2.1 Reducing Barriers to Family Enrollment and Redetermination

Lead Agency enrollment and redetermination policies may not unduly disrupt parents’ employment, education, or job training activities to comply with the Lead Agency’s or designated local entity’s requirements. Lead Agencies have broad flexibility to design and implement the eligibility practices that reduce barriers to enrollment and redetermination. Examples include developing strategies to inform families and their providers of an upcoming redetermination and the information that will be required of the family, pre-populating subsidy renewal forms, having parents confirm that the information is accurate, and/or asking only for the information necessary to make an eligibility redetermination. In addition, Lead Agencies can offer a variety of family-friendly methods for submitting documentation for eligibility redetermination that considers the range of needs for families in accessing support (e.g., use of languages other than English, access to transportation, accommodation of parents working non-traditional hours). 2.1.1 Eligibility practices to reduce barriers to enrollment a. Does the Lead Agency implement any of the following eligibility practices to reduce barriers at the time of initial eligibility determination? Check all that apply and describe those elements checked. i. [ ] Establishing presumptive eligibility while eligibility is being determined. Describe the policy, including the populations benefiting from the policy, and identify how long the period of presumptive eligibility is: ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: Families who are approved and participating in the RI Works cash assistance program are eligible for CCAP benefits based on their RIW approved employment plan. iii. [ ] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: iv. [x] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: Eligibility information is available for families to review prior to application. It can be found on the family benefit information page on the DHS website here: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs- and-services/child-care/child-care-assistance-program-ccap/ccap-family-eligibility- how v. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: The Lead Agency tracks timeliness of all program application and recertification review and processing. This information is shared in bi-weekly all program leadership meetings for review and input from programs leads. Both CCAP applications and recertifications can be done one-line or via a paper application and do not require an interview in person or over the phone with an eligibility worker to be processed. viii. [ ] None. b. Does the Lead Agency use an online subsidy application? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe why an online application is impracticable. c. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: DHS has an integrated eligibility system where families can use one application to apply for RIWorks TANF cash assistance, SNAP, CCAP and medical benefits. Information about eligibility for each of these programs can be found on the DHS website at www.dhs.ri.gov or at the DHS field offices. Families receiving TANF assistance are eligible for child care benefits as a wraparound service to their RIWorks cash-assistance participation. Child Care benefits for RIW participating families is based on the approved work plan required as part of RIW eligibility. Families approved for CCAP benefits as part of RIWorks receive the same 12-month certificate for CCAP and the same CCAP benefits as applicants who apply for CCAP outside of RIW participation. [ ] No. 2.1.2 Preventing disruption of eligibility activities a. Identify, where applicable, the Lead Agency’s procedures and policies to ensure that parents do not have their employment, education, or job training unduly disrupted to comply with the State’s/Territory’s or designated local entity’s requirements for the redetermination of eligibility. Check all that apply. i. [x] Advance notice to parents of pending redetermination. ii. [x] Advance notice to providers of pending redetermination. iii. [x] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [x] Online documentation submission. v. [x] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [x] Consultation available via phone. viii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [ ] Other. Describe: b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: RI Works TANF assistance participants’ CCAP eligibility is provided as a wraparound service to RIW families based on their RIW employment plan whereas income eligible applicants eligibility is based, in part, on meeting the employment, training or college activity requirements. RIW participating families do receive the same 12-month certification for CCAP. [ ] No.