BCDHSC SR 20-23

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY 

This SR releases the following changes to the NH Child Care Scholarship Program:

·         Two new employment related activities for NH Child Care Scholarship Program are now allowed when a parent is:

-        participating in a mental health treatment program or substance misuse treatment program; and

-        An eligible adult recipient of NHEP or FAP.

·         Allow expedited child care if a parent is a recipient of NHEP or FAP and self-attests they are experiencing homelessness and participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program.

·         Continued Assistance for NH Child Care Scholarship Program will now be allowed for 92 calendar days when a parent reports they are not participating in an approved activity.

·         Job search is now only allowed for a parent that is participating in job search. Job search and Continued Assistance will use one clock that is limited to 92 calendar days total.

·         Graduated Phase Out (GPO) is no longer restricted to one new 12-month eligibility period. A parent can remain in GPO as long as the income is greater than 220% but less than or equal to 250% of FPG.

·         Children of migrant workers who qualify as homeless because they are living in a circumstance described in the McKinney-Vento Act are not required to be a resident of New Hampshire. Children must be entered as residing in New Hampshire in New HEIGHTS.

·         Children of migrant workers qualify for expedited child care if they are experiencing homelessness. Self-attestation that the parent is experiencing homelessness is acceptable verification.

·         Child care providers must bill within 60 days of the date of service to receive payment. (Providers were previously allowed to bill within 90 days of the date of service).

·         During the certification period a parent must report and verify a change to any of the following circumstances within 10 calendar days of the date the change occurs. If a parent fails to report and verify a change to any of the following circumstances within 10 calendar days of the date the change occurs, the child care case must close as of the date on the Verification Checklist. Continued Assistance is not allowed if a parent fails to report and verify a change as required.

·         Additional reporting requirements within a certification period for child care now include:

-        A parent begins or ends a mental health or substance misuse treatment program

-        A change in child care provider location

-        A change in the assistance group

-        A parent of a child in the assistance group moves into the household

-        An individual residing in the household becomes a parent of a child in the assistance group

-        A change of address

-        A parent adopts a child during the 12-month eligibility certification period

-        A parent registered with a temporary employment agency is no longer receiving payment

·         Families at Step 6 and 7 are now allowed to be linked to a license exempt family or license exempt child care center/facility.

·         A child care provider is now allowed payment for closure hours each calendar year. The closure hours include DHHS designated holidays, program closure hours, staff professional development hours, and federal, state or DHHS Administrator declared disaster closure day(s).

·         DHHS now allows payment for one child care registration fee up to $50.00 per calendar year for each child eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program. The registration fee charged must not exceed the amount charged to private paying families. If the child care providers registration fee exceeds $50.00 the child care provider can charge the difference to the family.

·         A monthly absentee allotment determined by the child’s authorized service level is now allowed for children eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program.

·         If DHHS does not receive Form 2690 Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Needs within 60 days from the date the licensed professional signed the form, the effective date becomes the date DHHS receives Form 2690 and not the date the licensed professional signed the form.

·         Parents with children on the waitlist are subject to the same mandatory reporting requirements as parents receiving NH Child Care Scholarship Program. (The waitlist is not currently effective.)

BACKGROUND

On November 14, 2014, the President signed the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-186) into law. The CCDBG Act authorizes the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which is the primary federal funding source devoted to providing low-income families who are working or participating in education or training activities with help paying for child care and improving the quality of child care for all children. The federal Office of Child Care reauthorization requirements for Child Care Scholarship Program were released to states on September 30, 2016. 

The federal reauthorization expands the purpose of CCDF for high-quality child care for low-income children and includes the provision of reliable child care in order for a parent/guardian to maintain and obtain stable employment. As a result, FAM 900 New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program includes technical clarifications and policy changes in order to comply with the federal mandate. 

Policy changes were made in order to comply with RSA 167:83,II(q) requiring the Department to allow participation in a mental health treatment program or substance misuse treatment program as an approved activity for eligible adult recipients of New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) or eligible adult recipients of Family Assistance Program (FAP).

The NH Child Care Scholarship Program is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Economic and Housing Stability (DEHS), Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC).

POLICY

New Activities: Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program

A Mental Health (MH) treatment program or Substance Misuse (SM) treatment program are now considered approved activities for NH Child Care Scholarship Program.  A parent must be an eligible recipient of NHEP or FAP to be eligible for these activities. The adult must be an eligible recipient, not the child. MH or SM is not an approved activity for a parent receiving Interim Disabled Parent (IDP) or Families with Older Children (FWOC) cash. If NHEP cash is pending child care will deny if MH or SM is the only approved activity. If NHEP or FAP closes, MH or SM is no longer an approved activity. Parents are allowed to participate in MH or SM simultaneously with other approved activities.

New Form 2691, Verification for Participation in a Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program, is the only acceptable verification for these activities. The form must be completed, signed, and dated to verify the parent is participating in an approved MH or SM treatment program. A parent must report when they begin or end a MH or SM treatment program.

If at redetermination a parent is in continued eligibility, a completed, signed and dated Form 2691, is required to verify the parent is participating in an approved Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program. If the parent fails to provide the required verification above, the child care case will close.

During continued eligibility, the level of service authorized for the individual at the initial eligibility determination will remain the same for the 12-month eligibility period, unless the parent(s) requests a decrease. The family cost share may change but will not increase above the family cap amount calculated at the 12-month initial eligibility determination. The child(ren) must continue to attend child care during continued eligibility for NH Child Care Scholarship Program payment to be made.

Expedited child care is allowed if a parent is experiencing homelessness and is a recipient of NHEP or FAP and self-attests they are participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program.

Continued Assistance

During the 12-month eligibility period Continued Assistance is allowed for up to 92 calendar days for each parent when they indicate they are no longer participating or do not intend to participate in an approved activity.

Continued Assistance is not allowed at initial application. Continued Assistance is not allowed to begin on the redetermination month.

The level of service authorized for the activity prior to Continued Assistance will remain the same during the Continued Assistance period, unless the parent(s) requests a decrease.

On or before the 92^nd day of Continued Assistance, if the parent reports and verifies an approved activity, the cost share is re-evaluated and may change but cannot exceed the family cap amount determined at most recent 12-month eligibility determination and 12-month eligibility will continue.  A parent cannot request an increase in service level during Continued Assistance. A parent may request a decrease in service level at any time. If at the end of the 92^nd day of Continued Assistance there is no approved activity verified, the child care case will close on the 92^nd day even if the 92^nd day rolls into the next eligibility period.

If both parents are authorized for Continued Assistance, but began Continued Assistance on different dates, NH Child Care Scholarship Program will terminate on the date, which is the end of the earlier 92 day period, if one or both parents does not re-engage in an approved activity during Continued Assistance.

If a parent is approved for Continued Assistance during the last quarter of the 12-month eligibility period, the parent must complete the redetermination process. If a parent completes a redetermination and reports they are still in Continued Assistance the 92-calendar day clock will take precedence over the new 12-month eligibility certification period.

If the parent is in Continued Assistance and verifies any new activity within 92calendar days after the redetermination month is completed, the family cap, cost share, and service level is re-evaluated.  A new 12-month eligibility certification period will begin from the date of the new activity. Since a new 12-month eligibility certification period begins again, the family cap amount, family cost share and service level is reevaluated.

Job search

The 92 calendar day Job search is now only allowed for a parent that is participating in job search. Do not use job search as a place holder for a parent not participating in an approved activity.

Do not deny child care or expedited child care if the parent indicates they are job searching but not yet registered, but has agreed to register with the New Hampshire Works Job Match System within the application processing timeframe.

Job Search and Continued Assistance

Job search and Continued Assistance is combined into one clock that is limited to 92 calendar days total. Continued Assistance and Job search can be authorized back-to-back, but is limited to 92 calendar days total. When the 92 calendar day clock is exhausted, the system will automatically end date the activity and the child care case will close if there is no other approved activity. A parent will be allowed to go from Continued Assistance to Job search or Job search to Continued Assistance, but will only be given up to 92 calendar days total if there is no other approved activity in between. A parent that has exhausted the 92 day clock cannot open with job search as an activity unless six months has lapsed.

Example:

Job Search: 3/1 – 5/1 = 62 days

Continued Assistance: 5/2 – 5/11 = 10 days (72 days total used)

Job Search: 5/12 – 5/28 = 17 days (89 days total used)

Continued Assistance: 5/28 – 5/31 = 92 days total

Parent reports effective 5/28 no longer job searching. Child care closes on 5/31 because the 92 calendar day is exhausted.

Graduated Phase Out (GPO)

A parent can remain in GPO as long as the income is greater than 220% but less than or equal to 250% of FPG.

Children of Migrant Workers

Children of migrant workers who qualify as homeless because they are living in a circumstance described in the McKinney-Vento Act are not required to be a resident of New Hampshire. Children must be entered as living in New Hampshire in New HEIGHTS.

Children of migrant workers who are experiencing homelessness qualify for expedited child care. Self-attestation stating the family is experiencing homelessness is acceptable verification.

Reporting Requirements

At all eligibility interviews, applicants must report any changes that have occurred since application. During the certification period NH Child Care Scholarship Program now requires the parent must report and verify the following changes within 10 calendar days of the date the change occurs: (Items in bold are new reporting requirements.)

·         household income increases to an amount exceeding 85% of State Median Income (SMI)

·         a permanent loss or start of employment

·         a parent begins or ends a training or educational program

·         a parent begins or ends a mental health or substance misuse treatment program

·         any member of the assistance group has assets including personal or real property, or the combined assets of the assistance group, are greater than a cumulative value of one million dollars

·         change of child care provider or child care provider location

·         a change in the assistance group

·         a parent of a child in the assistance group moves into the household

·         an individual residing in the household becomes a parent of a child in the assistance group

·          there is a change of address

·         a parents adopts a child during the 12-month eligibility certification period

·         a parent registered with a temporary employment agency is no longer receiving payment

Each activity, including multiple activities simultaneously, must be reported and verified.

If a parent fails to report and verify a change in circumstances under mandatory reporting requirements within 10 calendar days, the child care case must close with the date indicated on the Verification Checklist. Continued Assistance is not allowed.

When a non-custodial parent moves into the household, their income for child care must be counted and they must be participating in an approved activity.

A family whose child is on a wait list must report required changes even though no payment for NH Child Care Scholarship Program is made. If a parent fails to report and verify a change in circumstances under mandatory reporting requirements within 10 calendar day of the date the change occurs, the child care case must close with the date indicated on the Verification Checklist. (The waitlist is not currently effective.) Parents that fail to report a change are not eligible for Continued Assistance.

License Exempt Facilities and Step 6 and 7

Families at Step 6 and 7 are now allowed to be linked to a License Exempt Family, Friend, or Neighbor or License Exempt Facility.

Payment to a Child Care Provider

Payment for closure hours is allowed to a child care provider each calendar year. The closure hours include DHHS designated holidays, program closure hours, staff professional development hours, and federal, state or DHHS Administrator declared disaster closure day(s). DHHS does not accept paper billing invoices.

Payment for one registration fee up to $50.00 per calendar year, is allowed for each child eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program. The registration fee charged must not exceed the amount charged to private paying families. DHHS does not accept paper billing invoices.

Absentee Allotment

NH Child Care Scholarship Program payment is made when a child is absent. Monthly absentee allotment hours help to prevent a drop in the authorized service level and reduce out of pocket cost for families.

Each individual child eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program is allowed a monthly absentee allotment determined by the child’s authorized service level. The absentee allotment renews the first Monday of each month and can be used when a child is absent until the monthly allotment is exhausted.

Monthly absentee allotment hours are designated as follows:

·     21 hours per child for full-time service level;

·     13 hours per child for half-time service level; or

·     0 hours per child for part-time service level.

No absentee hours are needed for the part time service level because a child only needs to attend 1 hour for the child care provider to be paid the part time rate that week.

If the child’s authorized service level changes, the absentee allotment will change to reflect the child’s authorized service level. 

Example 1: From January 1 -15 a child with a full-time service level used 21 hours of the monthly absentee allotment hours. On January 16, the authorized service level decreased to half time due to parent request. Since more than 13 hours were already used, zero absentee hours are remaining for January.

Example 2: A child with a part-time service level did not use any absentee hours. The authorized service level changed to half time due to new employment. Since no absentee hours were used, the monthly absentee allotment will be reset to 13 hours.

Example 3:  A child with a half-time service level uses 10 absentee hours. The service level changed to full-time due to school vacation. The remaining absentee allotment is 11 hours (e.g. 21-10=11).

If a child uses all the monthly absentee hours and moves to a new provider, there are no absentee hours available for the new provider until the first Monday of the next month.

A child care provider is required to bill weekly via the DHHS web billing application.  The billing invoice must include the child’s attendance schedule, including absent and present hours. If the present hours billed do not meet the minimum authorized service level hours (31 hours for full time and 16 hours for half time) and if:

·     there are enough absentee hours available, the system will use only enough absentee hours to bring the child up to their authorized service level and the child care provider will be paid at the child’s authorized service level; or

·     there are not enough absentee hours available, the system will not use any absentee hours and the child care provider will be paid at the service level determined by the number of present hours billed.

No payment will be made to the child care provider if there are no present hours billed for the week.

When not enough absentee hours are available to meet the authorized service level or when the absentee allotment is exhausted, the service level drops, therefore DHHS pays at the lower service level. The parent is responsible to pay the child care provider the difference between the authorized service level and the actual service level paid for that week plus any co-payment if the provider chooses to charge one. When the monthly absentee allotment is exhausted, it may result in a lower service level determination for that week, which will affect the DHHS payment made to the provider.

Form 2690, Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Needs

If DHHS does not receive Form 2690 Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Needs within 60 days from the date the licensed professional signed the form, the effective date becomes the date DHHS receives Form 2690 and not the date the licensed professional signed the form.

Family Cap Amount

All families must contribute to the cost of care. A family cap amount and family cost share is determined by DHHS. The family’s cap amount is calculated based on a percentage of the family’s gross income. The percentage used is based on the income Step level by which the family became eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program. The family cap amount and family cost share is different for each family.

The family cap amount and family cost share is calculated at initial application or redetermination. On the day of initial application or redetermination, the family cap amount and family cost share are the same; however, the family cost share may decrease or increase during the eligibility certification period, but never exceed the family cap amount. During the entire current 12-month eligibility certification period, the family cap amount will remain the same.

Exception: The family cap, cost share and service level is  recalculated and a new 12-month certification period is established:

• If at initial eligibility the parent is job searching and then becomes employed; or
• within 92 calendar days after a redetermination, a parent engages in an activity after being on Continued Assistance.

Example: An employed parent with 2 children applies for child care with a gross income of $1,666.67 per month. The parent’s gross income is less than 100% of FPG for a family of 3, so the parent’s cost share and family cap is equal to 4.75% of gross income divided by 4.33 to get a weekly amount. 4.75% of $1,666.67 divided by 4.33 is $18.29 per week. The $18.29 is the family cap amount for the current 12 month certification period.  The parent reports a reduction in hours bringing the parent’s income to $750 per month. The parent requests their cost share be recalculated. The parent’s new cost share is $8.23 per week.. The parent later reports starting a higher paying job that increases their income to $2,000 month. The cost share calculation is $34.64; however, the parent’s cost share will be $18.29 per week, because the parent’s cost share cannot exceed the family cap. At redetermination the parent’s income remains at $2,000 per month, and the parent’s cost share and family cap are recalculated based on Step 2 because the parent’s income exceeds 100% FPG but is less than 120% FPG. The parent’s new cost share and family cap is $34.64 week.

Example: A job searching parent with 2 children applies for child care with a gross income of $750 per month. The parent’s gross income is less than 100% of FPG for a family of 3, so the parent’s cost share and family cap is equal to 4.75% of gross income divided by 4.33 to get a weekly amount. 4.75% of $750 divided by 4.33 is $8.23 per week. After 60 days of job search the parent reports starting a new job that brings the parent’s gross income to $1,666.67 per month. Since the parent started a new job after engaging job search, both the family cap and cost share will be recalculated even though the parent is within a 12-month eligibility certification period. The parent’s new cost share and family cap is $18.29 per week and a new 12-month eligibility certification period begins effective the date employment began.

Example: A parent with 2 children who is engaging in basic education applies for child care with a gross income of $750 per month. The parent’s gross income is less than 100% of FPG for a family of 3, so the parent’s cost share and family cap is equal to 4.75% of gross income divided by 4.33 to get a weekly amount. 4.75% of $750 divided by 4.33 is $8.23 per week. The parent completes the basic education program with 2 months left in the eligibility certification period and reports they are no longer participating  in any activity or job searching. The FSS indicates “No” to basic education and New HEIGHTS populates  Continued Assistance for 92 calendar days. At redetermination, the family reports no activity, therefore remains in Continued Assistance because they are still within the 92 calendar days. The family cap and cost share is recalculated, but remains at $8.23 per week because the parent’s income has not changed. One month after redetermination the parent reports new employment with a gross income of $1,666.67 per month. Since the parent is  currently in Continued Assistance , both the family cap and cost share will be recalculated and a new 12-month eligibility certification period begins effective the date employment began. . The parent’s new cost share and family cap is $18.29 per week.

Example: A parent with 2 children who is engaging in basic education applies for child care with a gross income of $750 per month. The parent’s gross income is less than 100% of FPG for a family of 3, so the parent’s cost share and family cap is equal to 4.75% of gross income divided by 4.33 to get a weekly amount. 4.75% of $750 divided by 4.33 is $8.23 per week. The parent completes the basic education program with 2 months left in the eligibility certification period. After the parent completes the basic education program the parent reports not engaging in any activity or job search and moves to Continued Assistance. One month before redetermination the parent reports new employment with a gross income of $1,666.67 per month. The FSS will indicate “Yes” for employment and the effective date of the new employment. The family cost share remains at $8.23 per week. At redetermination the parent’s cost share and family cap is recalculated ..

An FSS must verify the family cap amount and cost share is correct. If zero cost share is indicated, verify the cost share is calculated correctly.

CLARIFICATIONS

-        To meet federal requirements a consumer statement for parents is included on the Notice of Decision. This information informs parents how to choose quality child care.

-        Child care providers must submit billing invoices for NH Child Care Scholarship Program payment within 60 days from the date of service. Any billing invoice submitted over 60 days will not be paid.

-        At initial application, deny child care if the child turns age 13 within 30 days of the child care application date

-        Count income from paid internships or paid work-study.

-        An individual registered with a temporary employment agency shall be considered employed as long as the individual earns one payment within 10 calendar days of employment assignment.

-        Resources/Combined assets of the assistance group for NH Child Care Scholarship Program cannot exceed $1,000,000.00.

-        Job search verification is not required during the 12-month eligibility certification period when a parent stops an approved activity and begins job search.

-        If at initial application or redetermination the client is in job search and becomes employed during the 92-calendar day period, the family cap amount, cost share and service level is recalculated and a new 12-month eligibility certification period begins. Since a new 12-month eligibility certification periods begins again, the family cap amount, cost share and service level is recalculated.

-        To authorize the special need differential, all sections of Form 2690 Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Needs must be completed, signed and dated, including the length of duration of the disability.

-        When a parent is in an approved NHEP activity, the hours entered on the Child Care Program Responses screen must reflect the actual hours the parent participates in the NHEP activity (not the participation requirement hours). If the parent participates in other approved activities simultaneously, each activity must reflect the actual hours the parent participates.

-         The family cap amount is based on a percentage of the family’s gross income, and the percentage used is based on the income Step level by which the family became eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship Program. Once calculated, the family cap amount will remain the same throughout the current 12-month eligibility certification period with the exception of initial determination or redetermination of job search. The cost share is the DHHS determined amount that families are required to contribute for child care services based on Step level and income, which may decrease or increase during the current 12-month certification eligibility period. The family cost share will never exceed the family cap amount during the current 12-month eligibility certification period.

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

The Child Care Program Responses screen for “Weekly Hours (including commute time)” now allows zero hours to be entered when a parent indicates they do not need commute time to participate in an approved activity.

Continued Assistance and the “Effective date” is systematically populated when all child care responses (activity) indicate “No” on the Child Care Program Responses screen. The system will not allow a worker to select Continued Assistance. 

If NHEP Cash closes and the only approved activity is MH or SM, the system will automatically populate Continued Assistance and the “Effective Date.”

If more than 92 calendar days pass because a parent fails to report they are no longer participating in an approved activity, or a worker fails to take action, and as a result, child care should close, take the following steps to correct the Child Care Program Responses screen:

·       Google search “91 days back” (This will provide the exact 91 date)

·       Enter “Effective date” on the Child Care Program Response screen using the Google search date

·       Change the current activity to “No”

·       Change Job search to “Yes” and verify

·       Enter the same “Hours” and “Unique” days from the previous activity

·       The system will run the case that night and close child care by exhausting the clock

·       The correct NOD will be generated to both the parent and child care provider

·       Enter a detailed case comment explaining the above actions. Include the date the:

-       activity ended

-       parent reported the change

The following letters have been modified:

Modified AE0108

The AE0108 is a courtesy letter that notifies the parent and child care provider a billing invoice has not been submitted for child care services in the last 30 days.

Modified AE0024

The AE0024 notifies the parent/guardian and child care provider of the reporting requirements for the parent/guardian during the 12-month eligibility certification period.

This letter was modified to include the reporting requirements for parent/guardians during the 12-month eligibility certification period. Family cap amount and cost share was clarified.

Modified AE0032

The AE0032 notifies the parent/guardian and child care provider of the Job Search/Continued Assistance Limit.

This letter was modified to notify the parent/guardian and child care provider of the 92 calendar day job search/Continued Assistance limit.

The title was modified to include Continued Assistance.

Modified AE0137

The AE0137 notifies the parent/guardian that 72 calendar days of Job search/Continued Assistance has been used and there are only 20 calendar days left. The title was modified to include Continued Assistance.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

The following child care forms were revised and are attached for reference.

The following child care forms are new and are attached for reference:

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics

PART 900               NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

PART 901               ACCESSING THE NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

Section 901.01        Application Process for NH Child Care Scholarship Program (FAM)

PART 903               NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMEFRAME (FAM)

Section 903.01        NH Child Care Scholarship Program Wait List (FAM)

Section 903.03        Exemptions to the NH Child Care Scholarship Program Wait List (FAM)

Section 903.04        Expedited Child Care (FAM)

Section 903.05        Required Verification for Wait List Exemption (FAM)

Section 903.07        Required Verification to Grant a Good Cause Extension (FAM)

PART 904               NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AUTHORIZED LEVEL OF SERVICE (FAM)

PART 905               LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY (FAM)

PART 907               NOTIFICATIONS (FAM)

Section 907.01        Notice of Decision (NOD) (FAM)

Section 907.03        Other New HEIGHTS Notifications

PART 909               REPORTING CHANGES IN NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

Section 909.01        Changes in NH Child Care Scholarship Program Due to Birthdays (FAM)

PART 911               REDETERMINATION OF NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

Section 911.01        Late Requests for Recertification (FAM)

PART 913               TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE (FAM)

PART 914               APPEALING A DECISION (FAM)

PART 915               NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA (FAM)

PART 919               AGE CATEGORIES FOR NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

Section 919.01        Required Verification (FAM)

PART 921               EMPLOYMENT (FAM)

  Section 921.01      Continued Eligibility for Employment for Medical Leave from Employment or Inactivity due to Seasonal Employment (FAM)

  Section 921.03       Required Verification at Redetermination for Continued Eligibility for Medical Leave from Employment or Inactivity due to Seasonal Employment (FAM)

PART 922                MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR A RECIPIENT OF NHEP OR FAP (FAM)

Section 922.01      Required Verification for a Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program for Recipient of NHEP or FAP (FAM)

Section 922.02      Continued Eligibility for a Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program for a Recipient of NHEP or FAP (FAM)

  Section 922.03       Required Verification at Redetermination for Continued Eligibility for Medical Leave from Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program for a  Recipient   of NHEP or FAP (FAM)

PART 923                ACTIVELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT (JOB SEARCH) (FAM)

Section 923.01      Required Verification for Job Search at Initial Eligibility and Redetermination (FAM)

  Section 925.03       Continued Eligibility for Training/Education and Basic Education for Medical Leave or Semester Breaks from Training/Education and Basic Education (FAM)

  Section 925.05       Required Verification at Redetermination for Continued Eligibility for Medical Leave or Semester Breaks from Training/Education and Basic Education (FAM)

  PART 926                 CONTINUED ASSISTANCE DURING THE 12-MONTH ELIGIBILITY PERIOD (FAM)

  PART 927                 BILLABLE HOURS OF SERVICE (FAM)

  Section 927.01       Required Verification for Initial Eligibility and Redetermination of NH Child Care Scholarship Program (FAM)

  PART 929                 PROVIDER ENROLLMENT QUALIFICATIONS FOR NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (FAM)

  Section 929.01       Required Provider Enrollment Documentation (FAM)

  PART 931                 RESOURCES/ASSETS (FAM)

  Section 933.01       Treatment of Specific Income Types (FAM)

  PART 935                 NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT

  PART 938                 FAMILY CAP AMOUNT, COST SHARE AND PROVIDER CO-PAY (FAM)

  PART 939                 DETERMINING THE NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT (FAM)

  PART 941                 NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENT RATES FOR A CHILD EXPERIENCING A DISABILITY OR A SIGNIFICANT SPECIAL NEED

  Section 941.01       Required Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Need (FAM)

  PART 943                 PAYMENT FOR NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDER SERVICES AND PROVIDER CO-PAY (FAM)

  Section 943.01        Linking an Eligible Child to an Enrolled Child Care Provider (FAM)

  PART 945                 RECOUPMENT OF OVERPAYMENT

  PART 947                 PAYMENT FOR ABSENTEE/CLOSURE HOURS (FAM)

The following FAM 900 pages have been retitled:

  Section 921.01            Continued Eligibility for Employment for Medical Leave from Employment or Inactivity due to Seasonal Employment (FAM)

  Section 921.03            Required Verification at Redetermination for Medical Leave from Employment or Inactivity due to Seasonal Employment (FAM)

  Section 923.01            Required Verification for Job Search at Initial Eligibility and Redetermination (FAM)

  Section 925.03            Continued Eligibility for Training/Education and Basic Education for Medical Leave or Semester Breaks from Training/Education and Basic Education (FAM)

  Section 925.05            Required Verification at Redetermination for Continued Eligibility for Medical Leave or Semester Breaks from Training/Education and Basic Education (FAM)

  Section 927.01            Required Verification for Initial Eligibility and Redetermination of NH Child Care Scholarship Program (FAM)

  PART 938                     FAMILY CAP AMOUNT, COST SHARE AND PROVIDER CO-PAY (FAM)

  PART 941                     NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENT RATES FOR A CHILD EXPERIENCING A DISABILITY OR A SIGNIFICANT SPECIAL NEED

  Section 941.01            Required Verification for a Child Experiencing a Disability or Significant Special Need (FAM)

  PART 947                      PAYMENT FOR ABSENTEE/CLOSURE HOURS (FAM)

The following FAM 900 pages were added:

PART 922                     MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR A RECIPIENT OF NHEP OR FAP (FAM)

Section 922.01            Required Verification for a Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program for a Recipient of NHEP or FAP (FAM)

Section 922.02            Continued Eligibility for a Mental Health or Substance Misuse Treatment Program for a Recipient of NHEP or FAP (FAM)

PART 926                     CONTINUED ASSISTANCE DURING THE 12-MONTH ELIGIBILITY PERIOD (FAM)

The following FAM 900 pages have been replaced:

Section 923.02        Continued Eligibility for Job Search during the 12-Month Eligibility Period (FAM)

This section was removed and has been replaced with Section 926      Continued Assistance during the 12-Month Eligibility Period (FAM).

IMPLEMENTATION

The changes identified in the SR are effective July 6, 2020 and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Notification of these child care policy changes will be published in the NH Rulemaking Register, Office of Legislative Services, A public hearing on the amended Administrative Rules was held on February 20, 2020.

On June 15, 2020, a parent/guardian letter titled, Important: Information Regarding Changes for the DHHS Child Care Scholarship Program was sent to parent/guardians. On June 15, 2020 a letter titled, Important: Information Regarding Changes for the DHHS Child Care Scholarship Program, was sent to all DHHS enrolled child care providers. A copy of each letter is attached to this SR for reference.

TRAINING

The BFA Training Unit will provide training in via Zoom on July 29 and July 30.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Bureau of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/publications.htm, effective June 29, 2020. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library effective August 31, 2020. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Family Assistance Manual.

BCDHSC/KAD/PLD: