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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA FFY 2024 STATE PLAN FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
choice of enrolling their child(ren) in a childcare center, family childcare home, group childcare home, legally exempt school-age childcare program, or (on a limited basis) with an in-home childcare provider. Care may be provided by a relative or non-relative, and payment rates will provide equal access to care. All providers must meet CCDF health and safety guidelines.
Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are responsible for the management of the childcare certificate system, consumer education and provider training and technical assistance efforts. DoHS state-level staff develops policies and procedures and provide technical assistance to grantees, while state licensing and local regulatory staff focus on regulation and monitoring of facilities to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements.
The Division of Early Care and Education and Bureau for Family Assistance have agreed upon the following guidelines to determine whether available childcare is either inappropriate or unavailable for parents of children under age six:
● Travel to access childcare is in excess of thirty minutes one way.
● Regulated or certified childcare is unsuitable for children with special needs.
● Childcare is not available during the scheduled hours of participation.
● Determinations of unavailable or unsuitable childcare will be made on a case-by-case basis.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) created a block grant program to help move recipients into work and turn welfare into a program of temporary assistance. Under the welfare reform legislation of 1996, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) replaced the former welfare programs known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the Emergency Assistance (EA) program. The Department operates the Emergency Assistance for Needy Families with Children (Program) as provided for under Section 404(a) (2) of the Page 43