Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024
(1) The following persons are required to pay
assessed day care fees in order to receive day care services:
(a) All At Risk Income Eligible recipients
authorized for day care for employment of parent/responsible caretaker;
and
(b) Families who are receiving
transitional day care due to having been terminated from AFDC as a result of
earnings from employment.
(c) All
Block Grant Recipients. Fees may be waived for families whose income is at or
below the poverty level for a family of the same size.
(2) Fee Assessment Process. Provided day care
slots and vacancies with day care providers exist, fees are assessed based on
the Department's current fee schedule and income scale (Refer to Chapter
660-5-2, Appendix A). The amount of the fee will be determined through
completion of the Fee Assessment/Agreement. The application for day care will
be denied if the client does not agree to pay the assessed fees.
(a) The fee for one child in a family
receiving full-time day care is the amount as shown on the fee schedule. Each
additional child per family is assessed one-half of the full-time
rate.
(b) Children authorized for
part-time care (25 hours or less of care per week) will be assessed one-half of
the full-time rate per child per family.
(c) Children authorized for before/after
school care (15 hours or less of care per week for school children) will be
assessed one-fourth of the full weekly fee per child per family.
(3) Fee Collection. The day care
provider is responsible for the collection of fees from the parent/responsible
caretaker.
(a) Fees are due in advance,
payable on the Monday of the week of service.
(b) Fees will not be refunded for any partial
weeks of services.
(c) Fees will
not be waived in cases of absences, such as illness, vacation or approved
closing of center/home.
(d) The day
care provider or contractor is not allowed to assume responsibility for the
payment of fees. The payment of fees by a third party, such as a relative,
another agency, etc. is allowable.
(4) Nonpayment of assessed fees is basis of
termination of day care services.
(a) If the
recipient does not pay the fees on Monday of the week of service, the provider
will initiate the termination process.
1. If
care is being provided in a licensed day care center; the day care center sends
or gives Notice of Action Taken on Services to the recipient that if fees are
not paid in ten days, day care services will be terminated. If the recipient
pays the fees within the ten days, the notice is voided and day care is
continued. If the recipient does not pay the fees within the ten days, the
provider will send a copy of the notice to the County Department. Day care will
be terminated as of the effective date of the notice.
2. If care is being provided in a family day
care home, the provider sends or gives a Notice of Delinquent Fees to the
recipient that if fees are not paid in ten days, day care services will be
terminated. If the recipient pays the fees within the ten days, the notice is
voided and day care is continued. If the recipient does not pay the fees, the
provider is to send a copy of the Notice of Delinquent Fees to the County
Department. The County Department then sends a Notice of Action Taken on
Services to the recipient and terminated day care as of the expiration date of
the Notice of Delinquent Fees.
(b) Any outstanding fees due must be paid
before a child is readmitted to care.
Author:
Statutory Authority: Social Services Block Grant
Title XX of the Social Security Act; 45 C.F.R. Part 96 ; P.L. 100-485, Titles
II and III;
42 U.S.C.
§§602, 681 - 687; 45 C.F.R. Parts
250 and 255; 54 Fed. Reg. 42145-42267; Title IV-A of the Social Security Act,
§§402(1) and 403(n); Code of Ala. 1975,
§
38-2-6; JOBS State Plan and State
Supportive Services Plan.