903.04 Expedited Child Care (FAM)

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Authorize an applicant experiencing homelessness to receive expedited NH Child Care Scholarship. A parent’s self-attestation stating the family is currently experiencing homelessness is allowed as verification of homelessness and participation in employment, training, education, recipient of NHEP or FAP and participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program, or job search.   The parent does not need to verify income or complete Form 1863 “Provider Verification” to be eligible for expedited child care. The family can only link to a currently enrolled DHHS child care provider. Expedited child care must be determined within 7 calendar days of the date of application with a final eligibility decision made within 30 calendar days.

Children are considered to be experiencing homelessness when they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence which includes:

Self-attestation stating the family is currently experiencing homelessness is acceptable verification for children of migrant workers who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances defined by the McKinney-Vento Act. Children must be entered as residing in New Hampshire in New HEIGHTS.

To be eligible for expedited child care a parent must be actively participating in employment, training, education, recipient of NHEP or FAP and participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program or a job search activity.. Acceptable verification for homelessness is a self-declaration stating the family is currently experiencing homelessness.

A parent must identify a child care provider that is currently enrolled with the NH Child Care Scholarship Program. Make a collateral contact with the child care provider to verify the correct Provider Resource Identification Number and that the child is scheduled to attend the child care program to establish a link.

Allow the child care provider to be linked at application without a Form 1863 “Provider Verification”. A completed Form 1863 must be returned within 30 calendar days. The DHHS Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration forms are located at http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/forms.htm.

Inform a parent that qualifies for expedited child care that they have 30 calendar days to provide all required verification for NH Child Care Scholarship eligibility to be determined.

The family cost share will  temporarily be set at zero during the 30 day expedited child care period when family income is not yet verified.  The step will be set at the appropriate level based on the income information the parent provides. Once income is verified, recalculate the cost share and step.

Expedited child care will terminate 30 days from the child care provider link begin date if a parent does not provide all required verification. When a parent provides all required verification within 30 days from the child care provider link begin date, an eligibility determination must be made to determine if NH Child Care Scholarship eligibility may continue. When a parent provides all required verification, a full 12-month eligibility period begins on the date the child care provider link began.

The child care provider may bill for the NH Child Care Scholarship and be paid during the expedited child care period. Payment during the first 30 days of NH Child Care Scholarship for expedited child care is not considered an overpayment, even when a parent is not determined eligible at the end of the 30 days and the child care case terminates.

References: He-C 6910.05, He-C 6910.06, 45 CFR 98.20; McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 42 USC 11301 et seq.