SR 19-23 Dated 11/19

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

 

FROM OFFICE OF THE BUREAU CHIEF, BFA:

Deb Sorli

BFA SIGNATURE DATE:

December 4, 2019

FROM OFFICE OF THE BCDHSC BUREAU CHIEF:

Deb Nelson

BCDHSC SIGNATURE DATE:

December 6, 2019

AT (OFFICE):

Bureau of Family Assistance

 

 

TO:

 

Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration

District Office Supervisors

NHEP Teams

Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration Staff

 

SUBJECT:

2019 Updates to the NH Child Care Scholarship Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates; Release of DCYF/BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program - Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates and the increase in Significant Special Need(s) differential

EFFECTIVE DATE:

November 4, 2019
     

 

SUMMARY

 

This SR releases the following:

 

·         the 2019 update to the NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly Standard Rates paid to DHHS enrolled child care providers for authorized child care services provided;

 

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

 

·         the increase in Significant Special Need(s) differential.

 

FORMER POLICY

NEW POLICY

The NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly Standard Rates were set according to the 2016 Market Rate Survey of licensed child care centers and licensed child care family homes in New Hampshire.

The NH Child Care Scholarship Maximum Weekly Standard Rates are now set according to the 2018 Market Rate Survey of licensed child care centers and licensed child care family homes in New Hampshire.

The Significant Special Need(s) differential per week is:

$50.00 for Full Time Service Level;

$30.00 for Half Time Service Level; and

$15.00 for Part Time Service Level.

The Significant Special Need(s) differential per week is now increased to:

$100.00 for Full Time Service Level;

$75.00 for Half Time Service Level; and

$50.00 for Part Time Service Level.

BACKGROUND

 

The Department of Health and Human Services conducts a federally mandated survey every two 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 on March 7th, 2018.

 

For many years, standards rates have been set at the 50% percentile of the most recent Market Rate Survey. The Department is increasing rates as follows:

·         60th percentile for birth through 35 months; and

·         55th percentile for 36 through 155 months.

 

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

 

POLICY

 

2019 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

$250.00

 

Full-Time

Birth-17

$178.00

Full-Time

18-35

$228.70

 

Full-Time

18-35

$175.00

Full-Time

36-78

$197.18

 

Full-Time

36-78

$175.00

Full-Time

79-155

$141.40

 

Full-Time

79-155

$78.22

Half-Time

Birth-17

$193.55

 

Half-Time

Birth-17

$137.81

Half-Time

18-35

$177.06

 

Half-Time

18-35

$135.48

Half-Time

36-78

$152.65

 

Half-Time

36-78

$135.48

Half-Time

79-155

$89.00

 

Half-Time

79-155

$60.00

Part-Time

Birth-17

$96.78

 

Part-Time

Birth-17

$68.90

Part-Time

18-35

$88.53

 

Part-Time

18-35

$67.74

Part-Time

36-78

$76.33

 

Part-Time

36-78

$67.74

Part-Time

79-155

$44.50

 

Part-Time

79-155

$30.00





















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

$124.60

Full-Time

18-35

 

 

Full-Time

18-35

$122.50

Full-Time

36-71

 

 

Full-Time

36-78

$122.50

Full-Time

72-78

$98.59

 

Full-Time

79-155

$54.75

Full-Time

79-155

$70.70

 

Half-Time

Birth-17

$96.46

Half-Time

Birth-17

 

 

Half-Time

18-35

$94.84

Half-Time

18-35

 

 

Half-Time

36-78

$94.84

Half-Time

36-71

 

 

Half-Time

79-155

$42.00

Half-Time

72-78

$76.30

 

Part-Time

Birth-17

$48.23

Half-Time

79-155

$44.50

 

Part-Time

18-35

$47.42

Part-Time

Birth-17

 

 

Part-Time

36-78

$47.42

Part-Time

18-35

 

 

Part-Time

79-155

$21.00

Part-Time

36-71

 

 

 

 

 

Part-Time

72-78

$38.17

 

 

 

 

Part-Time

79-155

$22.25

 

 

 

 

 

Effective November 4, 2019 the Significant Special Need(s) differential per week will increase  to $100.00 for Full Time Service Level; $75.00 for Half Time Service Level; and $50.00 for Part Time Service Level.

Beginning November 4, 2019 DHHS will allow child care providers to bill NH Child Care Scholarship for designated closures. The following closures, per calendar year, are:  Thanksgiving day; Christmas day; New Year’s day; 12 hours of staff professional development; 12 hours of program closures; or federal, state, or DHHS administrator declared disaster closures.

.

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 November 4, 2019.

 

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

 

DCYF/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 941     NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENT RATES FOR A CHILD EXPERIENCING A SIGNIFICANT SPECIAL NEED

PART 947     PAYMENT FOR ABSENTEE/CLOSURE HOURS

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

Changes identified in the SR are effective November 4, 2019 for current cases, and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.

 

This DCYF/CDB Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates is effective November 4, 2019. The Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, (Effective July 2017), should be destroyed and not used after November 3, 2019. 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 Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/forms.htm and on the Child Care Scholarships page of the NH DHHS website https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/eligibility.htm. 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 November 4, 2019. 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 the DCYF/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 DCYF/BCDHSC Form 2533, on the Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/forms.htm and on the Child Care Scholarships page of the NH DHHS website https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/eligibility.htm.

 

On November 4, 2019, a letter titled, Important Changes to New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship, was sent to parents/guardians open for child care. A letter titled, Important Changes to New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Billing, was sent to all DHHS enrolled child care providers.  A copy of each letter is attached to this SR for reference.

 

TRAINING

 

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

 

FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS

 

Remove and Destroy

Insert

 

DCYF/CDB Form 2533 Child Care

Scholarship Program Maximum

Weekly Standard Rates,

Effective July 3, 2017, DCYF/CDB

SR 17-12/July, 2017

1 sheet, single-sided

DCYF/BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program – Employment Related Maximum Weekly Standard Rates, Effective November 4, 2019, DCYF/CDB SR 19-23/November, 2019

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 On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm, effective December 27, 2019. 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/PD/KD:pld

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION

I certify that all copies of DCYF/CDB Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program Maximum

Weekly Standard Rates, (Effective July 3, 2017), dated 7/17, CDB SR 17-12, have been destroyed.

District Office Administrative Supervisor:

 

District Office:

 

 

 

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