SR 24-23 Dated 08/24

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - Bureau of family assistance (bfa)

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

NEW HEIGHTS & NH EASY SYSTEMS PROCEDURES

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 August 26, 2024.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

The following changes have been made to BCDHSC Forms:

·       BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program-Employment Related Maximum Standard Weekly Rates

-   Updates the child care weekly standard 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.

The new version of BFA Form 2533 will also be available electronically on the DHHS website at http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/forms-documents-0  and NH EASY Gateway to Services at https://nheasy.nh.gov/#/forms.

BCDHSC Form 2533, Child Care Scholarship Program-Employment Related Maximum Standard Weekly Rates, and the associated instructions will also be available internally, for Department staff only, on the N:\ drive upon release of this SR.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Family Assistance Manual Topics

PART 937       NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP WEEKLY STANDARD RATES

PART 939       DETERMINING THE NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT

IMPLEMENTATION

This policy is effective August 26, 2024 for current cases, and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.

The prior paper version of BFA or DFA Form 2533 Child Care Scholarship Program-Employment Related Maximum Standard Weekly Rates, must be recycled and the new version used immediately. A Certificate of Destruction has been included with this SR.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Clients will be advised of the new NH Child Care Scholarship maximum weekly standard rates at application or redetermination on or after August 26, 2024. 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.

FORMS INSTRUCTIONS

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 Online Manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for BFA 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 https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sr_htm/sr.htm, effective September 2, 2024.

BCDHSC/jm