Child Care Assistance Program: “Hot Topics”

1. Child Care Assistance Program: “Hot Topics” Child Care for MFIP/DWP Clients MFWCAA 2008

2. Authorized Hours • Are the maximum number of hours that a child is in care during the parent’s authorized activity. • The maximum that can be authorized is 120 hours per child in a two week period.

3. Scheduled Hours • Are specific days/hours a child will attend child care as required by the parent’s activity, child’s need for care and provider’s availability.

4. Child Care Can Be Authorized (MFIP/DWP) • According to the employment plan, or • For appeals, hearings, assessments, or orientations, or • Activities required by MS119B.

5. MFIP Employment Plan(EP) Process • ES worker develops the EP with the client • ES worker sends CCAP worker information needed to authorize child care • ES worker may send EP information via status update or transmittal form • CCAP worker uses the EP as verification of activities

6. Employment Plans, cont. CCAP/ES Policy: • Signed EP’s are considered “approved”. • Do not end date. • Review dates are not end dates.

7. Employment Plan Changes • ES worker notifies CCAP worker of changes to the number of hours needed • When reported timely – no overpayment • When not reported timely – possible overpayment

8. EP Changes Resulting in Sanction ES worker should consider: • Is client working toward curing the sanction? • If yes, child care assistance should remain in place

9. EP Changes Resulting in Sanction, cont. • 1st notice (optional) request for compliance w/plan or plan revision • 2nd notice – Notice of Intent to Sanction • 3rd notice – Notice of Adverse Action – informs that sanction is effective on the first day of the month following the 10 day notice period

10. EP Changes Resulting in Sanction, cont. • If client not working toward preventing sanction: • CCAP ends after the effective date of the sanction + 15 day notice • No overpayment during this period, unless fraud

11. EP Changes Resulting in Sanction, cont. • If participant chooses to start participating to lift the sanction child care may be needed and reauthorized.

12. Overpayments • When the parent reports timely: • And the county is unable to make the change in a timely manner, there may be an overpayment due to agency error. • The overpayment would be calculated allowing for a notice period.

13. Overpayments, cont. • When the family does not report changes timely: • There may be an overpayment. • Calculate the overpayment beginning on the date the change occurred.

14. Recovery Methods-Overpayments • The recovery method for participant families and current CCAP providers is recoupment. • The recovery method for former participants or CCAP providers is collection.

15. Activities Allowed Without a Plan • Employment of 20 hours or more and earning the applicable minimum wage • Job search up to 240 hours per calendar year

16. Activities Allowed Without a Plan, cont. • FT students can receive CCAP for employment if employed a minimum of 10 hours per week, applicable minimum wage • Verify student’s status

17. CCAP Workers and ES Workers Must work together in ways that support clients by: • Preventing delays in authorizations • Preventing gaps in authorizations • Authorizing the most care possible • Clustering activities

18. Communicate County should develop a process to support communication between ES and CCAP.

19. Questions?

20. Thank you!