SR 23-31 Dated 07/23

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

 

FROM THE OFFICE OF:

Division Director, DES Karen Hebert

BFA SIGNATURE DATE:

July 21, 2023

AT (OFFICE):

Bureau of Family Assistance

Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration

TO:

All BFA Staff

NHEP Teams

Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration Staff

SUBJECT:

Updates to the NH Child Care Scholarship Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates; Release of BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program - Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 24, 2023

 

SUMMARY

This SR releases the following:

 

· updates to the NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly StandardRates paid to DHHS enrolled child care providers for authorized child care services provided; and

 

· the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC)Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program - Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates

 

FORMER POLICY

NEW POLICY

The NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly Standard Rates were set according to the 2021 Market Rate Survey of licensed child care centers and licensed child care family homes in New Hampshire. Rates were set at the 60th percentile for infants and toddlers, and the 55th percentile for all other age groups.

The NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly Standard Rates are now set according to the 2021 Market Rate Survey of licensed child care centers and licensed child care family homes in New Hampshire at the 75th percentile for all age groups.

 

BACKGROUND

The Department of Heath and Human Services conducts a federally mandated survey every three years, known as the Market Rate Survey (MRS), of rates charged by licensed child care centers and licensed child care homes in New Hampshire. The DHHS maximum payment rates for child care services are based on the rates from this survey. The survey was conducted in August 2021. Rates were previously set at the 60th percentile for infants and toddlers, and the 55th percentile for all other age groups. Newly passed legislation, namely NH Hampshire House Bill 2, mandates that DHHS set rates at the 75th percentile for all age groups.

 

POLICY

Rates for licensed child care centers and licensed family homes are now set based on the most recent MRS at the 75th percentile.

 

Rates for license-exempt family child care providers continue to be set at 70% of the licensed family child care home standard rate for each age group. The payment rates for license-exempt centers continue to be set at 50% of the licensed child care center standard rate.

 

2023 NH Child Care Scholarship Program- Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates

 

LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTER

 

LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE

Level of Service

Child Age in Months

NH Child Care Standard Rate

 

Level of Service

Child Age in Months

NH Child Care Standard Rate

Full-Time

Birth-17

$295.00

 

Full-Time

Birth-17

$203.75

Full-Time

18-35

$273.75

 

Full-Time

18-35

$205.00

Full-Time

36-78

$240.83

 

Full-Time

36-78

$190.00

Full-Time

79-155

$228.75

 

Full-Time

79-155

$187.50

Half-Time

Birth-17

$228.39

 

Half-Time

Birth-17

$157.74

Half-Time

18-35

$211.94

 

Half-Time

18-35

$158.71

Half-Time

36-78

$186.45

 

Half-Time

36-78

$147.10

Half-Time

79-155

$177.10

 

Half-Time

79-155

$145.16

Part-Time

Birth-17

$114.19

 

Part-Time

Birth-17

$78.87

Part-Time

18-35

$105.97

 

Part-Time

18-35

$79.35

Part-Time

36-78

$93.23

 

Part-Time

36-78

$73.55

Part-Time

79-155

$85.55

 

Part-Time

79-155

$72.58

 

LICENSE-EXEMPT CENTER

 

LICENSE-EXEMPT FAMILY

Level of Service

Child Age in Months

NH Child Care Standard Rate

 

Level of Service

Child Age in Months

NH Child Care Standard Rate

Full-Time

Birth-17

 

 

Full-Time

Birth-17

$142.63

Full-Time

18-35

 

 

Full-Time

18-35

$143.50

Full-Time

36-71

 

 

Full-Time

36-78

$133.00

Full-Time

72-78

$114.38

 

Full-Time

79-155

$131.25

Full-Time

79-155

$114.38

 

Half-Time

Birth-17

$110.42

Half-Time

Birth-17

 

 

Half-Time

18-35

$111.10

Half-Time

18-35

 

 

Half-Time

36-78

$102.97

Half-Time

36-71

 

 

Half-Time

79-155

$101.61

Half-Time

72-78

$88.55

 

Part-Time

Birth-17

$55.21

Half-Time

79-155

$88.55

 

Part-Time

18-35

$55.55

Part-Time

Birth-17

 

 

Part-Time

36-78

$51.48

Part-Time

18-35

 

 

Part-Time

79-155

$50.81

Part-Time

36-71

 

 

 

 

 

Part-Time

72-78

$44.27

 

 

 

 

Part-Time

79-155

$44.27

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

New HEIGHTS will update the table containing the maximum weekly standard rates with the revised weekly standard rates. These updated figures will appear on the New HEIGHTS child care cost share worksheet screen and are effective July 24, 2023.

 

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

BCDHSC Form 2533,Child Care Scholarship Program– Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, has been revised to reflect updated rates. The information on the Form 2533, is used by Bureau of Family Assistance staff, Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration staff, Child Care Resource and Referral, and child care providers, to calculate correct payment to child care providers. This form is two-sided with the Maximum Weekly Standard Rates on one side and information regarding payment on the reverse. The Maximum Weekly Standard Rates are based on the provider type, service level and child’s age. The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration (BCDHSC) will not pay for children under 72 months in a license-exempt center; therefore, there are no rates for children birth – 71 months for this provider type. The reverse side of the form provides information pertinent to the NH Child Care Scholarship payment, including how level of service is defined and the amount of the additional payments made to child care providers caring for children with significant special need(s). In addition, the form explains how to determine the DHHS Child Care Scholarship payment, with examples.

 

Since this form is a reference tool, no instructions are provided.

 

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics

PART 937     NH CHILD CARE STANDARD RATE

PART 939     DETERMINING THE NH CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT

 

IMPLEMENTATION

Changes identified in the SR are effective July 24, 2023 for current cases, and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.

 

BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates is effective July 24, 2023. The prior print version of Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, (Effective July 2021), must be recycled and the new versionused immediately. A Certificate of Destruction has been included at the end of this SR. The forms are also available electronically, for Department staff only, in the Family Services Folder on the N Drive. It can also be accessed on the Forms page of the NH EASY website: https://nheasy.nh.gov/forms/E/2533.pdf or on the New Hampshire Connections website: https://www.nh-connections.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Maximum-Weekly-Standard-Rates-7.12.20211.pdf. Paper copies will not be distributed to the District Offices.

 

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Clients will be advised of the new NH Child Care Scholarship maximum weekly standard rates at application or redetermination on or after July 24, 2023. Child Care Resource and Referral programs will distribute the updated table to families, as appropriate. The NH Child Care Scholarship maximum weekly standard rates will be posted on the Child Care Scholarships page of the NH DHHS website.

 

The Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration will send BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, to any child care provider as needed or upon request. All new, re-enrolling or renewing providers will receive the information upon DHHS enrollment. The Child Care Resource & Referral agencies will distribute the updated table electronically to all of the providers in their e-mail database. Providers may also access BCDHSC Form 2533 on the Forms page of the NH EASY website: https://nheasy.nh.gov/forms/E/2533.pdf or on the New Hampshire Connections website: https://www.nh-connections.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Maximum-Weekly-Standard-Rates-7.12.20211.pdf.

 

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed due to the procedural nature of the SR.

FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS

Remove and Destroy

Insert

BCDHSC Form 2533 Child Care

Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates,

Effective July 12, 2021, BCDHSC/BFA

SR 21-06/July, 2021

1 sheet, double-sided

BCDHSC Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, Effective July 24, 2023, BCDHSC/BFA SR 23-31/July, 2023

1 sheet, double-sided

 

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 Online Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the Online Manual Library, and for public access on the internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/sr_htm, effective July 24, 2023. 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/BH & JM

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION

I certify that all copies of DCYF/CDB Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, (Effective July 12, 2021), dated 7/21, BCDHSC/BFA SR 21-06, have been destroyed.

District Office Administrative Supervisor:   ___________________________________________________________

District Office:   ______________________________________________________________

 

 

Return this certificate to the BFA Policy Unit, 129 Pleasant St, Brown Building, 3rd Floor, Concord, NH 03301, after the instructions in the SR have been carried out.