statewide Immunization Information System (NMSIIS) which is a confidential, computerized repository of individual immunization records that integrates information from birth and death records, public and private healthcare providers, and parental records. ECECD coordinated with the Department of Health to provide child care providers access to NMSIIS.