Approved Relative 400-28-105-20
(Revised 4/1/16 ML #3464)
Approved relatives must be approved to provide care for specific children. CCAP will only make payment for children who are identified on the approved relative’s approval letter.
An Approved Relative is a provider, whose relationship to the child by marriage, blood, or court degree, is a:
- Grandparent (including step-grandparents)
- Great-grand parent (including great step-grandparents)
- Aunt or uncle (including step-aunt or uncle)
- Sibling (including step-siblings) when the sibling lives at a separate residence form the child(ren).
NOTE: Siblings cannot be an ‘approved relative’ provider if the sibling resides with the child(ren).
Approved relatives must apply to become eligible. The following items are required as part of the application process:
- SFN 23, Application for Approval for Relative Child Care Provider
- W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certificate
- SFN 433, Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry for each household member age 18 and over
- Verification of SSN or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Verification of relationship to the children that care will be provided for. Acceptable verification includes but is not limited to:
Birth certificates
Adoption papers
Court records
To assure the health and safety of children, the approved relative and all adult household members (18 and over) will be subject to the following background checks:
- North Dakota Supreme Court website
- North Dakota State’s Attorney’s Sex Offender website
- Children and Family Services criminal back ground check
An Approved Relative’s request to be a provider will be denied or will be terminated in an ongoing case when the applicant or household members have been found guilty of, pled guilty to, or pled no contest to any offense described in section 75-02-01.3.05 of North Dakota Administrative Code (N.D.A.C.).
Approved relatives can only provide care in the provider’s own home. Approved relative providers cannot be approved to provide care in the child’s home unless the child is subject to policy at 400-28-35-30, In Home Care Due to Illness/Disability.
An approval or denial letter will be sent to the applicant upon determination. An applicant may appeal the decision by submitting a signed written request to the agency within 30 days from the date of the notice of the letter. During an appeal process, payments will not be made by the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
- A pending notice will be sent in situations when more information is needed. The applicant or approved provider has 10 days to respond to the notice. If the applicant does not respond to the notice within 10 days, the application will be denied. In ongoing approvals, the approval must end at the end of the month after the 10 days have passed.
Once approved, a provider number will be assigned by the state CCAP office.
Approved relative providers must renew the approval every year in order to continue to receive CCAP. The provider must also submit a W-9 yearly with their renewal application.
If the approved relative provider moves, the approval becomes invalid and the provider must reapply.
Approved relative providers are required to maintain attendance records for each child in their care. Records should include the child’s name, the date, and check-in/check-out times. All attendance records must be made available at the request of the state or county social services office. The attendance records must be handled in a manner that protects the identity of CCAP families.
