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Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Policy Manual

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Policy Manual


4.9.9 Child Support Cooperation at Application

ISSUE DATE: 01/2026

Child Support cooperation is a CCAP eligibility factor that must be verified at application.

Determining cooperation status for children in foster care

Consider a family with a foster child to be cooperating at application when the foster parent(s) complete and sign the application form. See Chapter 4.9 (Cooperation with Child Support). The completed application meets the child support cooperation requirements for their foster children.

Determining cooperation status for all other minor children with an absent parent

During the 30-day application processing timeframe (45 days with family consent)

When a CCAP application is received, check PRISM or with the Child Support worker to see if the family is cooperating with Child Support for each minor child in the CCAP family with an absent parent. If the family is not cooperating, checking the family’s cooperation status when the application is received allows the family time to meet Child Support requirements by the application processing deadline.

Application Processing

When processing the application, check PRISM or with the Child Support worker to see if the family is cooperating with Child Support for each minor child with an absent parent. The child support case status and cooperation code are located on the GCSC window in PRISM. See the MEC2 User Manual for “Child Support Cooperation and Good Cause Safety Concern (GCSC)” guidance.

  • · If PRISM or the local Child Support agency indicate that there is an open Child Support case for each child with an absent parent in a cooperating status, no further information is needed from the family.
  • · If PRISM or the local Child Support agency indicate that there is an open Child Support case for each child with an absent parent, but the family is not cooperating, include this in the special letter or memo requesting that the family must cooperate by the application auto-denial date or their CCAP application will be denied. Include their Child Support worker’s name and phone number, if known.
  • · If there is not an open Child Support case for each child with an absent parent or the local Child Support agency determines that a closed case in PRISM requires new forms, require the family to complete the Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) (PDF) form to meet Child Support cooperation at application.
  • · Send the Cooperation with Child Support Enforcement (DHS-2338) (PDF), Understanding Child Support-A handbook for Parents (DHS-3393) (PDF) and Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) (PDF) forms to the family.
  • · Notify the family that the Referral to Support and Collections (DHS-3163B) form must be completed and returned by the auto-denial date or the allowed application processing timeframe whichever is later, or their CCAP application will be denied. The Cooperation with Child Support Enforcement (DHS-2338) is also required if the family is making a good cause claim for not cooperating with Child Support.
  • · If the family is not cooperating with Child Support by the end of the allowed application processing timeframe, deny the application.

    • The family is eligible for CCAP beginning the date of eligibility for the appropriate CCAP subprogram, including retroactive eligibility requests for MFIP/DWP or TY when the family meets Child Support cooperation requirements at application. See Chapter 4.18 (Date of Eligibility). The family is eligible for the retroactive period even if the family was not in cooperation with Child Support during the period of time the family is requesting retroactive eligibility.

    Legal authority

    Minnesota Statutes 142E.10, subd. 1
    Minnesota Statutes 518A.81
    Minnesota Rules, 3400.0040, subp. 5a

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