Self-Sufficiency Update - September 2018

Key Highlights in this topic/WORKGROUP for the PREVIOUS month:

Child Support:

·        Highlights/Hot Topics/Concerns

• Shaneen Moore, CSD director, and Rahya Iliff, custodial parent and co-chair of the Child Support Task Force, will be on the KMOJ radio Morning Show on September 20 talking about child support and the task force.
• CSD is collaborating on the Children and Family Services Strategic Planning 2018 effort, on Windows 10 software testing, and DHS Facilities on move preparations. 

·        Recent and Upcoming Events

• The next Child Support Task Force meeting is on October 4 in St. Cloud and will include extended time for public comments.
• CSD staff continue to visit the FATHER’s Project to give information about the child support program to parents and staff.
• Division staff will be attending and presenting at the annual Minnesota Family Support & Recovery Council (MFSRC) conference from September 30 – October 3.
• Division staff will be presenting at the 2018 Continuous Improvement Expo on September 26. The presentation will focus on the division’s alternative payments project that received recognition at this year’s State Government Innovation Awards (SGIA) event in August.

·        Upcoming Grants and RFPs

• The division is developing an RFP process for its System Modernization feasibility study.
• CSD is preparing an RFP to renew lab testing for paternity in preparation for next year’s contracts.
• The division is finalizing the 2018 Operational Advance Planning Document Update to send to the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement by September 30.

·        Success Stories

• The division rolled out the electronic document exchange application to 51 Minnesota counties and will cover the remaining 36 counties in October. The application provides a secure method to electronically share documents between counties and states that will speed-up processing times and cut costs associated with mailing case documents.

Child Care Assistance Program/CCAP

• A system enhancement requested by CCAP agencies to have Case Note Templates populate in MEC² for consistent case note practices between agencies is moving forward. DHS CCAP has requested feedback from CCAP agencies and template language is being finalized by the stakeholder group in September.
• DHS is in the process of implementing Certification requirements for license exempt centers. The first stage of the roll out requires newly registering license exempt centers to apply for certification before they can register for CCAP. The second stage, beginning October 1, 2018, requires providers to be certified before they can register for CCAP. For more information, see Bulletin 18-68-13 Certification requirements for license exempt child care centers paid by the Child Care Assistance Program.
• DHS submitted Minnesota’s 2019-2021 Federal CCDF plan. Minnesota will publish the plan publicly once conditional approval is obtained from the federal office.
• DHS CCAP is working with MFIP staff to implement a change in counting the income for new spouses that passed in the 2017 legislative session. This change will be effective December 1, 2018. A joint bulletin will be published later this year.
• DHS is in the process of reaching out to counties for mid-year contact who are projecting BSF spending between 80-90%, 100% without a waiting list, or and 100% with a waiting list.
• DHS issued two memos in August: “Income changes and copay functionality” and a revised “Child Care Assistance Program Redetermination Processing Guidance.” These memos are available on SIR in the “Road to Reauthorization” training toolkit and will be discussed at the September MEC² Mentor meeting.
• DHS intends to publish two bulletins in September to implement new policies:
• Establishing a $1 million asset limit for CCAP families, and;
• Establishing additional health and safety requirements for legal nonlicensed providers.
• DHS is evaluating whether BSF first quarter reallocation will be implemented in 2019. DHS will consult with counties and tribes and make a decision and a formal announcement within the 1-2 months.

Economic Assistance

• The Economic Assistance and Employment Supports Division will be releasing an RFP shortly, seeking counties and local public health agencies who want to partner in integrating public health home visiting and MFIP services for teen parents.  There will be some multiyear grants as well as opportunities for one-year grants. 
• The initiative has been underway for a few years in a handful of counties.  The intent is to bring together the resources MFIP offers (such as eligibility for child care assistance, income support, transportation resources) with the relationship-based home visiting services in order to see more young mothers graduating high school and they and their babies be healthier.  The funding will be available to successful respondents at the beginning of 2019.

Requested Actions needed from MACSSA in the next month:

N/A

APPARENT TRENDS IN THIS TOPIC AREA:

Issues/Concerns regarding this topic this month:

There was a question recently about a change in the combined manual regarding SNAP interviews in certain circumstances.  See information from the combined manual below.  A question was raised to DHS for further clarification.

SNAP:
The interview may be with any responsible member(s) of the unit or their authorized representative. Clients must be informed of the interview options available: phone, face-to-face, or at a convenient location. Based on the interview option chosen, counties MUST accommodate the client’s choice.

A face-to-face home interview must be provided when a client requests and meets 1 of the following hardship conditions listed below:

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=CM_00090606

Legislative Impacts:

N/A

Bulletins, Publications, or supporting materials to be included with this update: (Please attach to the email sent with this report.)

Child Care Assistance:

 See Bulletin #18-68-13 for changes that took effect August 1, 2018: Certification requirements for license exempt child care centers paid by the Child Care Assistance Program

CONTACTS (For Topic Groups):

Barb Dahl and Brad Thiel