606 CMR, § 10.06 - Department of Children and Families (DCF)-related Child Care Program
Subject to appropriation, DCF may issue referrals for children with active cases at DCF or during a transitional period following their case closure through the DCF-related child care program, as described in 606 CMR 10.06(1) through (9). DCF referrals for child care financial assistance shall be issued in accordance with the regulations, guidelines, and policies established by DCF and in accordance with the general provisions for child care financial assistance described in 606 CMR 10.03, unless otherwise noted.
(1)
Authorization.
For any child with active cases at DCF, DCF may issue a referral for child care
services to the parent.
(2)
Referral and Waitlist. DCF or its designee will
determine the appropriateness of and authorize all referrals for DCF-related
child care, and may either:
(a) refer the
parent to a Family Access Administrator authorized by EEC to provide
DCF-related child care appropriate to the age and needs of the child;
or
(b) enter the child on a
waitlist for child care, if there are no appropriate openings
available.
(3)
Eligibility Criteria. DCF or its designee shall
determine eligibility of its clients for DCF-related child care, in accordance
with DCF regulations and policy. The child care referral is sufficient
documentation that the children listed on the referral are eligible for
DCF-related child care. Family Access Administrators shall verify the identity
of the parents listed on the child care referral issued by DCF in accordance
with 606 CMR
10.03(1)(b). The asset
requirements established in
606
CMR 10.04(2)(a)4. shall be
waived for all families referred for child care financial assistance through
the DCF-related child care program.
(4)
Eligibility
Period. The DCF-related child care financial assistance will be
authorized by the Family Access Administrator for not less than 12 months, and
may be renewed by DCF for an additional 12-month period as needed. Unless
approved by the DCF social worker and DCF supervisor, referrals for DCF-related
child care may not be renewed more than once. Family Access Administrators
shall notify families no fewer than two times that their eligibility period is
ending. At least one of these notifications shall be in writing and shall be
provided no fewer than 60 days prior to the end of the eligibility period.
(a)
Transitional
Families. DCF may authorize transitional DCF-related child care to
continue beyond the closure of the DCF case for no less than 12 months. Parents
who seek eligibility following the parent's initial 12-month transitional
period may receive priority access to child care financial assistance for one
additional, transitional 12-month period, not to exceed 24 months from the date
the family's DCF case closed. A parent fee shall not be assessed at the initial
12-month transitional period in accordance with
606
CMR 10.03(2).
(b)
Fee Assessment.
DCF families with child care referrals who currently have an open case with DCF
shall not be charged any parent fees. Transitional child care authorizations
shall not be assessed a parent fee during the initial 12-month transitional
period in accordance with
606
CMR 10.03(2).
(5)
Information
Sharing. Subject to the authorization of the parents, DCF or its
designee will share information with the child care educator/provider regarding
the child's behavior and the family's psychosocial history to assist the child
care educator/provider in meeting the needs of the child and family.
(6)
Enrollment. The
parents shall complete the enrollment process in accordance with the child care
educator/provider's policies and procedures.
(7)
Denial or Termination of
DCF-related Child Care. DCF-related child care will continue until
the end of the authorization period under
606
CMR 10.06(4). DCF-related
child care will not be renewed at the reauthorization period once the
protective case has closed, or when DCF has determined that services are no
longer appropriate, whichever first occurs. Parents wishing to appeal the
termination or denial of DCF-related child care may do so through the DCF Fair
Hearing Process, in accordance with DCF policy and
110 CMR
10.00: Fair Hearings and
Grievances.
(8)
Continuity of Care. Parent(s) seeking to continue
eligibility upon the end of the DCF-related child care services may continue to
receive child care financial assistance through the income eligible child care
program provided that the family meets the requirements set forth in
606
CMR 10.03 and
10.04.
Notes
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