Page 34

Child Care Subsidy Policy October 1, 2024 27 CHAPTER 4: DETERMINATION OF NEED FOR CHILD CARE 4.0. Need for Child Care To be eligible for child care assistance, families must demonstrate a need for care. In general, that means that the head of household must be involved in a qualifying activity that prevents the parent from providing care and supervision of the children in the household during the time the parent is participating in the activity. If there are two parents in the home, both must be involved in a qualifying activity. It is possible for a parent to meet all other eligibility requirements, but not demonstrate a need for care. For example, if the household consists of a single father and his two school age children, and he only participates in his qualifying activity during the times the children are in school, the family does not demonstrate a need for care. Child care recipients who do not use child care assistance for an extended period no longer demonstrate an established need for child care assistance and therefore may not remain an active case. (See procedures in Chapter 6, Section 6.1.4). 4.1. Activity: Employment in the Private or Public Sector Income-eligible parents who are working in the private or public sector (not self-employment) and who have children who need care are considered to need child care. 4.1.1. Verifications Required. Employment must be verified by the client submission of: 4.1.1.1. One month’s worth of check stubs, not older than 45 days, OR 4.1.1.2. The New Employment Verification Form (ECE-CC-1B) in the case of new employment situations in which the applicant has not yet received pay: Clients using the ECE-CC-1B to verify employment must submit one month’s worth of check stubs to the agency within 45 days from the first day of employment. 4.1.2. Night Time Employment. Parents who are working at night may be approved for a maximum of eight additional hours of sleep time. However, children shall not remain in care longer than 18 hours within a 24- hour period. 4.1.3. Extended Work Shift. An Extended Work Shift is defined as parents whose work shifts are between 18 and 72 continuous hours in a one-week span. This care is intended for those who are employed by public service type agencies such as fire departments, law enforcement, emergency response, health care, human services, and mental health services. It is not intended to be used as respite care or in place of foster care. These parents may receive child care services provided: