Allowable Activities 400-28-55

 

Allowable Activities 400-28-55-05

(Revised 7/1/16 ML #3472)

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Caretakers must be participating in an allowable activity to be eligible for assistance under the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

 

The following are allowable CCAP activities at application and review:

  1. Work – Work is an activity in which an individual is engaged through employment or self-employment. Work must entail personal involvement and effort on the part of the applicant or recipient.

The following are allowable work activities:

  • Paid work studies, internships or assistantships (this includes when an individual is in a non-allowable postsecondary education program).

Note: Child care providers must be licensed, self-declared or registered by a tribe in order to be considered an allowable activity. Approved relative providers are not considered to be in an allowable activity.

  1. Education or Training - Child care relating to an allowable education or training activity.

Allowable postsecondary education includes:

  • Certificate
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree

CCAP may pay eligible child care costs for individuals pursing a certificate, Associate's degree or Bachelor’s degree provided the individual has not already earned a Bachelor’s degree.

NOTE: Payment of postsecondary educational related child care costs incurred by an individual who already has earned a Bachelor's degree is prohibited. See policy in 400-28-60, Non-Allowable Activities.

Required activities related to the pursuit of a post-secondary degree (student teaching, internships, etc.) may be considered allowable activities.

If an individual has already earned a certificate or Associate’s degree, eligible child care costs are allowed if the individual is continuing to pursue another allowable education activity and has not earned a Bachelor’s degree.

Attending high school or alternative high school or pursuing a GED is an allowable activity even if the individual is not participating in Crossroads.

Traditional high school "attendance" is defined by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) as:

GED may be full time/part-time.

If a high school diploma or GED is not required to receive a certificate, it is considered training and is not considered postsecondary education.

Example: A Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certificate is NOT considered postsecondary education as a high school diploma is not required to receive a CNA certificate.

 

Allowable Training includes but is not limited to:

  • Basic remedial education
  • Training designed to assist an individual to achieve basic literacy
  • Training needed to secure or retain employment which includes skills and technology training
  • Vocational Training (trade school or career school)
  • Individuals who are participating in classes for English as a second language.
  • Internet Classes – Child care related to completing on-line computer classes that meets the allowable education or training requirements is an allowable activity.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation education plans must follow CCAP education requirements.

The following are allowable CCAP activities after initial eligibility has been established:

  1. Job Search - Job search is not an allowable activity at the time of application or review. Job search hours can only be allowed in ongoing cases after a case has been approved for work, education or training.

    In households with two caretakers, if one caretaker is in an allowable activity (work, education or training) and the other caretaker only has job search as an activity, the application or review must be denied.

Exception:

Job search hours are allowable at the time of application or review for households that are also in receipt of Diversion, TANF or Transition. Job search hours must be listed on the most recent JOBS employability plan.

Example 1:

Mom applies for CCAP on May 5th listing her only allowable activity as job search. The application must be denied as job search is not an allowable activity at time of application.

Example 2:

Mom applies for CCAP on June 16th and had a job at the time of application. The case is approved based on mom’s work schedule. Mom reports on September 13th that she lost her job and is now job searching. Child care can be allowed for the time mom searches for a job.

Example 3:

Dad applies for CCAP on October 2nd listing his allowable activities as education and job search. The application can be approved for education hours only, as job search is not an allowable activity at time of application.

Child care for job search is allowed for eight weeks in a calendar year. When a household includes two caretakers, each caretaker is eligible for eight weeks of job search per calendar year. Job Search hours are limited to 20 hours per week. No additional hours are allowed for travel and breaks.

Exception:

TANF recipients must follow the JOBS program guidelines, therefore, the 20 hours per week limitation and 8 weeks within a calendar year limitation does not apply to TANF recipients who are participating in the JOBS program and their JOBS employment plan includes ‘Job Search’.

The caretaker(s) must provide a written and signed statement with the dates, time and the job search activity they were participating in (example: submitting the date and time they were submitting applications, interviews). If this is not provided with the Child Care Billing Report form, the hours are not considered allowable.

  1. Parental Leave – Parental Leave includes maternity, paternity and adoption leave. Parental leave is not an allowable activity at the time of application or review. Leave hours can only be allowed in ongoing cases after a case has been approved for work, education or training. The caretaker must intend to return to their employment, education or training.

    In households with two caretakers, if one caretaker is in an allowable activity (work, education or training) and the other caretaker only has paternity leave as an activity, the application or review must be denied.

Example 1:

Mom applies for CCAP on May 5th listing her only allowable activity as parental leave. The application must be denied as parental leave is not an allowable activity at time of application.

Example 2:

Mom applies for CCAP on June 16th and had a job at the time of application. The case is approved based on mom’s work schedule. Mom reports on September 13th that she is now on parental leave. Child care can be allowed for the time mom takes for parental leave.

When an ongoing household includes two caretakers, each caretaker is eligible for eight weeks of parental leave.

Child care for parental leave is allowed for eight weeks in a calendar year. The level of care must continue at the same level that was established before the caretaker went onto parental leave. No additional hours are allowed for travel and breaks.