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Child Care Assistance Eligibility - Training - Iowa

Families are eligible for child care assistance when the parent or parents are in either approved vocational or academic training. The academic or vocational training must culminate in a specific goal, such as high school completion, improved English skills, or the development of specific academic or vocational skills. (See below for information about Non-Approvable Training.)

Training must be on a full-time basis. The training facility defines what is considered full time. A part-time plan is approved only if the number of credit hours to complete training is less than full-time status, the required prerequisite credits or remedial course work is less than full-time status, or training is not offered on a full-time basis.

Training can be approved for high school completion activities, adult basic education, GED, English as a second language, a college program which leads to an associate of arts degree, and a post-secondary education, up to and including a baccalaureate degree program.

NOTE: Child care provided while the parent participates in post-secondary education or vocational training has a 24-month lifetime limit.

Time spent in high school completion, adult basic education, GED, or English as a second language does not count toward the 24-month limit. PROMISE JOBS child care allowances provided while the parent is participating in PROMISE JOBS components in post-secondary education or vocational training count toward the 24-month limit.

Any participant of the Family Investment Program (FIP) who is in academic or vocational training and on a PROMISE JOBS waiting list for expense allowances including child care is not eligible for subsidy for the hours in academic or vocational training under the Child Care Assistance Program.

Note: When funds are determined unavailable for new applicants, some families must meet the specific requirements of the priority group from which applications are being taken to go on the waiting list. See Child Care Assistance Waiting List.

Non-Approvable Training

In order for child care assistance to be paid, the specific training program must be approved.

Training programs will not be approved in any of the following situations:

·           The course of training is one that the person has previously completed.

·           Completion of the training program results in a job paying less than minimum wage.

·           The person was previously unable to maintain the cumulative grade point average required by the training facility in the same training for which application is now being made. Note: This policy does not apply to parents under age 18 who are completing high school.

·           The training is in an occupational area where available labor market statistics indicate that prospects are low for job availability and employment paying enough to lead to self-sufficiency for the family.

Exceptions can be made when:

·           The person has a job offer before entering the training, or

·           The person is willing to relocate after training to an area where there is employment potential.

Persons willing to relocate must provide documentation from an Iowa Workforce Development Center, private employment agency, or employer that jobs in that occupation paying at least minimum wage are available in the locale specified.

·           A person who already possesses a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree wants additional college course work, unless the course work is to obtain a teaching certificate or to complete continuing education units and will not lead to a masters or other advanced degree.

"College course work" is defined as courses which are academic in nature and generally are completed as part of a degree program. Persons who possess such degrees may be approved for services to attend vocational training courses.

"Vocational training" is defined as a program of study generally offered at a community college or a similar training institution that prepares people to perform specific skills, such as auto repair or clerical skills.

Not all courses offered at a community college are considered vocational training. Most community colleges offer associate degree programs that prepare a person to transfer to a four-year institution for completion of a baccalaureate degree. Such programs will not be approved for clients who already have a baccalaureate degree.

The location where training is offered, be it a community college or other institution, is not relevant to this determination. Eligibility is based on the nature of training, which must be vocational and not lead to a baccalaureate, postgraduate, or "academic" associate degree.

See Also:

·           Parent(s) Employed.

·           Child protection.

·           Parental absence.

·           Seeking employment.

·           Child Care Assistance Eligibility

·           Child Care Assistance Overview

·           Child Care Assistance Fees

·     Welcome and Introduction to Benefits in Iowa

Source: Iowa DHS Employees’ Policy Manual, Social Services, Child Welfare Services

Title 18, Child Care

·                        Chapter I, Child Care Assistance, Determining Eligibility, Need for Service, Training and Non-Approvable Training

Legal reference: 441 IAC 170.2"b"(1), 441 IAC 170.2(2)"b" and 170.2(4)

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