5101:2-16-35.1 Caretaker eligibility requirements to qualify for publicly funded child care benefits.

 

 

 

5101:2-16-35.1            Eligibility for "Early Learning Initiative" (ELI) services.

 

 

 

(A)  The county department of job and family services (CDJFS) shall determine eligibility for services from early learning initiative (ELI) agencies. The requirements of rules 5101:2-16-01, 5101:2-16-07, 5101:2-16-30, 5101:2-16-34, 5101:2-16-35 and 5101:2-16-39 of the Administrative Code shall be followed. The exceptions are as follows:

 

(1)   "Caretaker" means a parent, legal guardian, legal custodian or specified relative. A "specified relative" means the following individuals who are age eighteen or older and who are related by blood or adoption: grandparents,  aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces (including great, great-great or great-great-great), siblings, first cousins, first cousins once removed, stepparents, stepsiblings, spouses and former spouses of any of these individuals.

 

(2)    The caretaker shall be engaged in income eligible employment or training activities.

 

(3)   The caretaker's income shall not exceed the amount shown for initial eligibility in "Appendix A" of this rule.

 

(4)    The caretaker shall be income eligible for ELI services until the caretaker's income exceeds the outtake amount shown in "Appendix A" of this rule.

 

(5)   The caretaker shall be one of the following:

 

(a)   A single caretaker receiving Ohio works first (OWF) cash assistance and participating in OWF program approved activities as stated in a self sufficiency contract.

 

(b)    One of two caretakers in a family receiving OWF cash assistance where both caretakers are at least one caretaker is participating in OWF program approved activities as stated in a self sufficiency contracts contract.

 

(c)    A caretaker who is receiving OWF cash assistance and participating in OWF program approved activities as stated in a self sufficiency contract. ELI eligibility may be approved for up to thirty days if the CDJFS has documentation that an approved activity is expected  to begin within the thirty day period.

 

(d)     A single caretaker engaged in at least one hour per week of paid employment or in a combination of at least one hour per week of paid

 

 

employment and training.

(e)   One of two caretakers in a family where at least one caretaker is engaged in at least one hour per week of paid employment. and the other is in at least one hour per week of paid employment, training or education.

(f)   A caretaker who is currently eligible for ELI and is seeking employment or is taking part in employment orientation activities. ELI eligibility may be approved for up to thirty days if the CDJFS has documentation that the employment or the employment orientation activity is expected to begin within the thirty day period.

(6) A child who is in receipt of child-only OWF cash assistance may be eligible for ELI. The requirements of paragraphs (A)(2), (A)(3), (A)(4) and (A)(10) of this rule do not apply to the eligibility determination of this child. No copayment shall be assigned to this child.

(6)(7) A child who receives ELI services shall be at least three years of age, but not of compulsory school age or enrolled in kindergarten, according to section

3321.01 of the Revised Code.

(7)(8) A child who receives ELI services may receive services from only one ELI agency at any one time.

(8)(9) A child who receives ELI services may be eligible for non-ELI publicly funded child care during weekdays, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:00 six p.m. and 6:00 six a.m., and on weekends between the hours of 6:00 six p.m. Friday to 6:00 six a.m. Monday.

(9)(10) A child who is in the custody of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency is not eligible for ELI services.

(10)(11) The caretaker shall pay the monthly child care family copayment to the ELI agency. This includes situations when other children in the family receive child care services from other child care providers.

(11)(12) The caretaker shall not be responsible for a copayment to the ELI agency if the caretaker's monthly income is below the amount shown for no copayment required in "Appendix A" of this rule.

(13) If a child enters non-ELI publicly funded child care, the copayment requirement shall be effective following written notice from the CDJFS to the caretaker by the JFS 04065 "Prior Notice of Right to a State Hearing" (rev.

5/2001).

(12)(14) The caretaker shall not be responsible for payment of any fees to the ELI provider, other than the applicable copayment.

Effective:                                                     02/16/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         08/01/2009

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

02/06/2006

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           206.67.12 (Temp), 5101.02

Rule Amplifies:                                  206.67.12 (Temp), 5101.02

Prior Effective Dates:                         7/1/04, 7/1/05 (Emer.), 9/26/05, 11/21/05 (Emer.)