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Child Care Scholarship Policy Manual 2

**COVID-19 Information** Background On March 13, 2020, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency in response to the Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Subsequent Executive Orders directed all public schools to close through April 30, 2020 (3/15/20); all non-essential state staff not report to work, physically or in-person, until further notice (3/19/20); and all "non-essential businesses, venues, facilities, services, and activities for public use close for the duration of the emergency (4/1/20). As the Lead Agency for the Child Care Development Block Grant, the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) is requesting a temporary waiver of some of the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) requirements. Waiver for Extraordinary Circumstances Section 658I(c)(l) of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (42 U.S.C. 985g(c)(l) and Part 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 598.19(a) of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations allow the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily waive one or more of the requirements contained in the CCDBG Act or the CCDF regulations. Section 98.19(b)(2) allows States to apply for waivers of no more than two years "in cases of extraordinary circumstances, which are defined as temporary circumstances or situations, such as a natural disaster or financial crisis". According to CCDF regulation 45 CFR 598.19(c), waiver requests must: a) Indicate which type of waiver the State is requesting. b) Detail each sanction or provision of the Act or regulations that the State seeks relief from; c) Describe how a waiver from that sanction or provision will, by itself, improve delivery of child care services for children; and d) Certify and describe how the health, safety, and well-being of children served through assistance received under this part will not be compromised as a result of the waiver.