Finance & Child Care Payments  

Child Care Illinois Action for children Procedures

Family support specialist/ Enrollment:

During enrollment Family Support Specialist (FSS) asks if parent is going to need childcare assistant and if so, Family support specialist asks parent for their two most recent pay stubs or school letter depending on what family provides FSS  can process Action for children application which it can take up to two days to submit. Sometimes a new family can come in having a childcare case approved already, instead of submitting a new application we submit a “C.O.P” which is a change of provider form. Procedure in submitting this form is still the same as submitting a new application.

If parent just started a new job or school, then FSS gives parent a week to bring in their first check stub or letter. If parent fails to provide these documents, we let them know their child will remain in the Head Start Hours 8:30 -3:30 p.m.

Follow up with Action for children Pending Cases:

Once case/rede has been submitted to Action for children FSS/Site Manager can follow-up after 45 days of submission. FSS and Site Manager has an inside contact with a specialist in Action for children who can give us statuses on cases that were submitted after 45 days. Action for children a specialist is contacted through via email by the FSS /Site Manager. FSS is also responsible for checking statuses on pending cases from our other sites that also offer childcare.

NOTE: we cannot check statuses on cases pending less than 45 days after submission.

Redeterminations and Additional Request of Information:

 When families are up for redetermination, they’re contacted 30 days before the due date.

FSS sends a letter reminding parents to submit their check stubs or school letter immediately. The parent also receives a phone call from FSS to keep reminding the parent about their redetermination due date. If a parent fails to cooperate and the due date is approaching, the parent receives a half-day letter stating that their child can only attend the EHS/Head Start portion from 8:30-3:30 pm.

 When a case is pended for additional information request through Action for children, the parent has 30 days to submit the paperwork they're requesting. FSS follows up with the parent until the paperwork has been provided.  Suppose a parent fails to submit information during an EHS/HS hour 8:30-3:30 pm. A letter will also be sent out to parents by the Family support specialist.

 Cases Denied:

 If a claim gets denied by Action for children, the parent has 30 days to appeal the issue and provide additional information if needed. If the parent and provider receive a second denial by action for children, the case is denied altogether. In some cases that were dismissed, FSS can tell if the claim can get approved soon by following up with the family.