2.3 Prioritizing Services for Vulnerable Children and Families

Lead Agencies must give priority for child care assistance to children with special needs, families with very low incomes (considering family size), and children experiencing homelessness. A Lead Agency has the flexibility to prioritize other populations of children. Note: Statute defines children with disabilities, and CCDF rule gives flexibility to Lead Agencies to include vulnerable populations in their definition of children with special needs. CCDF defines “child experiencing homelessness” as a child who is homeless, as defined in Section 725 of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a). 2.3.1 Lead Agency definition of priority groups Describe how the Lead Agency defines: d. “Children with special needs.” persons age birth to less than nineteen years, or thirteen to nineteen years and under court supervision; and (a) having a verified physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral condition that requires a higher level of care e. “Families with very low incomes.” families that have countable income less than 20% SMI. 2.3.2 Prioritization of child care services Identify how the Lead Agency will prioritize child care services for the following children and families. a. Complete the table below to indicate how the identified populations are prioritized. Population Prioritized Prioritize for enrollment in child care services Serve without placing on waiting list Waive co- payments as described in 3.3.1 Pay higher rate for access to higher quality care Use grants or contracts to reserve spots Other Children with special needs [ ] [x] [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] Describe: Families with very low incomes [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [ ] [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: (Optional) Families receiving TANF, those attempting to transition off TANF, and those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: a. Does the Lead Agency define any other priority groups? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, identify the populations prioritized and describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes services: 2.3.3 Enrollment and grace period for children experiencing homelessness Lead Agencies must allow (after an initial eligibility determination) children experiencing homelessness to receive CCDF services while required eligibility documentation is obtained. Lead Agencies must establish a grace period that allows children experiencing homelessness and children in foster care to receive CCDF assistance while providing their families with a reasonable time to take any necessary actions to comply with State, Territory, or local immunization and other health and safety requirements. The length of such a grace period must be established in consultation with the State, Territorial, or Tribal public health agency. Note: Any payment for such a child during the grace period may not be considered an error or improper payment. a. Describe the strategies to allow CCDF enrollment of children experiencing homelessness while required eligibility documentation is obtained: Families experiencing homelessness at the time they apply for child care subsidy are eligible for subsidy without having to document participation in approved activities so long as they are otherwise eligible under WAC 110-15-0023. b. Describe the grace period for each population below and how it allows them to receive CCDF assistance while providing their families with a reasonable time to take any necessary actions to comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements. i. Provide the policy for a grace period for: Children experiencing homelessness: CCSP does not require families to produce immunization records to qualify for child care subsidies. Immunizations records are required for children to attend licensed child care, but families have time to either obtain the child's immunization, re- start immunizations, or provide documentation according to WAC (http://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=110-300- 0210) 110-300- 0210. Parents or guardians must provide a signed and dated statement detailing when immunizations will be brought up to date, and the child will be excluded from care if the immunizations are not completed within 30 calendar days of the date. Child care subsidies may be used while families work through the process of obtaining immunizations or records. DCYF consulted with the Department of Health in developing all health and safety standards, including provisions related to immunization Children who are in foster care: CCSP does not require families to produce immunization records to qualify for child care subsidies. Immunizations records are required for children to attend licensed child care, but families have time to either obtain the child's immunization, re-start immunizations, or provide documentation according to WAC (http://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=110-300- 0210) 110-300- 0210. Parents or guardians must provide a signed and dated statement detailing when immunizations will be brought up to date, and the child will be excluded from care if the immunizations are not completed within 30 calendar days of the date. Child care subsidies may be used while families work through the process of obtaining immunizations or records. DCYF consulted with the Department of Health in developing all health and safety standards, including provisions related to immunization. ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the length of the grace period was established in consultation with the State, Territorial, or Tribal public health agency? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: c. Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates with licensing agencies and other relevant State, Territorial, Tribal, and local agencies to provide referrals and support to help families with children receiving services during a grace period comply with immunization and other health and safety requirements: DCYF has just created a new method for child care providers to be able to access immunization reports via the state database. DCYF supports a pathway to allow child care providers without childcare health consultation present, to access the state’s immunization reports system with the assistance of their local health department. This access allows providers to look up immunizations in the system for children in their care without the need for parents to track down Certificates of Immunization Status (CISs) and to focus their attention on families who need support to comply.