Page 136

July 1, 2026

135 Agency workers must not reduce authorization hours while the parent is in an Activity Break Period unless the parent requests fewer hours.

If a reported change is not one (1) of the above situations, or if the parent is in an Activity Break Period, the Continuity of Care Authorizations policy (see 17.1.2) must be followed.

Agency workers must correct an error in authorization, even if the error results in a lower number of authorized hours.

Example 1 (More than one (1) calendar month): Jessie has two (2) school-aged children. The authorizations for both children began on January 1 and end on May 31. Jessie does not need child care during the month of June because the children will visit their grandparents that month. However, Jessie needs child care authorizations beginning on July 15. Jessie’s worker must complete an authorization assessment before the July 15 authorizations are written and the authorized hours must be based on this assessment because more than one (1) calendar month has passed since the previous authorizations ended.

Example 2 (Fall school year transition): From July 15 through August 31, Arturo’s school-aged children need full-time child care. When school starts in September, the agency worker completes an authorization assessment. The authorization for the school year must be based on the assessment results because the children are transitioning from summer break to the fall school year.

Example 3 (ACTS-Second parent moves into the home): Roberta is in an ACTS period when Jackson, the biological parent of her child, moves into the home. Roberta and Jackson’s child, Craig, has an authorization for 35 hours per week. Jackson has an approved activity of working 20 hours per week. Since Roberta is in an ACTS period, the agency worker does not update the authorization. Jackson’s availability will be considered the next time an authorization must be based on the assessment results. If Roberta requests fewer hours because Jackson is now able to care for Craig, the authorized hours can be reduced based on her request.

Example 4 (TBRK-Provider change): Lauren is working 40 hours per week and her child, Kalie, has an authorization to ABC Child Care Center for when Lauren is working.

Change 1 (Decrease in hours, continuity of care): In January, Lauren’s work hours decrease to 20 hours per week. She calls to report this change. The agency worker determines that this is only a decrease in work hours and the criteria for the authorization to be based on the assessment results are not met. The agency worker asks if she would like to maintain the same number of hours for Kalie’s authorization. Lauren chooses to maintain Kalie’s authorization at 40 hours per week. The agency