eligibility-and-enrollment-continuity-of-care-12-month-eligibility

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not always provide a minimum 12-month eligibility period for each child, as required by 98.21(a)(1). (Plan Questions 2.5.2a and 2.5.2c) • The Lead Agency does not appropriately allow temporary changes in work, training, or education status, as required by 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(A), 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(B), and 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(C). (Plan Question 2.5.2b) • The Lead Agency discontinues assistance for excessive unexplained absences without making multiple attempts to contact the family and provider, as required by 98.21(a)(5)(i)(A). (Plan Question 2.5.3cii) • The Lead Agency does not appropriately limit what families must report during the 12- month eligibility period to allowable information, as required by 98.21(h)(2). (Plan Question 2.5.4) Overall Target Completion Date: 06/30/2025 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Review policy manual language to identify changes, modifications, and clarifications needed. 04/30/2025 2 Explore adding a ￿suspension￿ category in the eligibility system in addition to open and closed to understand the process and implications of making system change. 04/30/2025 3 Draft policy language that explicitly states that a family’s case is not closed during their 12-month eligibility period, but rather, it is suspended, at the family’s request. 05/30/2025 4 Share draft policy language with Regional Office for guidance and feedback. 06/30/2025 5 The Lead Agency does not appropriately allow temporary changes in work, training, or education status, as required by 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(A), 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(B), and 98.21(a)(1)(ii)(C). (Plan Question 2.5.2b) 06/30/2025 6 Review policy manual language to identify changes, modifications, and clarifications needed. 04/30/2025 7 Draft policy language 05/30/2025 8 Draft and disseminate communication to eligibility workers 06/30/2025 9 The Lead Agency discontinues assistance for excessive unexplained absences without making multiple attempts to contact the family and provider, as required by 98.21(a)(5)(i)(A). (Plan Question 2.5.3cii) 06/30/2025 10 Revise policy by clarifying policy by defining ￿multiple attempts to contact the family.￿ 04/30/2025 11 Share draft policy language with Regional Office for guidance and feedback 05/30/2025 12 Draft and disseminate communication to eligibility workers with clarification about ￿multiple attempts￿ and implementation instructions. 06/30/2025 13 The Lead Agency does not appropriately limit what families must report during the 12- month eligibility period to allowable information, as required by 98.21(h)(2). (Plan Question 2.5.4) 06/30/2025 14 Review examples of how other Lead Agencies address families reporting change in family size (parent re-enters the home and is working ￿ income above 85%?) 04/30/2025 15 Share draft policy language with Regional Office for guidance and feedback 05/30/2025 16 Draft and disseminate communication to eligibility workers with clarification about ￿multiple attempts￿ and implementation instructions. 06/30/2025