Policy Effective: July 1, 2005

Child Care assistance may be given when the child is living with a specified relative. The following people are specified relatives:

grandfather or grandmother

brother or sister

uncle or aunt

first cousin

first cousin once removed (a first cousin's child)

nephew or niece

persons of preceding generations as designated by prefixes of grand-, great-, great-great, or great-great-great

spouses of any relative mentioned above even if the marriage has been terminated

persons that meet any of the above mentioned relationships by means of a step relationship such as stepbrothers and stepsisters.

brothers and sisters by legal adoption

individuals who can prove that they met one of the above mentioned relationships via a blood relationship even though the legal relationship has been terminated

Stepparents, ex-stepparents and natural parents whose parental rights (legal relationship) were terminated by court order do not meet Specified Relative relationships. They are considered parents and will be considered under ESCC policy.

Both of the child’s parents must be absent from the specified relative’s home. The child must be living with the specified relative and not just visiting. A visit has a temporary purpose such as vacation, medical treatment, etc.

The parents still have financial responsibility for their child. The specified relative may contact Office of Recovery Services for child support assistance.

Treat the specified relative the same way you would treat a parent applying for or receiving Child Care assistance. This includes establishing a need for child care and applying income rules.

If the specified relative is receiving Family Employment Program assistance for the child and is included in the grant, Family Employment Program (FEP) Child Care is used to support employment plan activities.

If the specified relative is receiving Family Employment Program assistance for a child but is not on the grant, consider Employment Support Child Care.