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Self-Sufficiency Update - June 2018

Key Highlights This Month:  

Child Care Assistance Program/CCAP

 

  • DHS CCAP is creating Guidance for Redetermination Processing and System Functionality that will be issued in a DHS memo this month. The intent of this guidance is to further assist workers in understanding best practices in processing redeterminations in light of system changes. Guidance will expand on information shared at in-person trainings.
  • County and tribal agencies must report death, maltreatment and serious injury incidents for 1st quarter of 2018. A DHS Memo was issued April 20, 2018. This is the first time DHS has requested information about serious injury incidents. Agencies were asked to submit the report to DHS CCAP by May 18, 2018. Approximately half of the responses have been received. DHS will follow up to achieve a full response rate.
  • DHS CCAP continues to work towards full compliance with the federal law. Some of these changes were included in the House and Senate HHS Omnibus bills, but these bills were vetoed. The department will be assessing changes that can be done without legislation. Changes that require state statute changes may be reintroduced in the 2019 legislative session.
  • DHS CCAP is working with MN Tribes to ensure that Tribally Licensed Child Care Providers are in compliance with Health & Safety Training requirements needed in order to continue to receive CCAP Payments after 9/30/2018. DHS CCAP wants to ensure that Native American children receiving CCAP can continue to be served in culturally responsive settings by tribally licensed providers.
  • DHS drafted Minnesota’s 2019-2021 Federal CCDF plan. Public hearings to discuss Minnesota’s draft plan were held on April 23 (daytime) and April 25 (evening). Public comments will continue to be accepted through June 8. 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. The federal office has extended the deadline to submit the plan to August 31, 2018.
  • DHS CCAP is implementing additional changes that passed in the 2017 legislative session:
    • Maximum Rates change for St. Cloud and Sartell is effective July 2, 2018. A bulletin will be published later this month. System changes were installed in MEC² in early June to implement this change.
    • Changes in counting the income for new spouses will be effective December 1, 2018. DHS CCAP is working with MFIP staff to implement this change. A bulletin will be published later this year.
    • Media stories and a Senate hearing have highlighted issues related to fraud and CCAP. There will be an OLA audit conducted, and DHS is meeting with our Fraud Stakeholders group and planning for the next legislative session to continue to address this issue.

SNAP:

The Education and Training Event put on by Midwest Partners for SNAP Program Improvement will be August 1-3 in Battle Creek, MI.  County staff are encouraged to attend. The Registration Deadline is June 28 and is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/18Registration.   The registration fee is $100. If you would like more information

Requested Actions Needed From MACSSA:  None

New Trends in This Area:  

Issues/Concerns Regarding This Topic:  

Legislative Impacts:  

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

 See Bulletin # 18-68-07 for changes that took effect April 23, 2018: Federal and State Changes to the Child Care Assistance Program - Phase 4

Supporting Materials:  
Listed above.

Contact(s):  
Brad Theil, Barb Dahl, Topic Owners
Katheryn Heffernan, Casey White, Trish Skophammer, Julie Herbst, Joan Scholljegerder, Content Experts

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