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Child Care Scholarship Policy Manual 87

no fee is charged for child care assistance for the foster child. However, a foster parent will be responsible for the difference between what the Child Care Scholarship Program pays for and what the provider charges. A foster child whose case is transferred to Adoption Services remains eligible for child care benefits until the adoption is finalized by the court, as long as the foster parent and/or adoptive parent meet the eligibility criteria for the Child Care Scholarship Program. NOTE: A foster parent who owns a licensed or registered family child care or group child care home or center cannot receive child care assistance to provide child care for their own foster child. The information on the application relates to the foster child and the foster child’s income. The following eligibility criteria must be met if exception not granted: • For entrance into the program, the foster child’s monthly gross income shall not exceed 85% of the state median income based on a family size of one. The foster child may remain in the program, as long as the other eligibility criteria are met and the foster child’s monthly gross income does not exceed 85% of the state median income for a family of one. Child care will be authorized for 12 months (52 weeks). • Only the foster child’s income is used for eligibility. The case must be entered using the foster child’s actual income. If there is no income, enter $0. • The foster child is under the age of 13 (or the child is aged 13 -19 with Special Needs). • The case is entered using the foster child’s name and SSN. NOTE: If the foster child does not have a valid SSN, the child care worker must use the child’s birth date to construct a temporary pseudo SSN. A client receiving assistance under this program can choose only licensed facilities or programs. The only exception is when the HS CM has received prior authorization from State Office Child Care Scholarship Program staff. Child Care Licensing works in coordination with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) as necessary to help obtain needed immunization records for foster children. Child care providers contact their regional licensing office.