SS-PT-14-004

Office of Self Sufficiency Programs
Rhonda Prodzinski, Child Care and Refugee
Programs Manager
Authorized Signature
Policy
Transmittal
Number: SS-PT-14-004
Issue Date: 02/14/2014
Topic: Child Care
Transmitting (check the box that best applies):
New policy
Policy change
Policy clarification
Administrative Rule
Manual update
Other:
Applies to (check all that apply):
All DHS employees
Area Agencies on Aging
Aging and People with Disabilities
Children, Adults and Families
County DD Program Managers
Policy/rule title:
Policy/rule number(s):
Effective date:
References:
Web Address:
Executive letter
County Mental Health Directors
Health Services
Office of Developmental
Disabilities Services (ODDS)
Other (please specify):
Exemption to ERDC Reservation List
OAR 461-115-0016
Release no:
01/01/2014
Expiration:
FSM Child Care B, J
Discussion/interpretation:
Additional ERDC Reservation List exemption
Effective January 1, 2014, caretakers who are currently involved with child welfare, and
employed, may be exempt from the ERDC Reservation List.
The Child Welfare CPS worker or ongoing caseworker will determine if there is a childcare need when developing an ongoing safety plan. When appropriate, a referral will
be made using the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) Reservation List Child
Welfare Exception Referral form (DHS 861).
Implementation/transition instructions:
Child Welfare will determine if the caretaker and child situation meet the referral
criteria. When the ERDC Reservation List is activated, the referral from Child Welfare
SS-PT-14-004
DHS 0079 (11/13)
can exempt the caretaker from being added to the reservation and allow the DHS
eligibility worker to review for ERDC eligibility.
Situations that would meet the referral criteria include, when as part of an ongoing
safety plan, child care will:
Prevent the child from being removed from their home; or
Allow the child to be returned home; or
Allow for placement of the child with a relative or with an adult who the child or
family of the child has an established relationship.
When Child Welfare has determined a referral is appropriate due to a child-care need
as part of an ongoing safety plan, the Child Welfare worker will:
Complete the DHS 861 referral form and give a copy to the parent;
Scan and send a copy of the DHS 861 to [email protected]
for tracking purposes.
The caretaker will be instructed to attach the DHS 861 referral to their application and
submit both to their local Self Sufficiency office to apply for the ERDC benefits.
The DHS eligibility worker who receives the ERDC application and DHS 861 will
determine if the family is eligible for the ERDC subsidy. If it is determined the family is
not eligible for ERDC, the DHS eligibility worker will mail a denial notice and add the
caretaker to the ERDC Reservation List.
Note: All ERDC eligibility requirements still apply: a referral is not a guarantee of
eligibility.
Training/communication plan: Review with SSP staff including front line workers,
eligibility workers and case managers.
Local/branch action required: See Policy Transmittal SS-PT-13-037 for additional
information about the ERDC Reservation List.
Review ERDC applications or case information with a DOR of 01/01/2014, or later to
see if the family meets one of the following exemptions:
At least one member of the filing group has received TANF benefits in Oregon in
the current or last three months(includes REF or SFPSS);
The caretaker is reapplying for ERDC benefits after a break of less than two
calendar months;
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DHS 0079 (11/13)
A child in the filing group is eligible for a current opening in a Head Start or
Oregon Program of Quality (OPQ) contracted child care slot. This is determined
by working with the SDA’s Head Start/OPQ point and Central Office; or
The caretaker [OAR 461-001-0000(12)] of the child is currently working with
Child Welfare (as part of an assessment, open case or transition) and there is an
ongoing safety plan in place that states child care is required to keep the child in
their home, place the child with a relative or other known adult or when
transitioning the child back into the home or out of stranger foster care
[OAR 461-115-0016(2)(a)(C)]. Child Welfare will refer cases they feel meet this
criteria to the branch offices.
Families who do not meet one of the above criteria will:
Need to receive a denial notice; and
Be placed on the ERDC Reservation List.
Use the ERDC Reservation List template located on the ERDC Staff Tools page at
http://www.dhs.state.or.us/caf/ss/erdc/index.html to add a family to the Reservation
List, , and email the template to [email protected].
Coding:
ETL – This case descriptor must be added to newly eligible ERDC families who are not
subject to the Reservation List due to meeting the TANF Leaver requirement.
Central Office action required: Child care partners will be notified.
Central Office may randomly select families on the Reservation List to apply for ERDC
as caseload attrition allows. When selections occur, letters are mailed to selected
families informing them of the application process.
Field/stakeholder review:
Yes
No
If yes, reviewed by:
Filing Instructions:
If you have any questions about this policy, contact:
Contact(s): Annette Palmer - 503-945-6110
Jennifer Irving - 503-945-5729
Sara Mills
- 503-945-6087
Karen Collette - 503-945-6247
Email: [email protected]
SS-PT-14-004
DHS 0079 (11/13)

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