Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 5 - Division of Early Child Care and Development › Chapter 1 - Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for Mississippi › Subpart 2 - CCDF SUBSIDY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION › Section 18-5-1-2.5 - Prioritizing Services for Eligible Children and Families

Current through June 25, 2024
At a minimum, CCDF requires Lead Agencies to give priority
					 for child care assistance to children with special needs, or in families with
					 very low incomes. Prioritization of CCDF assistance services is not limited to
					 eligibility determination (i.e., establishment of a waiting list or ranking of
					 eligible families in priority order to be served). Lead Agencies may fulfill
					 priority requirements in other ways such as higher payment rates for providers
					 caring for children with special needs or waiving co-payments for families with
					 very low incomes (at or below the federal poverty level). (658E(c)(3)(B),
					 § 98.44 )
2.5.1.
How will
				  the Lead Agency prioritize child care services to children with special needs
				  or in families with very low incomes?
(658E(c)(3)(B), § 98.44 )
Lead Agencies have the discretion to define
children with special needs
and
children in families
					 with very low incomes.
Lead Agencies are not limited in defining
children with special needs
to only those children with
					 physical or mental disabilities (e.g., with a formal Individual Education Plan
					 (IEP) required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
					 Lead Agencies could consider children in the child welfare system, children of
					 teen parents, or homeless children as examples of
children with special
					 needs.
How will the Lead Agency prioritize CCDF
							 services for:
Eligibility Priority (Check only one)
Is there a time limit on the eligibility
							 priority or guarantee?
Other Priority Rules
Children with special needs
Provide the Lead Agency definition of
Children with Special Needs
Special Needs rates may be applied
								for children through the age of 18 who meet the SSI definition of disability by
								having medically proven physical or mental condition(s) that cause marked and
								severe functional limitations expected to last at least 12 months in duration
								and render the child(ren) incapable of self-care. The condition(s) must be
								documented by a physician. In the absence of SSI benefits, medical
								documentation should attest to the degree of functional limitation(s) and
								prescribe the special care needed.
* Priority over other CCDF-eligible families
[] Same priority as other CCDF-eligible
								families
[] Guaranteed subsidy eligibility
[] Other. Describe
[] Yes. The time limit is:_______
* No
[] Different eligibility thresholds.
								Describe_______
* Higher rates for providers caring for children
								with special needs requiring additional care
[] Prioritizes quality funds for providers serving
								these children
[] Other.
Describe_____
Children in families with very low incomes
Provide the Lead Agency definition of
Children in Families with Very Low Incomes
Income at or below
								the 50 percent of the State Median Income (SMI).
* Priority over other CCDF-eligible families
[] Same priority as other CCDF-eligible families
[] Guaranteed subsidy eligibility
[] Other. Describe
[] Yes. The time limit is:
( No
[] Different eligibility thresholds.
								Describe_____
[] Waiving co-payments for families with incomes
								at or below the Federal Poverty Level
* Other.
Describe None
2.5.2.
How will CCDF funds be used to
				  provide child care assistance to meet the needs of families receiving Temporary
				  Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), those attempting to transition off TANF
				  through work activities, and those at risk of becoming dependent on
				  TANF?
(658E(c)(2)(H), Section 418(b)(2) of the Social Security
					 Act, §§ 98.50(e), 98.16(g)(4) )
Reminder
- CCDF requires that not less than 70
					 percent of CCDF Mandatory and Matching funds be used to provide child care
					 assistance for families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
					 (TANF), those attempting to transition off TANF through work activities, and
					 those at risk of becoming dependent on TANF.
* Use priority rules to meet the needs of TANF families
					 (describe in 2.5.1 or 2.5.3.)
* Waive fees (co-payments) for some or all TANF families
					 who are below poverty level
[] Coordinate with other entities (i.e. TANF office, other
					 State/Territory agencies, and contractors)
[] Other:______
2.5.3.
List and define any other
				  eligibility conditions, priority rules and definitions that will be established
				  by the Lead Agency.
(658E(c)(3)(B), § 98.16(g)(5), § 98.20(b)
				  )
Reminder
Lead Agencies are reminded that any
					 eligibility criteria and terms provided below must comply with the eligibility
					 requirements of § 98.20 and provided in section 2.2. Any priority rules
					 provided must comply with the priority requirements of § 98.44 and
					 provided in section 2.4.1.
Term(s)
Definition(s)