M E M O R A N D U M

TO: EES Program Administrators

FROM: Jaime Rogers

DATE: 7/29/14

SUBJECT: Implementation Instructions - KEESM Revision #68

This memo provides implementation instructions and information for the following August 1, 2014 policy changes in the Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual (KEESM).

1. Child Care
   
   
   1. Child Care for Post-Secondary Education – See Summary of Change Section I, and KEESM section 2835.
      
      Effective August 1, 2014, the following changes are being made to the criteria that must be met in order to approve child care hours for a parent’s education plan:
      
      
      1. Post-secondary education must be expected to lead to a degree or certificate.
         
         
      2. Child care will be provided for clients to complete a degree or certificate program if they will complete within 24 months, with the goal of employment in their field of study. Child care may be allowed for school hours and 1 hour of study time each week for each class if needed. (Example: A student may be taking five classes for 15 credit hours. Five hours of study time per week could be authorized).
         
         
      3. Child care will not be provided for the pursuit of a second associate’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree.
         
         
      4. The student must be employed a minimum of 15 hours per week and earning the equivalent of the federal minimum wage. If the student is participating in an unpaid internship for which college credit is given, those hours over 15 may be counted toward the 15 hours per week that the student is required to be employed.
         
         
      5. The student must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent in another grading system. Grades/progress shall be verified within 30 days of the end of each term. Workers will need to set alerts for each case to ask for verification of grades.
         
         
      6. On the Statement of Understanding, ES-1640 form that the client/student must complete and sign, the student must indicate their occupational goal and the estimated date when they will complete their program. After a client has completed the form ES-1640 with their occupational goal and signature, EES workers will be required to check the occupational outlook on the US Department of Labor’s website at the following link: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm#C. The EES worker will record the results on the form ES-1640. If the occupational outlook is average or above, child care will be authorized for a parent’s education plan. If the occupational outlook is below average, and the individual provides verification of a job offer that will be available to them upon completion of their program, child care will be approved. Supervisory approval is not required in either of these situations. If, however, the occupational outlook is below average and the individual does not have a specific job offer, child care may be approved for their educational plan with approval from an EES supervisor. In deciding whether or not to approve an educational plan, supervisors will consider such factors as the local job market, the client’s history of cooperation with the agency, and the client’s demonstration of their dedication, determination and/or ability to complete their plan. If approved, the supervisor will sign on the form ES-1640.
         
         
      7. Child care for post-secondary education will be allowed for a lifetime maximum of 24 months per adult. This must be tracked on One Note for each case.
         
         
      8. In two-parent/adult households, child care will not be allowed if both parents are attending a formal education or training program at the same time. The household may choose which one of the parents/adults is participating as a post-secondary student. The other parent/adult must meet another approvable criteria for child care subsidy.
         
         
      9. When a client successfully completes their approved educational program, EES staff will complete an ES-1640a Educational Plan Completion Tracking form and send to the CCDF Program Specialist in Central Office.

      Other requirements listed in KEESM 2835, Item 3 remain unchanged.
      
      These changes will be implemented with all requests for child care for post-secondary education purposes processed beginning August 1, 2014. For ongoing cases, this change will be implemented with the next case change or the next review, whichever comes first. II.

2. Food Assistance
   
   Included Members – See Summary of Change Section II and KEESM 4211.3
   
   Effective for cases processed after July 27th, 2014, the following changes are being made to Food Assistance Planning Included Members:
   
   Spouses must be considered to be married and part of the same household for food assistance eligibility purposes in accordance with the guidance provided by USDA on May 27, 2014 per USDA, Section 3(m)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended by the Agriculture Act of 2014.
   
   For ongoing cases, this change will be implemented with the next case change or the next review, whichever comes first.