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.” A developmental, emotional, behavioral, physical or personal need of a child requiring more than the usual amount of care and supervision for the child's age, as documented by a physician, psychologist, special educator, or other qualified licensed professional, per Wis. Admin. Code DCF 201.02(20). e. “Families with very low incomes.” The Lead Agency does not define "families with very low income" but sets financial eligibility limits based on 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) per Wis. Statutes s. 49.001(5). (SME review/discussion re: definition of low income). However, starting on November , the lead agency will waive copayments for families with income below 100% FPL. 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] [ ] [x] Describe: The Lead Agency can provide eligible parents who have a child with a special need or disability with an increased subsidy benefit to assist their child care provider with any additional costs for services, materials, and/or equipment necessary to support the inclusive care of the child, per Wis. Admin. Code DCF 201.06(7). Families with very low incomes [ ] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Describe: Children experiencing homelessness, as defined by CCDF [ ] [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 are not required to provide verification of homeless status or address but must verbally state that they reside in Wisconsin and intend to continue residing in Wisconsin. No other verification requirements may be waived. Wis. Statutes, s. 49.145(2)(g) allows extensions to the verification time limits for families who need more time to obtain required verification. Families may also request assistance from the local agency to obtain needed verification information. 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: Wis. Statutes, s.252.04(2) - i. Children experiencing homelessness: Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Rules allow a 30-school day grace period after the date on which a child is admitted (first day of attendance) to a child care center to supply immunization records. Wis. Stat. s. 252.04(2), Wis. Admin. Code DHS 144.07(1m). While the referenced statute and administrative rule only specify "child care centers," additional administrative rules further applies the requirements and grace period to certified providers (DCF 202.08(4)) and day camps (DCF 252.41(4)(a)6m.). Eligibility for Wisconsin Shares is not conditioned on compliance with the immunization requirement and subsidy will not be delayed or denied for failure to meet the requirements for immunization. Many resources are available on the Lead Agency's website to assist child care programs in strategizing ways to best serve and work with families experiencing homelessness. Resources include guidance for programs to utilize the grace period in which children can receive services while families are taking the necessary actions to comply with the immunization and other documentation requirements, and also to work closely with families to help them collect the appropriate documentation. Any student admitted to any elementary, middle, junior, or senior high school or into any child care center or nursery school shall, within 30 school days after the date on which the student is admitted, present written evidence to the school, child care center, or nursery school of having completed the first immunization for each vaccine required for the student's grade and being on schedule for the remainder of the basic and recall (booster) immunization series for mumps, measles, rubella (German measles), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, tetanus, and other diseases that the department specifies by rule or shall present a written waiver under sub. (3). Wis. Admin. Code DHS 144.07(1m). Children who are in foster care: Wis. Statutes, s.252.04 and Wis. Admin. Code DHS 144. ii. Children who are in foster care: Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Rules allow a 30-school day grace period after the date on which a child is admitted (first day of attendance) to a child care center to supply immunization records. Wis. Stat. s. 252.04(2), Wis. Admin. Code DHS 144.07(1m). While the referenced statute and administrative rule only specify ""child care centers,"" additional administrative rules further applies the requirements and grace period to certified providers (DCF 202..08(4)) and day camps (DCF 252.41(4)(a)6m.). Eligibility for Wisconsin Shares is not conditioned on compliance with the immunization requirement and subsidy will not be delayed or denied for failure to meet the requirements for 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: The Lead Agency partners with the state Department of Health Services (DHS) as well as with local health departments to ensure providers are aware of local services where they can refer families to meet immunization and other health and safety requirements. The Lead Agency in collaboration with the State Cross Sector Homelessness Task Force has developed a Homelessness Tool Kit to help serve families and children experiencing homelessness: http://www.collaboratingpartners.com/wpcontent/uploads/2017/CPlinkedDocs/Final- Proof.pdf. This kit contains resources and information for assisting families with children in child care programs. A set of modules has been created to compliment the information found in the tool kit. These materials and/or resource information is available on our website and through CCR&Rs and/or family resource centers: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/youngstar/pdf/homelessness/identify-homelessness.pdf and https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwportal/connectionscount. The Lead Agency has developed a webpage dedicated to supporting families experiencing homelessness: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/youngstar/providers/homelessness . CCR&Rs use this information to support families that contact the agency to be connected to available supports. The CCR&Rs provide referrals to families (via phone, in person, and email) related to available child care, information on Wisconsin Shares subsidy qualifications and the application process, as well as local community supports to avoid homelessness.