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Child Care Subsidy Policy October 1, 2024 8 CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF CHILD CARE SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESS 2.0. Application Overview 2.1. Face-to-Face Application: Any parent who wishes to request child care services may apply by contacting the local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. The applicant, or parent/head of household, must have custody of the child(ren) or reside with the child(ren). The CCR&R agency is responsible for taking applications and determining eligibility for subsidized care. While an application may be completed by a parent prior to an office visit, case managers should consult with their supervisors for guidance in processing these applications. The CCR&R agency staff shall conduct a face-to-face interview with the parent within 5 days of the parent’s initial contact for clients served in main offices. CCR&R agency staff shall conduct a face-to-face interview with parents within 10 days for clients served at outreach offices, only when approval to visit outreach sites less often than weekly has been granted by the Division of Early Care and Education. Applications shall not be future dated. The parent applies by completing the Application for Child Care Services (DAY-0614 or ECE- CC-1) or by supplying the application information to the CCR&R child care case manager who then completes the Child Care Intake screens in PATH. The parent must sign the application signature page which certifies an understanding of the process and verifies that the information is true and complete. The Child Care application signature page must contain an original signature. Copied signatures are not accepted. Face to Face applications are best practice and the preferred method of approving clients for child care, however, there may be instances where a client cannot come into a CCR&R office. All applicants should be encouraged to attend a face-to-face meeting for child care application, however if the client states they cannot come into the office, a phone application should be offered. When completing phone applications, the application date is the date of the phone call, client will be given 13 days to submit all required documents, including the original signed Parent Service Agreement and the Signature Page to the application (these documents cannot be faxed or emailed) The Child Care Parent Service Agreement must contain an original signature. Copied signatures are not accepted. Failure to submit these original documents will result in the denial of the application. Should a paper application be mailed to the client, the application date shall be the date that a phone application is completed. 2.2. People's Access to Help (PATH) Application Option: The West Virginia Department of Human Resources maintains an internet portal called PATH that enables West Virginia citizens to apply for certain benefits online. Online applicants are informed during the application process that they must still visit their local child care resource