11.3.3.1.1 Determining Availability of Child Care

In order to determine if child care is available, a W-2 worker must discuss child care with each participant at the time of the initial assessment and during the review of the W-2 Participation Agreement.

To help the participant locate a child care provider, a W-2 worker must:

Explain to the participant their responsibility to obtain any needed child care for the hours of participation in W-2.

Determine if informal child care, or formal child care within a reasonable distance from the participant’s home, is available. Informal child care arrangements may be discussed, but a participant cannot be required to use an informal child care arrangement. If another parent is in the home, able, and available to care for the child, child care is not needed.

Provide information to the applicant or participant about eligibility for W-2 child care assistance and the requirement for the provider to, at a minimum, be provisionally certified to qualify for assistance. (See Child Care Policy Manual )

If the participant does not currently have child care available, refer the individual to the local Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCRR), which is available to help all parents locate safe and affordable child care throughout the state, and other child care resources in the community. If the referrals do not result in the participant locating child care, the W-2 agency may require the individual to demonstrate an inability to obtain child care. (See 11.3.3.1.2 )

If available, offer the use of the W-2 agency on-site child care to the parent until an ongoing child care arrangement is found. A W-2 on-site child care provider must be regulated in order for the parent to leave the premises.

Discuss the availability of backup child care arrangements to help the participant plan ahead for emergency situations when their regular provider is unable to care for the child(ren) or when their child is sick and cannot attend their regular child care program.