clarifying information
See WAC 170-290-0040 and WAC 170-290-0045
State and Federal regulations define child care as care provided for less than 24 hours per day. This prohibits the authorization and payment for 24 hour child care. Requests for 24 hour child care are usually for two types of situations when consumers are:
On work duty for 24-hour shifts (such as firemen) and absent from the home for a few days at a time; or Away from home for longer periods of time such as for training, work or military deployment.
These types of request most often come from consumers in single-adult homes, and the consumer requests care from an in-home / relative provider. If you receive these types of requests, follow the procedures below.
worker responsibilities
Determine the length of time the parent is requesting this level of care.
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If more than 30 consecutive days, deny the request. (You can submit an Exception to Rule (ETR) if appropriate.)
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If less than 30 days, approve the request for a payment for no more than 16 hours per day.
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EXAMPLE 1
Laura is a single parent who must be out of town for two-weeks to attend National Guard training. Laura wants to leave her child in the care of Susan (her sister) in Susan's home. Authorize child care for a maximum of 16 hours per day, with Susan providing the care.
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EXAMPLE 2
If in the previous example Susan (the relative provider) is employed and requires child care while she works, Laura (the mother) needs to choose a second provider. Laura has arranged for ABC Child Care to provide care while Susan works. Child Care is only authorized for up to a total of 16 hours per day. This includes care provided by Susan and care provided by ABC while Susan is at her job. Laura requests 10 hours with ABC day care which leaves up to six hours that can be authorized to Susan as the in-home/relative provider.
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EXAMPLE 3
A single TANF parent participates in an approved WorkFirst activity (it is in the IRP). The activity requires the parent to be out of the home for more than 30 days. Deny the child care request. However, you can submit an exception to rule request to DEL Central Office before denying the care.
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EXAMPLE 4
A consumer works 7pm-7am. She needs care for 13 hours for work and also requests sleep time hours. She chooses an in-home/relative provider for her work hours and wants to use a licensed provider for her sleep hours. The consumer can choose how many hours to be authorized with each provider to equal no more than 16 hours total. For instance, she can choose the in-home relative provider be paid for nine hours, leaving seven hours (full-days) for the licensed provider.
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NOTE: |
Sleep hours should not equal more than 8 hours in most cases. |
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EXAMPLE 5
A single parent works as an emergency medical technician with the fire department, and is eligible for WCCC. She must be on-site at the fire station 24 hours per day for three days, then has 5 days off. She wants to have her mother, the children's grandmother, care for the children as in in-home / relative provider in the children's home. As long as the grandmother meets the requirements of WAC 170-290-0130, you can authorize no more than 16 hours of care per day while the mother is at her work site.
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