Section 65A-4.218 - Child Care(1) Access to Child Care. Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) participants, including former recipients and families redirected from receipt of TCA through up-front diversion who are applying for transitional child care, may access subsidized child care assistance through referral to the Florida Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C-agency). The Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) designee will inform participants of the availability of child care assistance and will make the necessary referrals to the 4C-agency. Child care assistance is provided to TCA participants solely for assistance in complying with TCA work activities and for transitional child care.(2) Conditions of Eligibility. (a) Temporary cash assistance recipients may receive subsidized child care assistance when it is necessary for them to participate in TCA work or training activities allowed by federal regulation and approved by the LWDB designees. Child care to maintain employment will be provided for the hours of employment and reasonable time for travel to and from the child care facility and place of employment and return. The need for child care and condition of need will be verified by LWDB designee.(b) In order for a child care subsidy to be provided, the participant must need care for the child and have an obligation to pay for child care.(c) The child for whom care is provided must be within the specified degree of relationship for receipt of temporary cash assistance and included in the TCA assistance group. This, however, includes a child who would be in the TCA assistance group except for the receipt of Supplemental Security Income.(d) Child care disregards will not be allowed in the determination of eligibility for temporary cash assistance.(3) Transitional Child Care. (a) Transitional child care is defined as child care for families whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level and: 1. Whose TCA has ceased due to new or increased employment hours or earnings or due to increased child support or who opt not to receive TCA, or2. Who have been redirected from receipt of TCA through up-front diversion.(b) Child care must be needed to accept, maintain, or actively seek employment and to upgrade skills in accordance with Section 445.030(2), F.S.(c) If an individual applies after the beginning of the transitional child care benefit period and needs reimbursement or payment for child care that has already been obligated for or paid during the transitional child care benefit period, the individual will be referred to the 4-C.(4) Good Cause. (a) Individuals who lose their job rather than quit their job or who have good cause for quitting their job, if eligible for subsidized child care on all other factors, may continue to receive subsidized child care while they look for other employment. The maximum period of this extension is 30 days. The subsidized child care assistance will be provided only for actual job search.(b) Examples of good cause reasons are: 1. Position ends, job lay-off or business closure,2. Job requirements are illegal or against the moral or religious beliefs of the parent,3. Working conditions or job duties could be harmful to the physical or mental health of the parent,4. Sexual or racial discrimination or harassment on the job,5. Change in job requirements for which the parent is not qualified,6. Change in hours or location of employment that is not feasible due to child care or transportation arrangements, or7. Family or health problems of the parent or child(ren) requiring an extensive period of time off, which the parent is unable to arrange with the employer.(5) Recipient Notification. The recipient will be informed as to availability of and qualifications for child care services by LWDB or their contracted providers, or the 4-C agency.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 65A-4.218
Rulemaking Authority 414.45 FS. Law Implemented 414.095(1) FS.
New 3-5-95, Formerly 10C-1.519, Amended 8-18-97, 3-12-00, Formerly 65A-1.519, Amended 5-1-01, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 014, January 22, 2020 effective 2/2/2020.New 3-5-95, Formerly 10C-1.519, Amended 8-18-97, 3-12-00, Formerly 65A-1.519, Amended 5-1-01, 2-2-20.