Families with a caregiver of a child receiving an MFIP child only grant are eligible for up to 20 hours of child care per week under the MFIP child care subprogram for children under age seven when the caregiver has a verified mental health diagnosis and child care is recommended by a mental health professional.

Note: When processing applications, redeterminations, or changes during the 12-month eligibility period for CCAP Mental Health Support, the Funding Availability Page must be coded as “No” to get results for the MFIP subprogram.

Income Guidelines

All income limits that apply to families receiving MFIP child care, apply to families that qualify for CCAP Mental Health Support for MFIP Child Only Families. Refer to CCAP Policy Manual (6.3 Income Limits).

Support for Mental Health for a CCAP family with two caregivers

In a CCAP family with two caregivers, at least one caregiver must have a verified mental health diagnosis and child care recommendation to qualify for this policy. The other caregiver must have at least one of the following:

Refer to CCAP Policy Manual (4.6.1 Activity Requirements Based on Family Composition).

Verification of Mental Health Diagnosis

Verification must be provided to show that the caregiver has a mental health diagnosis and that child care is recommended by a mental health professional or a Tribally certified mental health professional. Local agencies are responsible for obtaining verification. The mental health diagnosis and child care recommendation must be reverified at redetermination.

The Child Care Assistance Program Parent Mental Health Condition Form (DHS-8667) can be used to verify that a caregiver receiving an MFIP Child Only grant has a mental health diagnosis and has children under age seven that could benefit from child care to support the caregiver’s mental health. This form is not required.

Accept any form of verification that identifies that the caregiver has a mental health diagnosis and needs help paying for child care to support their mental health needs. The verification must be signed by one of the following:

Refer to CCAP Policy Manual (7 Verification).

Agencies cannot request verification of the specific type of mental health diagnosis, the mental health treatment plan, or schedule of mental health related appointments.

Authorizing Care

See Chapter 9.1.17 (Authorizing Care - Mental Health Support for MFIP Child Only Families).

Support for Mental Health During the 12-Month Eligibility Period

Mental Health Support approved at application or redetermination

A family that qualifies for CCAP Mental Health Support is eligible through the whole 12-month eligibility period. Do not take action to end the mental health diagnosis during the 12-month eligibility period.

When a child turns seven years old during the 12-month eligibility period, eligibility and authorization continues until redetermination. Do not take action to end the Service Authorization during the 12-month eligibility period.

Mental Health Support approved during the 12-Month Eligibility Period

See Chapter 9.12 (Authorization Changes During the 12-Month Eligibility Period) for information about CCAP Mental Health Support approval during the 12-month eligibility period.

Support for Mental Health at Redetermination

To continue eligibility under CCAP Mental Health Support at redetermination the family must:

If the caregiver no longer receives an MFIP Child Only grant, does not submit verification of continued mental health diagnosis and child care recommendation, or does not have any children in the household under age seven, the family is no longer eligible for CCAP under the MFIP subprogram. The family is also not eligible for Transition Year because the caregiver was not part of the MFIP grant. Assess eligibility for CCAP under the Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) subprogram. See Chapter 4.3 (CCAP Sub-Programs).

If your agency does not have funds available for BSF, the family’s eligibility ends at redetermination. Perform a preliminary determination of eligibility based on family size, income, and authorized activity. If it appears that the family would be eligible, add the family to the waiting list. See Chapter 4.3.12 (Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) and 4.3.12.12 (BSF Waiting List Management).

If the family remains eligible at redetermination for CCAP Mental Health Support under the MFIP subprogram, care continues for children under age seven. If any children turned seven during the previous 12-month eligibility period, close that child’s Service Authorization allowing for a 15-day notice, unless the family has an employment or approved education activity. If the family has employment or approved education activity, determine the authorized hours for that child based on the verified employment and education schedules; a decrease in the child’s Service Authorization requires a 15-day notice. See Chapter 12.3.9 (Adverse Action Notices - Family), 12.6.6 (Adverse Action Notices - Provider), 9.1.1 (Authorizing Care-Employment) and 9.1.2 (Authorizing Care-Students).

Support for Mental Health and Fraud Disqualification

A caregiver that receives an MFIP Child Only grant that has been disqualified from MFIP due to fraud but is not disqualified from CCAP is eligible for CCAP Mental Health Support under the MFIP subprogram if all other requirements are met. See Chapter 4.3.3.6 (MFIP Special Circumstances).

Legal authority

Minnesota Statutes 142E.08, subd. 1
Minnesota Statutes 142G.01 subd. 8