Agenda - 03-21-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Waiting List numbers periodically experience lazge fluctuations. The Division Of Child Development requires that people an the Department of Social Services waiting list be surveyed at least every six months to determine if they aze still in need of child care subsidy. People who fail to respond to the survey, or are no longer eligible for subsidy are deleted from the list. Historically there is a poor response to waiting list surveys. In November 2004, Social Services staffmailed waiting list surveys to 257 pazems, Only 41 surveys were returned, This resulted in the names of 288 children being deleted from the waiting list. Historically, many of the families deleted from the waiting list will contact the agency again and be placed back on the waiting list. Child Care Services Association also periodically purges their waiting list to be certain that those on the list still require subsidy and are still eligible. This is done to maintain accurate waiting lists, but causes the number of children reported as waiting to change significantly based on the date waiting list numbers aze reported.. Department of Social Services Child Care Subsidy Program If a family meets the eligibility criteria for the Department of Social Services, a portion of the cost of child care wIll be paid for them. Pazents are free to choose a child care azmngement that best fits their needs as long as the provider chosen participates in the Subsidized Child Gaze Program, The amount the state pays for childcare depends on the family's situational criteria, the family's income, and the cost of the child care provided. (See Attachment 6 for state market rates paid by Orange County). Most families must qualify based on need and income, and are required to pay a percentage of child caze costs based on their countable monthly income. The percentage depends on the number of people in the family, but ranges from 8 to 10 percent of income. There is one fee for families receiving subsidized child day care, regardless of the number of children in care., A family may receive child care assistance for one or more of the following reasons if they aze income eligible: • They aze worlciug; • They are in school or in a job training program; • Their child is receiving child protective services; Their child needs care to support child welfare services or because the family is experiencing a crisis; or • The child has developmental delays. The Orange County Department of Social Services Boazd determines tazget groups and priority applicants for subsidy, The following policy outlines the currem priority for payment when a waiting list is in place. The following children or cases will receive services and will not be subject to the waiting list: ^ Child Protective Services ^ Foster Care ^ Work FirsdEmploymern Services Participants ^ Teen Pazerns The following children or cases will receive services in this order and based on their date of application within each category: ^ Full-time employment ^ Part-time employment • Education or training leading to employment