Authorization

Form 618d or 626 is the parents/caretakers authority to receive subsidized child care services and is the provider's authority to provide subsidized child care services to eligible parents/caretakers. The authorization informs providers how much care a parent is authorized to receive, what DSS will pay the provider, and what parents/caretakers must pay as part of their fee.

Caregiver/Provider

The person(s), other than the parent/caretaker, whom DSS approves to provide child care services or the approved place where care is provided.

Caretaker

The adult responsible for the primary support and guardianship of the child. As used here, this adult is someone other than the child's parent who acts in place of the parent. If a caretaker is unrelated to the child and has not been awarded custody by Family Court or guardianship, the caretaker is referred to the Division of Family Services to make a determination to either approve the non-relative placement or remove the child.

CCDBG

Child Care and Development Block Grant. 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99 created by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to provide federal funds without state match to:

1. Provide child care to low income families

2. Enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care

3. Provide parents the ability to choose their provider

4. Increase the availability of early childhood programs and before and after school services. Under the Division's DCIS II Child Care Sub system, CCDBG is part of Categories 31 and 41

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations. These are the rules the Federal Government writes to implement federal legislation. Once written and approved, they have the force of law.

CCMIS

Child Care Management Information System, the name used to describe the Division's payment system for child care.

Child

A person under the age of 13, or children 13 through 18 years of age if they are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves or are in need of protective services.

Child Care Category

The DCIS II Child Care Sub system code for the child care funding source. Case Managers choose category codes based on the parents/caretaker???s technical eligibility for service. The codes are:

11 - Participants receiving TANF and not working, but participating in TANF E&T

12 - Participants receiving TANF and working

21 - Participants receiving Food Stamps Benefits who are mandatory or voluntary participants in E&T and not receiving TANF

31 - SSBG, CCDBG, and State funds: Income eligible participants. Participants who receive FS and are not E&T mandatory or voluntary

41 - A participant who is a qualified alien or U.S. citizen is coded as a category 41 when his or her eligibility allows a non U.S. citizen or non-qualified alien to receive child care services. (Example: One child is a citizen and one is not. The citizen child is a 41.)

51 - A participant is coded category 51 when s/he is not a U.S. citizen or legal alien but receives Child Care services due to a family member in category 41

Child Care Centers

A place where licensed or license-exempt child care is provided on a regular basis for periods of less than 24 hours a day to 13 or more children, who are unattended by a parent or guardian.

Child Care Certificate

A form issued to a parent/caretaker which allows a parent/caretaker to choose a child care provider who does not have a contract with DSS. A certificate is not an authorization for child care, but parents who wish to select a non-contracted provider of their choice cannot get care unless the provider completes one.

Child Care Parent Fee

The amount the parent/caretaker must pay toward the cost of child care. The fee is based on the income of the parent(s) and children, or the child if the child lives with a caretaker, family size and a percentage of the cost of care based on type of care requested.

Child Care Services

Those activities that assist eligible families in the arrangement of child care for their children.

Child Care Type

Refers to the setting or place where child care is provided. The four types of care are:

1. Center based (under DCIS II Child Care Sub system Site #17 or 18)

2. Large Family Home (under DCIS II Child Care Sub system Site #16)

3. Family Home (under DCIS II Child Care Sub system Site #15)

4. In-Home (under DCIS II Child Care Sub system Site #19)

Children From Low Income Families

Children in families whose income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL).

DCIS II

Delaware Client Information System, the automated client eligibility system for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Educational Program

Educational Program - A program of instruction to achieve:

1. A basic literacy level of 8.9;

2. Instruction in English as a second language;

3. A GED, Adult Basic Education (ABE), or High School Diploma;

4. Completion of approved special training or certificate courses;

5. A post-secondary degree where the degree is part of an approved DSS Employment and Training program.

The above definition excludes the pursuit of a graduate degree or second four-year college degree. A second associate???s degree may be attained if it leads to a bachelor???s degree. The completion of a second associate's degree can be authorized only if it has a significant chance of leading to employment.

Employment

Employment - Either part-time or full time work for which the parent/caretaker receives wages equal to minimum wage or an equivalent. It also includes periods of up to three months of continued child care services when parents/caretakers lose one job and need to search for another, or when one job ends and another job has yet to start.

Family Child Care Home

A private residence other than the child???s residence, where licensed care is provided for one to six children who are not related to the caregiver.

Family Size

The total number of persons whose needs and income are considered together. This will always include the parent(s) (natural, legal, adoptive, step, and unmarried partners with a child in common) and all their dependent children under 18 living in the home.

Food Benefit Employment and Training

The program by which certain unemployed mandatory and/or voluntary Food Benefit recipients participate in activities to gain skills or receive training to obtain regular, paid employment. Persons can receive child care if they need care to participate. This is referred to as Food Benefit Employment & Training. Under the Division's DCIS II Child Care Sub system, this is Category 21.

Income

Any type of money payment that is of gain or benefit to a family. Examples of income include wages, social security pensions, public assistance payments, child support, etc.

Income Eligible

A family is financially eligible to receive child care services based on the family's gross income. It also refers to child care programs under Category 31.

Income Limit

The maximum amount of gross income a family can receive to remain financially eligible for child care services. Current income limit is 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

In-Home Care

Care provided for a child in the child's own home by either a relative or non-relative, other than the parent/caretaker, where such care is exempt from licensing requirements. Care is limited to the child(ren) residing in the household. It also refers to situations where care is provided by a relative in the relative's own home. This care is also exempt from licensing requirements and is also limited to the children of one household.

Job Training/Training

A program which either establishes or enhances a person's job skills. Such training either leads to employment or allows a person to maintain employment already obtained. Such training includes, but is not limited to: Food Benefit Employment & Training (FB E&T) contracted programs; WIA sponsored training programs, recognized school vocational programs, and on-the-job training programs.

Large Family Child Care Home

A licensed child care service provided for part of a twenty-four (24) hour day, offered by any person or entity including but not limited to an owner, association, agency or organization that advertises or holds himself, herself or itself out as conducting such a service. This person or entity has in custody or control seven (7) to a maximum of twelve (12) children preschool-age or older who live at and/or are present at the Large Family Child Care Home. In addition to the children preschool-age or younger, this person or entity may also have custody or control of one (1) to a maximum of two (2) school-age children who do not live at the Large Family Child Care Home but are present only for before and after school, and/or during school holidays, and/or during the summer. All of these children are provided care, education, protection, supervision or guidance in a private home or non-residential setting. This does not include a child care service provided exclusively to relatives as defined by these rules.

Legal Care

Care which is either licensed or exempt from licensing requirements.

Parent

The child's natural mother, natural legal father, adoptive mother or father, or step-parent.

Parental Choice

The right of parents/caretakers to choose from a broad range of child care providers, the type and location of child care.

Physical or Mental Incapacity

A dysfunctional condition which disrupts the child's normal development patterns during which the child cannot function without special care and supervision. Such condition must be verified by either a doctor or other professional with the competence to do so.

Protective Services

The supervision/placement of a child by the Division of Family Services in order to monitor and prevent situations of abuse or neglect.

Purchase of Care Plus (POC+)

Care option that allows providers to charge most DSS clients the difference between the DSS reimbursement rate up to the provider's private fee for service. The provider receives DSS rate, the DSS determined child care parent fee, if applicable, and any additional provider-determined co-pay.

Reimbursement Rates

The maximum dollar amount the State will pay for child care services.

Relative

Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters adult brother or sister, cousins, and any other relative as defined by TANF policy, including step relatives, as they are related to the child.

Residing With

Living in the home of the parent or caretaker.

Seamless Services

To the extent permitted by applicable laws, a family is able to retain the same provider regardless of the source of funding, and providers are able to provide services to children regardless of the basis for the family's eligibility for assistance or the source of payment.

Self-Arranged Care

Child care which either parents or caretakers arrange on their own between themselves and providers. In this instance, the parents/caretakers choose to use a child care certificate, but the provider does not accept the State reimbursement rate for child care services. DSS limits payment for self-arranged care to its regular provider rates. Parents/caretakers, in addition to any parent fee they pay, must also pay the difference between DSS' reimbursement rates and the providers' charge.

Self-Initiated

Clients who enter an education or training program on their own. The education or training program must be comparable to a Food Benefit Employment & Training (FB E&T) - TANF education or training component. Self-initiated clients must receive child care services if there is a child care need.

Special Needs Child

A child under 19 years of age whose physical, emotional, or developmental needs require special care. Both the need and care must be verified by a doctor or other professional with the authority to do so.

Special Needs Parent/Caretaker

An adult, who because of a special need, is unable on his/her own to care for children. The need must be verified by a doctor or other professional with the authority to do so.

SSBG

Social Services Block Grant. Under the DCIS II Child Care Sub system, this is Category 31 child care.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a program established by Title IV-A of the Social Security Act and authorized by Title 31 of the Delaware Code to provide benefits to needy children who are deprived of parental support and care. While on TANF, families are eligible for child care only as long as they are working or participating in a TANF Employment and Training activity (Categories 11 and 12).

TANF Child Care

The name of the child care program for TANF recipients who work or who are participating in a TANF Employment and Training program. Under the DCIS II Child Care Sub system, this is Category 11 and 12.

Technical Eligibility

Parents/caretakers meet requirements, other than financial, to receive child care services based on need and category.

Verification

Written or oral documentation, demonstrating either need for service or sources of income.

Work Force Investment Act (WIA)

Federal Legislation that consolidates Employment and Training programs and funding streams. This legislation embodies the One Stop Employment and Training Service system under DOL.