The Minnesota Department of Human
Services (DHS) is
designated under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B as the lead state agency for
supervision of county administration of the Child Care Assistance Program
(CCAP). Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.08, subd.3 requires counties to submit
a biennial Child Care Fund Plan to the commissioner. The Department of Human
Services will complete review and approval of County Child Care Fund Plans.
Counties will receive approval letters for their Child Care Fund Plans from the
commissioner of DHS.
The
Child Care Assistance Program rules and laws allow counties limited discretion
to establish some local policies and procedures. These local policies and
procedures, when included in this plan and approved by the commissioner, are
considered county policy and are used to support county agency decisions during
appeals. The Department of Human
Services encourages counties to develop county optional policies for the child
care assistance program in coordination with local child care stakeholders.
This may include regional child care resource and referral agencies, parent
participants, employers, family and center based child care providers,
community Head Start programs, schools, public health, community collaborative,
employment counselors, and county social services, income maintenance, child
support, fraud prevention and other interested governmental and private sector
parties.
All optional county child care
assistance program policies must be identified in this plan.
Submit only forms that have
not been previously submitted and approved.
Changes
or additions to any policies or written material submitted and approved with this plan require prior
approval of the commissioner of the Department of Human Services through the
Child Care Assistance Program administration plan amendment process.
MN Rules 3400.0150, subpart 3.
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0150
A county may amend its Child Care Fund Plan at any time
but the amendment must be approved by the commissioner before it becomes
effective. If approved by the commissioner, the amendment is effective on the
date requested by the county unless a different effective date is set by the
commissioner. Plan amendments must be approved or denied by the commissioner
within 60 days after receipt of the amendment request.
Amendments include changes in county optional policies,
new or revised forms and notices. This
can be sent in letter form to the address below in care of your county’s CCAP
technical assistance liaison.
The effective date of the 2008 - 2009 Child Care Fund Plan is January
1, 2008
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Return
completed plans by September 15, 2007 to: Minnesota Department of Human Services TES/Child Care Fund Plan PO Box 64951 St. Paul, MN 55164-0951 |
I.
Child
care assistance program administration contacts
These individuals will receive
all communications relating to CCAP for the duration of this plan. Identify the
name, position/title, department, address, phone number, fax number and
Internet e-mail address for the following contacts. If more than one person is
identified for each agency contact, attach additional pages.
A. Agency contact people
1.
County CCAP Administrative
Contact
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NAME: Chris Ziegler |
POSITION/TITLE:
Fiscal Supervisor I |
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DEPARTMENT: Human Services of Faribault & Martin
Counties |
TELEPHONE
NUMBER: (507) 238-4757 |
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ADDRESS:
115 West First Street |
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CITY: Fairmont |
STATE: MN |
ZIP
CODE: 56031 |
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FAX: (507) 238-1574 |
INTERNET
E-MAIL: chris.ziegler@fmchs.com |
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2.
County Client Access Contact
If separate contact people have been designated
for CCAP subprograms, complete all identified information for each subprogram
and identify the subprogram each person is responsible for.
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NAME: Marci
Barfknecht Kathy
Von Bank |
POSITION/TITLE: Case Aide Financial
Worker |
SUBPROGRAMS: BSF MFIP &
TY |
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DEPARTMENT: Human Services of Faribault & Martin
Counties |
TELEPHONE
NUMBER: (507) 238-4757 |
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ADDRESS: 115 West First Street |
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CITY: Fairmont |
STATE: MN |
ZIP
CODE: 56031 |
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FAX: (507) 238-1574 |
INTERNET
E-MAIL: marci.barfknecht@fmchs.com |
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3. Management of
Waiting List Contact
Please
identify the waiting
list contact person in your county. The
waiting list contact person identified should be responsible for maintaining
the county waiting list, including being able to respond to the state’s
questions about particular families reported on the waiting list. If more than one person is responsible for
maintaining the county waiting list, please identify one person that can be
contacted by state staff for the agency.
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NAME: Marci Barfknecht |
POSITION/TITLE: Case Aide |
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DEPARTMENT: BSF Child Care Assistance Program |
TELEPHONE
NUMBER: (507) 238-4757 |
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ADDRESS: 115 1st St SW |
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City: Fairmont |
State:
MN |
Zip Code:
56031 |
|
|
FAX: (507) 238-1574 |
Internet
E-Mail: marci.barfknecht@fmchs.com |
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4.
Intake Phone Number
Please identify a public phone
number that can be issued for CCAP client intake. This contact number will be
posted on the DHS web site.
|
NAME: Social
Services Intake Worker |
Telephone Number:
(507) 238-4757 |
B.
Subcontracted
services
If your county subcontracts any components of the
child care assistance program, indicate the program components that are
subcontracted to other agencies and
attach a copy of the current contract or agreement. Minnesota Rules 3400.0140, subp.7.
1.
Subcontracted Program Components
Please identify the CCAP
components which have been subcontracted.
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None |
2. County worker responsible
for administration of the subcontract/agreement between the county agency and
the subcontracted agency.
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NAME: None |
POSITION/TITLE: |
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DEPARTMENT:
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TELEPHONE
NUMBER: |
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ADDRESS: |
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City: |
State: |
Zip Code: |
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Fax: |
Internet E-Mail: |
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3. Administrative Contact in Subcontracted Agency
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NAME: none |
POSITION/TITLE: |
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DEPARTMENT:
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TELEPHONE
NUMBER: |
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ADDRESS: |
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City: |
State: |
Zip Code: |
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Fax: |
Internet E-Mail: |
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4. Client Access Contact in Subcontracted Agency
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NAME: none |
POSITION/TITLE: |
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DEPARTMENT:
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TELEPHONE
NUMBER: |
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ADDRESS: |
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City: |
State: |
Zip Code: |
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FAX: |
Internet E-Mail: |
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5. Intake Phone Number in Subcontracted Agency
Please identify a public
phone number that can be issued for CCAP intake at the subcontracted agency.
This contact number will be posted on the DHS web site.
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NAME: NONE |
Telephone Number: |
A.
Priorities
for Service
Has your county established
priorities for Basic Sliding Fee child care assistance beyond those required in
Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.03, subdivision 4? www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/119B/03.html
Yes No
If yes,
please identify the additional priorities and county rationale for determining
those additional priorities. Please attach additional pages if more spaces is
needed.
Minnesota
Rules 3400.0140, subp.10
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0140.html
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B. Education Plans under the Basic Sliding Fee Program (BSF)
1a.
Describe your county process for approving an acceptable course of study that
will reasonably lead to
full-time employment for a student applicant under
the Basic Sliding Fee program. Please attach
additional pages if more space is needed.
Minnesota Rules 3400.0040, subp. 12
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0040.html
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The student applicant is required to obtain a letter from his/her school advisor indicating that the course of study will reasonably lead to full-time employment opportunities in the region and self-sufficiency with at least an 80% placement rate in the specified field. Educational plans must also meet the criteria set forth in the DHS Child Care Assistance Policy Manual 9.12 regarding authorized hours.
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1b.
Identify the criteria for approval and the county’s rationale for the criteria.
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2a. Is your county policy for approving and extending
child care assistance for participants whose education
program change the same as the initial approval process
stated in B1a?
Yes No
Minnesota Rules 3400.0040, subp.15.
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0040.html
If no, describe your county process
for approval of a CHANGE in a course of study for a student in the Basic
Sliding Fee child care program. Please
attach additional pages if more space is needed.
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2b. Identify the criteria for approval of a change in a
course of study for a student in the BSF child care program and county rationale
for the criteria.
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Same
as B 1a. |
C. Temporarily Ineligible
Families on the Basic Sliding Fee Waiting List
MN Rules 3400.0060 subp. 6 requires that when a
family advances to the top of the county’s waiting list and is temporarily
ineligible for child care assistance, the county shall leave the family at the
top of the waiting list according to priority group and serve the applicant who
is next on the waiting list unless an alternative procedure is provided in the
county’s plan. Does your county use the
alternative provision found in MN Rules 3400.0040 subp. 17 to open the case in reserve status for up to 90 days and
encumber future funds for the family?
Yes No
Minnesota Rules 3400.0040, subpart 17
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0040.html
Minnesota Rules 3400.0060,
subpart 6
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0060.html
If yes, please identify the criteria
used to make the decision whether to open the case and reserve the position if
a family reaches the top of the waiting list but is temporarily ineligible.
Please attach additional pages if more space is needed.
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D. Child Care for Job Search Activities
Has your county established policies for the
authorization of child care assistance during job search beyond those required
in Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.10, subdivision 1(a) and Minnesota Rules,
part 3400.0040, subpart 15a.? Yes No
Minnesota
Rules 3400.0040, subpart 15a
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0040.html
If yes,
please identify the criteria used for authorizing child care for job
search. Please attach additional pages
if more spaces is needed.
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E.
Expedited Application
Process for Adolescent Parents
Describe your county process to expedite and streamline
the child care assistance application process for minor parents participating
in school-based adolescent parenting child care programs and DWP participants
that need child care. Please attach
additional pages if more space is needed.
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Faribault and Martin Counties do not have any
school-based adolescent parenting childcare programs. Childcare assistance applications are
completed at the time of the DWP interview if the family may be in need of childcare
assistance. DWP plans are provided to
the Childcare Assistance Case Worker from the employment counselor upon
completion. For applicants attending a school outside of Faribault & Martin counties, the application would be forwarded immediately to the Unit Supervisor for review (at least once per week), and assigned immediately or placed on the waiting list according to priority.
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F. Expedited Application Process for DWP
Parents
Minnesota
Statutes 256J.95 states “if child care is needed, the worker must obtain a
completed application for child care assistance from the applicant before the
interview is terminated. The same day
the application for child care assistance is received, the application must be
forwarded to the appropriate child care worker.”
Does
your county assist the parent in filling out an application for child care
assistance as part of the interview process?
Yes No
A. Unsafe Care Criteria
Minnesota
Statutes, section 119B.125, subdivision 2, contains the criteria that prevent a
person from being authorized as a legal nonlicensed family child care provider.
This criteria includes a list of offenses that automatically bar a person from
being authorized as a legal nonlicensed family child care provider. Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.125,
subdivision 4, however, also allows counties to deny authorization to a
provider, or to rescind an authorization, when the county knows that the provider
or the care arrangement is unsafe.
List
the additional conditions beyond those contained in Minnesota Statues, section
119B.125, subdivision 2, under which a legal nonlicensed provider or legal
nonlicense care arrangement will be determined to be unsafe. Your conditions
cannot conflict with the criteria in Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.125,
subdivision 2, by providing that a conviction for a crime or offense not listed
in that subdivision is an automatic bar to authorization as a legal,
nonlicensed family child care provider.
Instead, a conviction for a crime or offense not listed in Minnesota
Statutes, section 119B.125, subdivision 2, may constitute unsafe care, and
therefore bar authorization, only when the conviction reflects on the
provider's ability to provide care. Please attach additional pages if more
spaces is needed.
Minnesota
Statutes, section 119B.125, subdivision 2
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/119B/125.html
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In addition,
unsafe care would be determined if there was one of the following: (1)
finding of neglect under the child protection statutes {MN Statutes 626.556,
Subd. 2(c) 1,2,3,8 or 9}. (2) If the agency has a child protection report
that there was no finding of maltreatment but it was determined that services
were needed and the resulting child protection service plan has services that
are indicative of an environment that would be unsafe for a child. These plans would be reviewed by social
services case worker and Social Services Supervisor to determine if an unsafe
environment still existed. This would
apply only to current open cases. Or
(3) a child protection assessment has been completed and there was no finding
of maltreatment and a service plan is
determined to be needed but is not implemented due to the children not being
in the home. The Social Services
Supervisor must review the case with the social services case worker and make
the determination that, based on the maltreatment issues and the areas
identified as needing to be addressed in a child protection service plan,
that the environment would present a safety issue to children. The look-back period on these cases would
be ten years, the length of time that a case would be on record according to
MN Statute 626.556, sub. 11c(b). |
1. Does your county apply the
above unsafe care criteria to licensed providers also?
Yes No
If yes, does your county communicate
the concerns with your county licensing division (for licensed family
providers) or DHS licensing (for centers)?
Yes No
2. Has your
county also consulted with your county attorney about applying the unsafe care
criteria to licensed providers?
Yes No
B. Records of Substantiated Parental Complaints
Describe
your county’s process for maintaining a record of substantiated parental
complaints concerning the
health and safety of children in the care of legal nonlicensed
providers and how this information is made
available to the public upon request.
Minnesota Rules 3400.0140, subp.5
45 C.F.R. § 98.32
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3400/0140.html
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Complaints are referred to social services and
logged. The licensing worker is
consulted. The childcare case worker
maintains records of legal, nonlicensed providers, including those who are
denied due to investigations and/or convictions. Information requests are referred to the childcare case
worker's immediate supervisor and/or the social services supervisor. The supervisor would release information
to the public as authorized under MN Statutes, Chapter 13. |
IV.
Special needs rates
If charged by the provider, counties shall
reimburse all providers for the care of children with disabilities or special
needs at a rate that exceeds the county maximum rate subject to the approval of
the commissioner
Rates will be determined based on the special
needs of children and provider’s ability to provide specialized services. When four or more providers offer the same
specialized care for the same special need in a like environment, the county
will identify and pay the 75th percentile rate, the rate negotiated
with the provider by the county, or the provider rate, whichever is less.
Rates paid for the care of children with special
needs are allowed to exceed county maximum rates in the following special need
circumstances. Please provide
information on special needs rate currently paid in the following sections. Please
attach a separate sheet of paper if more space is needed for each special need
circumstances.
Minnesota
Statutes 119B.13, subd.3
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/119B/13.html
Minnesota
Rules 3400.0130, subp.3