SS Update - April 2018
Key Highlights This Month:
Child Care Assistance Program/CCAP
· More in-person training was offered in March and continues in April across the state. Training is open for sign up on TrainLink.
· DHS CCAP finished updating the CCAP Policy Manual to incorporate and clarify new policies from Phase 2, Phase 3, & Phase 4. Updated Manual will be published in April.
· DHS CCAP continues to work towards full compliance with the federal law. Some changes may require statutory change while others may be implemented administratively. Changes proposed in the 2017 session that did not pass include:
HF3778 is the most likely vehicle for the changes needed as listed above. We expect some amendments to the current bill to be heard this week.
· DHS is drafting Minnesota’s 2019-2021 Federal CCDF plan. Public hearings to discuss Minnesota’s draft plan will be held on April 23 (daytime) and April 25 (evening) and a public comment period will follow. More details is available on the DHS website. People who want to be involved and to receive regular updates can send an email to CCDFReform@state.mn.us and ask to be added to the list serve.
· DHS CCAP has begun to roll out Phase 4 – 2017 legislative changes related to program integrity. Two memos informing agencies of implementation of Phase 4 changes were sent in March. These changes limit payments:
o to centers who care for more than 25 children of center employees and
o to providers designated as a secondary provider
System changes for the 25 children change were available in the system on March 26. System changes for the secondary provider change will be available this fall. A Bulletin and policy manual updates will be published in April with more information.
Economic Assistance
· legislation that could have unraveling effects for programs:
· HF118/SF331 and HF3613/SF3333
Child Support (CSD):
1. 1. Recent and Upcoming Events
a. Community Outreach
i. The small groups of the Child Support Task Force will meet on April 16
ii. CSD staff will attend the Shakopee Transitions Resource Fair for outreach to Minnesota’s Correctional Facilities on April 17
iii. The next CSD All-Staff meeting is on April 18
iv. CSD staff will attend a Head Start gathering in April to provide program information
v. The next Child Support Advisory Board meeting is on May 2
2. 2. Highlights/New Initiatives
a. KMOJ Outreach – CSD staff continue to work on the monthly interviews for this campaign to educate listeners on child support and other CFS topics. Although the division and KMOJ have a schedule of interview guests, it could change. The May guest may be Shaneen Moore, CSD director and a representative from NorthPoint talking about the new co-parenting initiative or Rahya Iliff, custodial parent and co-chair of the Child Support Task Force talking about the task force from her perspective.
b. Child Support Task Force – At its January meeting, the task force decided to suspend their monthly meetings until May 2018. The group also decided to form two small groups to focus on key issues like the self-support reserve and adjustments for non-joint children. The small groups will report back to the larger task force in May.
3. 3. Ongoing Program Work
a. Training
i. CSD is partnering with counties to conduct larger training sessions in April and double class offerings.
ii. The division is revamping its professional development courses
iii. CSD is continuing to increase engagement around its current curriculum
iv. The division is developing a statewide training plan for the new Parenting Expense Adjustment law that goes into effect on August 1, 2018
4. Grants, Contracts, and RFP’s
a. Work on two major RFPs continues: the first is for receipting center functions at the Child Support Payment Center and the second is to receive proposals for the required Systems Modernization feasibility assessment.
b. A regular group is meeting to discuss options for a digital marketing grant from the Office of Child Support Enforcement that may post this month.
c. All Cooperative Agreements and Cooperative Arrangements between CSD and its county partners are fully executed. This is the first time CSD has required the documents to stand for two years, hopefully making future work more efficient.
5. Website changes
a. Child Support Task Force website – CSD added content relevant to previous and future meetings including agendas, minutes, presentations and additional resources.
Requested Actions Needed From MACSSA:
Reminder of workgroup requests for participation: Simplification, Behavioral Health Homes
New Trends in This Area:
Issues/Concerns Regarding This Topic:
Legislative Impacts: Executive order dated April 10, 2018. Reducing poverty in America by promoting opportunity and economic assistance.
See Bulletin # 17-68-19 for changes that took effect September 25, 2017: Federal and State Changes to the Child Care Assistance Program – Phase 1
See Bulletin # 17-68-22 for changes that took effect October 23, 2017: Federal and State Changes to the Child Care Assistance Program - Phase 2
See Bulletin # 17-68-26 for changes that took effect December 18, 2017: Federal and State Changes to the Child Care Assistance Program - Phase 3
Supporting Materials:
Contact(s): Brad Dahl and Brad Thiel