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2.5 Fee Child Care Program

A. Eligibility Criteria

Fee Child Care subsidy and services are made available to income-eligible families to the extent of available targets/funding if: 1. The family meets the non-financial requirements in section 3.3 of this guidance; and 2. The family meets the income eligibility requirements in section 3.4 of this guidance. Child Care Subsidy and services are made available to children in eligible families that are residing in homeless and domestic violence shelters through the 88305-funding category, if the family is not eligible under another program category, such as TANF, Transitional or Head Start. LDSS are to submit a request in VaCMS for the target needed to provide services for children eligible to use this funding category. Services shall be made available to the extent of available targets/funding. Payment for services shall be made from the 88305-funding category for as long as the family resides in a shelter or until the next redetermination, if the family is no longer residing in a shelter.

B. Supporting Approved Activity

Child care is provided to support an approved activity including: 1. Full-time and part-time employment; 2. Education or training leading to employment as long as the student can verify and document that they are making satisfactory progress by providing, but not limited to, a progress report, a statement from the institution/program, or a grade report; and

NOTE: Payment for child care 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 children 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.

C. Child Care for Children in Foster Care

Child care for children in foster care is supported through distinct foster care funding sources. Children in foster care are not eligible for child care services paid for by the Child Care Subsidy Program.