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: The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), CCDF Lead Agency, utilizes its One DHS Customer Portal to share information about the availability of other programs and services for which families may be eligible. The One DHS Customer Portal is a self-service website that helps customer to connect to an array of support services aimed at building and empowering strong Tennessee Families in one convenient online location. Through the Lead Agency’s One DHS Customer Portal, families may apply for, access, and maintain services administered by the Lead Agency for: Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program, Child Support, Families First (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Disaster/Relief Assistance (D-SNAP, Emergency Cash Assistance, Pandemic-EBT, etc.). One DHS Portal empowers customers to: Apply for benefits; upload, submit, and view documents related to services; upload household and contact information, check case status; review case notifications; file appeals; learn about programs and services; and find answers to frequently asked questions. The One DHS Customer Portal may be found at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/apply-online-page/one-dhs- customer-portal.html. iii. [x] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: If a child is added during a 12-month eligibility period, the Lead Agency reevaluates the case and all existing children would be extended to align with the newly added child’s 12- month eligibility timeframe. The Lead Agency would evaluate changes to eligibility should a family report income exceeding the 85th percentile of SMI. iv. [x] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: The Lead Agency application includes a self-assessment screening tool including an attestation for families experiencing homelessness. v. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [ ] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: 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: Child care payment assistance eligibility for families participating in Families First, the State’s TANF program, is determined based on TANF eligibility requirements. The Lead Agency engages with the State’s TANF program during policy development identifying opportunities to mitigate barriers for families to access child care payment assistance. [ ] 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. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [x] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [x] Consultation available via phone. viii. [ ] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [x] Other. Describe: The Lead Agency allows parents to submit applications and verification via mail, fax, in person, or online; however, a face-to-face meeting is not required. b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No.