Eligibility Criteria 401-01-20-10

(Revised 7/1/12 ML #3338)

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IM 5219

  

 

The Crossroads Program is designed to assist with child care and transportation costs for individuals who are:

• Parents up to 21 years of age (prior to the month the parent turns 21 years of age)

• Parents who are male or female

• Parents who are married or unmarried

• Parents who have the primary responsibility for the care of their child

• Parents who are pursuing high school, GED, or alternative high school

• Parents must be a resident of North Dakota.

In order to be eligible under the Crossroads Program the child and the parent must reside in the same home. If at any time the parent and child do not reside together, the Crossroads case must close.

 

Eligibility under Crossroads begins the first day of the month in which the signed Crossroads Program Application is received in the local county social service agency.

Parents must apply for or be in receipt of assistance through the Child Care Assistance Program in order to be eligible for the Crossroads Program.

 

The child care provider must be licensed, registered, self-declared or an approved relative with the state of North Dakota. (Refer to the Child Care Assistance Program Manual, 'Provider Requirements and Information 400-28-105'.)

 

The Crossroads Program does not consider assets or income when determining eligibility.

 

Eligibility for assistance with payment of child care expenses must be determined using the eligibility criteria defined in the Child Care Assistance Policy manual at 400-28-40, Crossroads Families Eligibility.

 

A copy of the Crossroads approval letter must be received by the county, which will verify the parent(s) is eligible for Crossroads. The approval letter shows the period of time the parent is eligible for Crossroads.

 

The only allowable child care costs that can be paid for individuals eligible for Crossroads are the costs associated with class attendance, employment, and attendance at parenting classes.

NOTE: Costs associated with participation in extracurricular activities cannot be paid.

 

A child in receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may be eligible for Crossroads provided the parent meets the Crossroads eligibility criteria.

 

When an individual eligible for Crossroads resides with the parent of the child, the individual may be eligible for Crossroads without regard to the activities or income of the spouse or second parent. This applies whether the individual is married to the other parent or not.

 

A parent, who participated in Crossroads in the previous school period and who intends to participate in Crossroads for the next school period remains eligible for Crossroads during the break if the break is less than a full calendar month. If the break is more than a full calendar month, the individual will remain eligible for Crossroads coverage during the break if the parent is working or attending parenting classes during the school break. A new application does not need to be completed at the end of the school period as long as the parent remains in their approved activity for the duration of the break from school. At the time it is learned that the individual will not be returning to school, eligibility for Crossroads ends.

 

Example #1: Parent age 17 has 1 child. The parent is attending high school in December; and has a three week break from school due to the holidays. The parent will resume attendance in January after the break. If during the break child care costs incur due to employment and parenting classes, the parent remains Crossroads eligible and the child care costs can be paid by the Child Care Assistance Program as the parent is considered Crossroads eligible throughout the break.

 

Example #2: Parent age 16 has 1 child. The parent attends grade 11 in high school and is employed part time. School term ends in May and the parent will return to school in August. Since the parent will return to school in August, and is working part time, the parent will remain eligible for Crossroads and child care costs, while employed can be paid under the Child Care Assistance Program as Crossroads.

 

Example #3: Parent is age 16 and has 1 child. The parent attends high school and is in the 11th grade. School ends in May and the parent is not employed and not seeking employment. The parent plans on returning to school in August. Since there will not be a child care need during the summer, the Crossroads case must be closed at the end of May.

 

In July, the parent reports obtained employment and needs assistance with child care costs. The parent will need to complete a new Crossroads Program Application (and the Child Care Assistance Program Application if the case was closed). The child care costs can be paid by the Child Care Assistance Program as Crossroads since the parent will be returning to school in August.

NOTE: If the parent will not return to school in August, the parent is not eligible for Crossroads; however, eligibility may continue for the Child Care Assistance Program if all other eligibility criteria for the Child Care Assistance Program are met.

 

Example #4: Parent age 16 has one child. The parent attends high school and is in the 10th grade. School ends in May and the parent decides to attend parenting classes that begin in June. Since the parent will have an approved activity less than one month after the end of school, the Crossroads case will remain open. The classes end the last week of June and the parent is not employed. The Crossroads case must close at the end of June because the parent will no longer have an approved activity for the rest of the break.