05.01.02 - A Client Employed by a Legal Care Provider

Effective Date: 03/01/00
Reference: Policy memo dated 3/1/00

Policy Statement:

None

Procedure:

A client who is employed by a licensed day care home, licensed group day care home, or a day care center may be eligible for child care services. The client must document their employment and the need for child care services.

• Client is employed by a Licensed Day Care Home

  Client who is employed by a licensed day care home provider may be eligible for child care services due to employment outside the home. However, there must be a documented need for the provider to have an assistant. You cannot justify the client's employment as an assistant based on the enrollment of the client's own children. Therefore, verify the total number of children enrolled and attending the licensed day care home, the ages of all children in care, and the schedules of all children in care to establish the need for an assistant. Ensure the parent is not being paid to provide care for only their own children. The need for an assistant shall be verified with the day care licensing representative according to day care licensing standards. The assistant must be cleared through CANTS and be fingerprinted for a state police background check conducted through DCFS. The day care home provider must maintain official documentation of these clearances on the premises. If there is an indication of more than one assistant, request a copy of the work schedule of each assistant and a copy of the provider's license document.

  Staff	Caregiver	Caregiver & Full-Time Assistant
  Maximum Group Size	8*	8**
  Age Groupings	Up to 8 children under 12 years, with no more than 5 under 5 (No more than 3 under 24 months); OR Up to 8 under 12 years, with no more than 6 under 5 and none under 3; OR Up to 8 school age	Up to 8 under 5 years, with no more than 5 under 24 months.

  *With a part-time assistant, a home provider may care for up to four more school-age children, a maximum group of 12.
  **If the full-time assistant is 18 or older, a home provider may also care for up to four more school-age children.

• Client is employed by a Licensed Group Day Care Home

  A client who is employed by a licensed group day care home provider may be eligible for child care services due to employment outside the home. However, there must be a documented need for the provider to have an assistant. You cannot justify the client's employment as an assistant based on the enrollment of the client's own children. Therefore, verify the total number of children enrolled and attending the licensed group day care home, the ages of all children in care, and the schedules of all children in care to establish the need for an assistant. Ensure the parent is not being paid to provide care for only their own children. The need for an assistant shall be verified with the day care licensing representative according to day care licensing standards. The assistant must be cleared through CANTS and be fingerprinted for a state police background check conducted through DCFS. The licensed group day care home provider must maintain official documentation of these clearances on the premises. If there is an indication of more than one assistant, request a copy of the work schedule of each assistant and a copy of the provider's license document.

  Staff	Caregiver	Caregiver & Full-Time Assistant
  Maximum Group Size	8 or 12*	12*
  Age Groupings	Up to 8 children under 12 years, with no more than 5 under 5 (No more than 3 under 24 months); OR Up to 8 under 5 years, with none under 3; OR Up to 12 school age	Up to 12 under 6 years, with no more than 6 under 30 months. (no more than 4 under 15 months); OR Up to 12 between 3 and 6 years

  *With an additional part-time assistant, a group home provider may care for up to four more school-age children, a maximum group of 16.

• Employer is a Licensed Day Care Center or Licensed Exempt Day Care Center

  A client who is employed by a child care center is eligible for child care services due to employment outside the home. If the client's child fills a slot at his/her place of employment, IDHS will pay for the child care. Since the day care center is being paid for providing the care, the client is not considered to be providing care for their own child.