Page 26

26

2.1 TANF Child Care Subsidy A. Eligibility Criteria

Child care subsidy services are made available to recipients of TANF (VIEW and non-VIEW) who meet the non-financial eligibility requirements, found in section 3.3 of this guidance. Recipients of TANF (VIEW and non-VIEW) are considered income eligible for child care subsidy and services without a determination of the family’s income eligibility.

Child Care Workers must work closely with VIEW Workers to expedite approvals for these applications. LDSS must establish and implement communication strategies to ensure timely notification to Child Care Workers regarding TANF case closure and reinstatement.

B. Supporting an Approved Activity

Child care is provided to support an approved activity of a TANF recipient including: 1. Full-time and part-time employment; 2. Education or training leading to employment as long as participants show they are making satisfactory progress, to the extent of available funding;

NOTE: Payment for child care services for the attainment of post baccalaureate education or training must not be authorized in VaCMS. This includes any education or training beyond or in addition to a bachelor's degree. LDSS may choose to authorize child care for families in this circumstance only if local-only funding is used.

3. Child care subsidy may be paid for a child whose family is receiving child protective services (CPS), in cases open through the family assessment track, through the investigation track, or as CPS ongoing; or 4. Job search activities, to include networking, searching, and interviewing for a job. Child care can be provided to support an assigned activity for VIEW participants. A current copy of the VIEW/SNAP E&T ESP Activity and Service Plan must be in the case record to document the need for care. “Current” means that the VIEW forms cover the period of child care service delivery.

EXCEPTION: If the VIEW/SNAP E&T ESP Activity and Service Plan has not been received by the time eligibility must be determined, the Child Care Worker can contact the VIEW worker to confirm the need for child care services. This contact must be documented in the case narrative section of VaCMS and may serve as documentation until the appropriate form is received. The form must be received and made a part of the case record within two weeks of the telephone verification.

TANF recipients who are exempt from VIEW participation may receive child care services to support an approved activity listed above. The services shall be authorized from the TANF Working (non-VIEW) or TANF Education/Training (non-VIEW) budget lines.