DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Division of Social Services

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

Child Care Subsidy Program

In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures Act (APA - Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code) and under the authority of Title 31 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 5, Section 512, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) / Division of Social Services (DSS) is proposing to amend the Division of Social Services Manual (DSSM) regarding the Child Care Subsidy Program.

Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, testimony, briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed new regulations must submit same to Sharon L. Summers, Policy & Program Development Unit, Division of Social Services, 1901 North DuPont Highway, P.O. Box 906, New Castle, Delaware 19720-0906 or by fax to (302) 255-4425 by April 30, 2008.

The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulation will be based upon the results of Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments and written materials filed by other interested persons.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL

The purpose of this regulatory action is to amend the Division of Social Services Manual (DSSM) regarding the Child Care Subsidy Program – Necessity of Child Care requirements.

DSSM 11003.8, Necessity of Child Care: This rule revision removes the language (and related text) that negates the need for child care if there is another responsible and capable adult in the household who could care for the child. Only parents are legally obligated to care for their child.

11003.8 Necessity of Child Care

For parent/caretakers to receive child care services, DSS will need to consider whether child care is necessary. Child care will be considered necessary when:

A. the child is not in school during the hours of the parent/caretaker's employment; or

B. the child is not in school during the hours of the parent/caretaker's participation in a training or education component of a DSS Food Stamp or TANF Employment and Training program; or

C. both parents in a two parent household have a need for child care. For example:

1. in two parent households both parents work; or

2. one works and the other has another need (such as education or training), is incapacitated (a parent who needs to participate in in-patient rehabilitation is included in the meaning of incapacitated) or is unavailable (such as one parent works the late shift and needs to sleep during the day while the other parent works); or

D. there is no other responsible and capable adult in the household (such as another family member).

DSS will make an exception in the last case if the other adult household member is incapacitated, the child is at risk of abuse, or the age or disposition of the other adult makes it unlikely to expect him/her to provide care (such as grandparents are not required to provide care if they are not inclined to do so on their own).

10 DE Reg. 1007 (12/01/06)