903.01 NH Child Care Scholarship Wait List SR 09-23, 10/09 (FAM-A)

The following children are exempt from the wait list:

• Children in preventive and protective child care;

• Children in families currently receiving FANF cash assistance; and

• Children in families whose FANF cash assistance closed within the last 90 days.

All children who do not meet the exempt criteria listed above are placed on the wait list if determined eligible to receive NH Child Care Scholarship. The Department will not pay for child care while a child is on the wait list.

Redetermination policy remains unchanged for families who are eligible for NH Child Care Scholarship but who are placed on the wait list. Families on the wait list must have their continued eligibility for NH Child Care Scholarship reviewed every six months even though they are not receiving the Scholarship.

Children are added to the wait list according to the date of the signed application for NH Child Care Scholarship. Children are further prioritized on the wait list according to the following:

• Priority 1 Group: Children in families with monthly gross income that is equal or less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). See Part 935, NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMITS.

• Priority 2 Group: All other children determined eligible for child care scholarship.

If more than 1 family is added to the wait list on the same day, place children on the wait list according to the:

• application date;

• time that eligibility was run; and

• age and RID number (in the case of twins or other multiple births).

Releasing Eligible Children from the NH Child Care Scholarship Wait List

When funds become available, release eligible children from the wait list according to the application date and then alternating between:

• two children in Priority 1 Group; and

• one child from Priority 2 Group.

Families will receive a Notice of Decision indicating the effective date on which NH Child Care Scholarship funds will be available for one or more children released from the wait list. No payment will be made before the date that NH Child Care Scholarship funds became available.

Families must arrange for child care with an enrolled provider within 30 days from the effective date on the NOD and return the completed Provider Verification Form to DHHS.

If the provider is not already enrolled, the family must mail in the child care packet to the Child Development Bureau within 5 days from the effective date on the NOD to ensure that the provider is enrolled and linked within 30 days.

Removing Ineligible Children from the Child Care Scholarship Wait List

Remove children from the wait list if families are determined ineligible or fail to comply with the redetermination policy. If ineligible children are removed from the wait list, families must reapply for NH Child Care Scholarship and again be determined eligible for child care. If a family is determined eligible, add the child to the wait list according to the new date of application as described above.

Exceptions: If good cause for the family’s failure to recertify is determined, a child may not be placed on the wait list or may be released from the wait list. Reasons for good cause are:

• The family is unable to find child care with the assistance of the Child Care Resource & Referral Agency within 30 days from the effective date on the NOD, as verified by a letter from the Child Care Resource & Referral Agency. The letter must state that the parent has been searching for child care with the assistance of Child Care Resource & Referral and child care for the specific child has not been identified. This letter will be valid for 30 additional days. There will be no extensions beyond the additional 30 days;

• The parent or child had an in-patient hospital stay during the 30 day period as verified by providing the fact sheet or discharge orders from the hospital; or

• The Department made an error in determining eligibility or entered incorrect or inaccurate data into New HEIGHTS regarding the child care link. The FSS must verify that an error was made and request an exemption in an e-mail to the supervisor.