George E. Pataki
Governor / New York State
Office of children & family services
52 washington street
rensselaer, NY 12144 / John A. Johnson
Commissioner

Informational Letter

Transmittal: / 03 OCFS INF 07
To: / Local District Commissioners
Issuing Division/Office: / Division of Development and Prevention Services
Date: / June 10, 2003
Subject: / Application For Child Care Assistance
Suggested Distribution: / Child Care Unit Supervisors and Staff
Services Directors
WMS Coordinators
Contact Person(s): / Rhonda Finlayson (518) 402-6785

Attachments: / A: Application For Child Care Assistance
B: How To Complete the Application For Child Care Assistance and Other Important Information
Attachment Available On – Line: / 

Filing References

Previous ADMs/INFs / Releases Cancelled / Dept. Regs. / Soc. Serv. Law & Other Legal Ref. / Manual Ref. / Misc. Ref.
  1. Purpose

The purpose of this release is to inform social service districts that a local equivalent to the common application has been approved for use in a number of counties seeking to simplify access to the child care subsidy program.

Onondaga County developed an application to be used in situations where a family is applying only for child care assistance. This local child care application was approved by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and is currently in use.

OCFS has created a generic version of the Onondaga County application as a resource for other counties considering similar efforts to streamline the child care subsidy eligibility determination process. A copy of the application and instructions are appended for your information.

  1. Program Implications

Social services districts may elect to use a child care application for families that are only applying for child care assistance. Districts that choose to use the attached child care application must inform the Bureau of Early Childhood Services (BECS) prior to using the application. Districts that wish to develop a different local child care application must submit their proposed application to BECS for approval prior to its use. The child care application (Attachment A) and the guide to completing the application (Attachment B) are attached.

Districts using a child care only application must inform applicants that, if they need additional assistance or services they will be required to complete a different application. Additionally, districts must continue to inform all applicants of their rights and responsibilities by providing:

LDSS 4148A: “What You Should Know About Your Rights and Responsibilities”

LDSS 4148B: “What You Should Know About Social Services Programs”

LDSS 4148C: “What You Should Know If You Have an Emergency”.

Issued By

Larry G. Brown

Deputy Commissioner

Division of Development and Prevention Services

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