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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Terminology

The following definitions are excerpted from State Child Care and Development Fund Plans for the period 10/01/03 through 09/30/05. The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) reviewed Plans that were submitted July 1, 2003, and became effective October 1, 2003. Links to most State CCDF Plans are available on NCCIC's Web site at http://nccic.org/pubs/stateplan/state-urls.html.

The regulations at §98.33(b) require the Lead Agency to inform parents who receive TANF benefits about the exception to the individual penalties associated with the work requirement for any single custodial parent who has a demonstrated inability to obtain needed child care for a child under 6 years of age.

In fulfilling this requirement, the following criteria or definitions are applied by the TANF agency to determine whether the parent has a demonstrated inability to obtain needed child care:

"appropriate child care"
"reasonable distance"
"unsuitability of informal child care"
"affordable child care arrangements"

Definition of "appropriate child care"

State	TANF Agency Establishing Criteria For Definitions	*Definition for “appropriate child care”
Alabama	Alabama Department of Human Resources	TANF policy considers child care services to be appropriate if they are rendered by a child care provider legally authorized under applicable federal and state laws, regulations and requirements to provide such services and who has been selected to provide such services in accordance with parental choice safeguards.
Alaska	The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance	Child care is appropriate when a provider who is willing to take care of the participant’s child: 1. Appears to have the ability to care for children of the same age and development level as the participant’s children; and 2. Is or is willing to become an Approved or Licensed provider.
American Samoa	Not Applicable	American Samoa does not have a TANF program.
Arizona	The Arizona Department of Economic Security, JOBS Administration	Means child care that is licensed or certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services or certified by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of County Operations	Child Care that meets the minimum health and safety standards and guidelines established by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education Licensing Rules and Regulations. All care must be provided in a center, licensed day care home, a registered or a relative’s home.
California	California Department of Social Services	Appropriate child care is defined as child care chosen by the parent that meets the needs of the child and parents and is either licensed for the appropriate age group or special needs category, or is license-exempt and meets TrustLine requirements, unless the child care arrangement is exempt from the TrustLine requirements.
Colorado	County departments of human services or their agents determine TANF eligibility. Colorado’s TANF Program is known as Colorado Works.	Care and supervision that maintains the health and safety of the child while encouraging growth and development. Appropriate care should strive to meet the developmental, physical, mental and emotional needs of the child, as defined by the county in the Colorado Works and Child Care Assistance Plan.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	Not Applicable	The CNMI does not receive TANF funding.
Connecticut	CT Department of Social Services	Appropriate child care means care that meets the health and safety standards that are required for providers who receive payments under the provisions of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), as mandated by Connecticut General Statutes 17b-749.
Delaware	Division of Social Services	Care that meets the health and safety standards as defined by State licensing guidelines, and that meets the age-appropriate needs of the child and the child care needs of the parents.
District of Columbia	Income Maintenance Administration, Department of Human Services	Child care must meet the parent’s needs in terms of hours and location. The child care center or family child care provider must be licensed. An in-home or relative provider must meet the minimum requirements incorporated in the child care provider’s agreement. The basic needs of the children must be met. These needs include: safety, developmental, social, cultural and health.
Florida	Department of Children and Families	The care, protection, and supervision of a child which supplements parental care, enrichment, and healthy supervision for the child, in accordance with his or her individual needs. Such care should increase the child's chances of achieving future educational success and becoming [a] productive member of society.
Georgia	TANF Unit of the Employment Services Section of the Division of Family and Children Services in consultation with the Child Care and Parent Services Section	Care that meets state's licensing/minimum health and safety standards, is available, and meets the needs of the family and child.
Guam	Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services	An individual, a family setting, a family group home, or a licensed facility which provides a safe environment for children to learn, relax, thrive and have fun: a healthy child care setting.
Hawaii	Department of Human Services	The provider meeting the licensing requirements or minimum health and safety standards established by the Lead Agency.
Idaho	The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare	Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis by a reasonable person concept. Reasonable person is defined as whether the conduct would be that of a reasonably prudent person in the same or similar circumstances.
Illinois	Illinois Department of Human Services	Affordable care that meets the child’s needs and complies with all applicable state and local laws and regulations.
Indiana	The CCDF Lead Agency is also the Lead Agency for TANF.	Any care which is provided in accordance with Indiana law. Appropriate child care is either licensed, registered, or license exempt.
Iowa	Iowa Department of Human Services	Appropriate Child Care means that the child care provider is a licensed center, a registered child development home, an exempt facility, or someone who has an approved review or evaluation of child abuse and criminal record checks and can meet the minimum health and safety requirements for nonregistered child care home providers.
Kansas	Social and Rehabilitation Services, Economic and Employment Support Services	A regulated facility that meets or exceeds minimum licensing and registration regulations. A non-regulated legally exempt provider who has completed a Health and Safety Standards Check List (CC-1631) and maintains a facility that meets or exceeds minimum standards.
Kentucky	The Cabinet for Families and Children, Department for Community Based Services.	Means an eligible child care provider as defined in 45 C.F.R. Part 98.2.
Louisiana	Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support	Appropriate child care is defined as: Child care provided by any state-licensed facility; Child care provided by a state-registered facility; and Child care provided by a private party of the parents’ choice if arrangements meet basic health and safety standards.
Maine	Maine Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence	Appropriate child care is child care furnished by a child care provider who has passed background checks as required by State law and regulation.
Maryland	Department of Human Resources, Family Investment Administration	Child care that meets the parent’s needs in terms of hours and location, meets the child’s needs in terms of health and safety, and is geared toward the healthy development of the child.
Massachusetts^*	Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)	DTA does not have specific definitions for these terms. However, the DTA regulations state the following: Good cause for failure to participate in the required work program may exist if "suitable state-standard child care is totally unavailable, or unavailable during the recipient's hours of training or employment, including additional commuting time, or arrangements for child care have broken down or have been interrupted. State standard child care is child care which is licensed or is exempt from licensure under M.G.L. Chapter 28A." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(A)(1 ).) Verification of the lack of suitable, state-standard child care must consist of "a written, dated and signed statement from an appropriate official of the designated agency under contract with the Department, stating that such services are unavailable during the hours of the grantee's employment or training. If there is a breakdown of such care not provided through a designated agency under contract with the Department, a statement from the child-care provider, or, if not available from the provider, a written, dated and signed statement from the grantee, must be submitted." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(B)(1).)
Michigan	Family Independence Agency	The care is appropriate to the child’s age, disabilities and other conditions.
Minnesota	The Minnesota Department of Human Services	Appropriate child care means: 1) the provider of care is a licensed or legal non-licensed provider according to state standards; 2) the provider of care is able to meet a demonstrated need for language-specific care; and 3) that the care is appropriate to the child’s age and special needs. Special needs means a child who has a hearing impairment, visual disability, speech or language impairment, physical handicap, other health impairment, mental handicap, emotional behavioral disorders, specific learning disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, or deaf-blind disability and needs special instruction and services as determined by the Department of Education. Counties also should accommodate demonstrated needs for culturally specific services as resources allow.
Mississippi	MS Department of Human Services, Division of Economic Assistance	A licensed child care center, family day care home or an individual (18 years old or older) chosen by the parent to care for the child.
Missouri	Department of Social Services/Division of Family Services	Appropriate child care in formal and informal settings includes: Child care that is consistently available. Child care that is available during the participant's hours of employment, education, training, and/or work activity. Child care that addresses the specialized needs of the child. For example, a child with a disability. Child care that is developmentally and age appropriate. This determination will be based on the information provided by the parent when demonstrating that the care available to them does not meet the developmental and/or age appropriate skills of their child. Child care by a full time, year round, primary provider who is at least eighteen (18) years of age. Child care by a provider who has undergone a Child Abuse and Neglect background screening and a Tuberculosis test. Child care is provided in a residence which has running water, electricity, a safe source of heat, meets any local housing code standards, and a working telephone is accessible to the provider either in the provider's residence or within reasonable proximity of the residence.
Montana	Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Human and Community Services Division, Public Assistance Bureau	The child care provider meets applicable state standards.
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Economic and Family Support	Care that is or can be licensed or approved by Nebraska Health and Human Services System.
Nevada	Nevada State Welfare Division	Child care chosen by the parent that offers developmentally appropriate practices that meet the needs of that parent and child.
New Hampshire	Division of Family Assistance	Means the child care provider is open for the hours and days the parent would need child care in order to comply with work requirements; is able and willing to provide child care services including any special needs of the child(ren); is either licensed or license exempt for the appropriate age group in accordance with RSA 170E; and the care provided is representative of the quality of child care provided to other child(ren) in the community.
New Jersey	Appropriate staff of the 21 New Jersey County Welfare Agencies (CWAs) and Boards of Social Services (BSSs) [New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DFD)] DFD	Means the child care provider is open for the hours and days the parent would need child care in order to comply with work requirements and the provider is able and willing to provide child care services including any special needs of the child(ren) and meets DHS requirements.
New Mexico	The New Mexico Human Services Department	Child care provided by a facility or an individual that is licensed or registered with CYFD [Children, Youth and Families Department], provides care and supervision to a child, meets the health and safety standards established by CYFD, is able to address the special needs of a child, provides care that meets the child’s age and development, and is available during the recipients hours of work, education or training.
New York	Department of Labor	Appropriate means the child care provider is open for the hours and days the parent or caretaker relative would need child care in order to comply with the applicable work requirements and the provider is able and willing to provide child care services to the applicable child(ren) including addressing any special needs of the applicable child(ren).
North Carolina	The Division of Social Services: However, The Division of Social Services collaborated with the Division of Child Development to develop these definitions.	Care in a regulated child care center or family child care home that has a license, or care in an unregulated child care arrangement that meets the minimal health, safety or criminal record check standards required of unregulated providers for payment through North Carolina's child care subsidy program. In addition, child care options must have hours of operation that mesh with the work schedules of parents and meet any special needs of the individual children.
North Dakota	Lead Agency, Department of Human Services	The inability to obtain appropriate child care which includes licensed center-based providers, licensed family home child care providers, self-certified family home child care providers under North Dakota Century Code 50-11.1, or relative child care providers who are not required to be licensed or registered.
Ohio	Ohio Department of Job and Family Services	Availability of a licensed or certified child care provider.
Oklahoma^**	Department of Human Services	The above criteria are defined in the following policy: 340:10-2-2. Sanction process (d) Determination of good cause. All good cause situations are temporary in nature. An individual may have good cause for refusing or failing to participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work. The social services specialist determines whether or not good cause exists. 6. An example of good cause is: (1) Appropriate child care for the child(ren) is not available. Appropriate child care is care provided by: (A) A licensed, contracted child care facility; (B) An approved in-home care giver; (C) A dependable relative who is able and willing to assume responsibility for care and supervision of the child for a part of the day; (D) A free or low cost facility, such as a day care pre-school or Head Start program operated by a community action agency; or (E) Informal arrangements made by the parent with a neighbor or friend for occasional care; (2) The custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained six years of age has demonstrated an inability to obtain needed child care. This is demonstrated by the unavailability: (A) Of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the individual’s home or work site. A reasonable distance is a distance determined and agreed upon by the parent and the social services specialist and is dependent upon the individual needs of the parent and child(ren); or (B) Unsuitability of informal child care provided by a relative or provided under other arrangements. Unsuitability of informal child care is an arrangement that does not: (i) Afford the child(ren) adequate care and supervision. Supervision of a child(ren) means the function of observing, overseeing, and guiding a child; (ii) Encourage social development or stimulate the child(ren)’s mental capabilities; and (iii) Afford the child(ren) a safe and stable environment that provides for learning opportunities; (3) The illness or incapacity of the participant or any household member who cannot give self-care and for whom special care is unavailable; (4) A court-required appearance or incarceration of the participant; (5) The participant's attendance at parent and teacher conferences; (6) A family crisis or markedly changed individual or family circumstances; (7) The unavailability of planned transportation when needed or the inability to arrange for transportation; (8) The occurrence of inclement weather which prevented the participant, and other persons similarly situated, from traveling to, or participating in, the prescribed activity; (9) The lack of necessary social services or work activity; (10) The assignment or job referral does not meet the appropriate criteria as defined in OAC 340:10-2-3 (d); (11) The refusal to accept major medical services even if such refusal precludes participation in the program; (12) Racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or age discrimination or harassment by employer or other employees; (13) A participant is engaged in another work activity that is consistent with the employability plan; (14) The lack of available treatment in the community for substance abuse or mental health issues affecting the family; or (15) Crisis intervention due to domestic violence issues.
Oregon	Department of Human Services	Both the provider and the place where care is provided meet the subsidy agency’s health and safety and provider requirements defined in administrative rules; (b) the care accommodates the parent’s work schedule; and (c) the care meets the specific needs of the child, such as age and special needs requirements.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare	Care operating in accordance with Pennsylvania State Day Care Regulations and meeting the requirements of CCDBG regulations. This includes regulated center-based, group home care, registered family day care and informal (relative/neighbor) care. Informal care includes care in the child’s home or in the caregiver’s home.
Puerto Rico	The Administration of Social Economic Development	Appropriate Child Care means that child care provider will offer the service according to the parents work requirements and child's special needs including extended hours, before and after school hours, weekend days and school vacation periods. Providers must also meet DHSS requirements.
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Human Services	Is defined as care which meets the standards for providers as specified in Section 0850.03.02 of the DHS Code of Rhode Island Rules.
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Social Services	Appropriate child care must be determined by parental choice to insure that the developmental nurturing needs of a child(ren) are met. Child care facilities must comply with all South Carolina Code of Laws addressing regulatory requirements and procedures. Informal child care arrangements are not subject to Child Day Care statutory and regulatory requirements, however, parents are required to complete a Self-Arranged Child Care Certification form to ensure health and safety requirements are being met.
South Dakota	Office of Economic Assistance	“Appropriate child care” means the provision of care that meets minimal health and safety standards and the developmental needs of children.
Tennessee	The Tennessee Department of Human Services.	Appropriate child care is that care which, at a minimum, meets the state child care licensing standards or the health and safety checklist for unregulated home providers established by the Lead Agency for these types of care arrangements.
Texas	The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Even though the Texas Department of Human Services is the state's Lead TANF Agency, TWC administers Choices employment services in Texas.	Child care provided by a facility that is either: 1. Licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS) 2. Registered with PRS 3. Licensed by the Texas Department of Health as a youth day camp, or 4. Operated and monitored by the United States military services.
Utah	The Department or Workforce Services - Service Delivery Support	Appropriate child care is determined by the parent. The parent chooses the care setting that best meets the child’s developmental needs. “Finding” appropriate child care will be counted as parent participation in the State’s TANF program. To find appropriate child care, parents are referred to their local child care resource and referral agency.
Vermont	Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access (PATH)	A child care slot available with a licensed or registered provider which is located within five miles of the caretaker’s residence or within five miles of the caretaker’s normal route to a program activity or employment and which corresponds to the days and hours when care is needed and which is appropriate to the age(s) and special needs of the child(ren) needing care.
Virgin Islands	The Virgin Islands' Department of Human Services	Child Care which meets state licensing standards of quality and safety and provides age appropriate learning opportunities while meeting the individual needs of the family.
Virginia	Virginia Department of Social Services	Means child care arranged by the participant or, if the participant cannot arrange for the child’s care, child care arranged by the local department of social services with a legally operating provider.
Washington	Washington State Department of Social and Health Services	Means licensed, certified or approved under state laws and regulations that apply to the type of child care you use, and that you may make your own choice among child care options that are available in your area.
West Virginia	Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, Office of Family and Children’s Policy, Division of Family Support	Child Care is available during work or activity placement hours. Regulated or certified child care is suitable for special needs children.
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	Child care as determined by the parent to meet the needs of the family. The child care provider must be regulated in order to receive the Wisconsin Shares Child Care subsidy payment.
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Family Services	Child care meeting Wyoming licensing standards or if legally exempt from child care licensing requirements, meeting minimum health and safety requirements as outlined by the CCDF and the Administrative Rules for Child Care, Purchase of Service. All providers and adults in the facility with access to children must also receive a favorable Central Registry and criminal history prescreen check.

Definition of "reasonable distance"

State	TANF Agency Establishing Criteria For Definitions	*Definition for "reasonable distance"
Alabama	Alabama Department of Human Resources	TANF policy considers employment to be suitable if a TANF recipient is not expected to commute more than 2 hours per day, inclusive of time required to transport the recipient's children to and from child care.
Alaska	The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance	Child care is within a reasonable distance when the provider's location is within 30 minutes travel time by public or private transportation from the participant's home or activity site.
American Samoa	Not Applicable	American Samoa does not have a TANF program.
Arizona	The Arizona Department of Economic Security, JOBS Administration	Means child care that is available when the total travel time from a TANF participant's home, to the child care provider, and to a work activity, is 1½ hours (or less) one way; or ½ hour (or less) one way if the only mode of transportation is walking.
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of County Operations.	The travel time from the parent's home to his or her place of employment must not exceed more than 30 minutes one way in order to be required to place a child in child care.
California	California Department of Social Services	Reasonable distance is defined as the distance customarily traveled by working families in accessing child care in the community.
Colorado	County departments of human services or their agents determine TANF eligibility. Colorado's TANF Program is known as Colorado Works.	Distance between the child's home and the child care setting or the parent's place of employment and the child care setting that, when traveled using transportation resources available to the family, still allows the family to perform basic daily routines
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	Not Applicable	The CNMI does not receive TANF funding. NOTE: The TANF agency, not the Child Care Lead Agency, is responsible for establishing the following criteria or definitions. These criteria or definitions are offered in this Plan as a matter of public record.
Connecticut	CT Department of Social Services	Reasonable distance means care that can be accessed by public or private transportation that is available to the client without interfering with the parent's ability to maintain employment. If transportation is not available, child care must be within reasonable walking distance from the person's home.
Delaware	Division of Social Services	Care that is located in proximity to either a parent's place of employment or near the parent's home (generally, care that is within one hour's drive).
District of Columbia	Income Maintenance Administration, Department of Human Services	Reasonable distance is defined as [the] travel time it takes for a resident of the District of Columbia to drop off the child at the child care facility and arrive on time at work. This travel time should not exceed one and one-half hour from home to work. For District of Columbia residents who work outside the city in Maryland or Virginia, the travel time is defined as the time it takes to drop off the children at the child care facility and arrive on time to work. This travel time should not exceed two hours from home to work.
Florida	Department of Children and Families	Reasonable distance is dependent on the geographic area and availability of public transportation. The case manager will discuss and determine mileage and/or time needed for travel to and from the job site.
Georgia	TANF Unit of the Employment Services Section of the Division of Family and Children Services [DFCS] in consultation with the Child Care and Parent Services Section of the DFCS.	Care that is within a forty-five minute radius of the parent's home or work activity.
Guam	Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services	A reasonable distance is not more than one hour of travel time between home, or employment location and location of child care.
Hawaii	Department of Human Services	A maximum of one hour (each way) of travel from the provider to the participant's/recipient's place of employment or education/training.
Idaho	The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare	Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis by a reasonable person concept. Reasonable person is defined as whether the conduct would be that of a reasonably prudent person in the same or similar circumstances.
Illinois	Illinois Department of Human Services	The client's total travel time (from home to child care provider to job/activity, plus return trip) is not more than 25 percent of the client's total time on the job/activity, e.g. no more than 2 hours commuting for an 8-hour work day.
Indiana	The CCDF Lead Agency is also the Lead Agency for TANF.	A round trip from home to child care setting of less than two hours in duration by an automobile.
Iowa	Iowa Department of Human Services	Reasonable Distance means that the required travel time from home to the work-related activity does not exceed one hour each way including the travel time necessary to take a child to a child care provider.
Kansas	Social and Rehabilitation Services, Economic and Employment Support Services	Total daily transport time to and from home to the child care provider not to exceed two (2) hours. If a longer transport time is generally accepted in the community, the round trip transport time shall not exceed the generally accepted community standards.
Kentucky	The Cabinet for Families and Children, Department for Community Based Services.	Means the distance customarily available within a locality.
Louisiana	Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support	Child care is unavailable if child care is not located within a "reasonable distance," defined as 30 minutes from the individual's home or work site.
Maine	Maine Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence	Reasonable distance is defined as not exceeding by ½ hour the normal commute time from the participant's dwelling to work or an approved activity.
Maryland	Department of Human Resources, Family Investment Administration	Based on available transportation, a parent would be expected to travel to the child care provider no more than one hour each way.
Massachusetts^**	Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)	Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA); DTA does not have specific definitions for these terms. However, the DTA regulations state the following: Good cause for failure to participate in the required work program may exist if "suitable state-standard child care is totally unavailable, or unavailable during the recipient's hours of training or employment, including additional commuting time, or arrangements for child care have broken down or have been interrupted. State standard child care is child care which is licensed or is exempt from licensure under M.G.L. Chapter 28A." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(A)(1).) Verification of the lack of suitable, state-standard child care must consist of "a written, dated and signed statement from an appropriate official of the designated agency under contract with the Department, stating that such services are unavailable during the hours of the grantee's employment or training. If there is a breakdown of such care not provided through a designated agency under contract with the Department, a statement from the child-care provider, or, if not available from the provider, a written, dated and signed statement from the grantee, must be submitted." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(B)(1).)
Michigan	Family Independence Agency	The total commuting time to and from work and child care facilities does not exceed three hours per day.
Minnesota	The Minnesota Department of Human Services	Reasonable distance means that the total commuting time to the child care provider and to work does not exceed two hours round trip.
Mississippi	MS Department of Human Services, Division of Economic Assistance	Distance shall be considered reasonable if the day care center is within a 20 mile radius of the parent's home or work site.
Missouri	Department of Social Services/Division of Family Services	A determination of whether child care is within a reasonable distance should include, but not be limited to, the following factors: 1) When the participant has no independent transportation, they can be expected to use public transportation if: It is available at the appropriate time for the participant's schedule of work or work participation activity; It is not cost prohibitive for the participant; and, The time involved in getting to public transportation, child care, and then to work is reasonable in relation to the participant's actual hours of work or work participation activity. 2) If the participant has an independent means of transportation, the transportation must include the following: The vehicle or other transportation is reliable; The recipient is able to afford the transportation costs, including the costs involved in maintaining and ensuring the reliability of the transportation; and The commuting time from the individual's home to their child care provider and their work site (or work participation activity) is no more than an hour each way.
Montana	Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Human and Community Services Division, Public Assistance Bureau	a. If the family is without either their own (or arranged) transportation, and there is no public transportation, then their home or work site must be no more than 3 miles from the child care provider. b. If the family has their own (or arranged) transportation, their home or work site is within one-hour travel distance, one-way, from the child care provider.
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Economic and Family Support.	A round trip of two hours or less from home to the site of child care. If a normal round trip commuting time in the area is more than two hours, that is considered the generally accepted community standard.
Nevada	Nevada State Welfare Division	A parent should not have to travel more than 60 minutes to drop-off or pick-up their child from the child care provider's location.
New Hampshire	Division of Family Assistance	Means the distance of the available child care provider from the individual's residence and then to their work activity, is not substantially greater than the distance that others living in the same town or city would travel for child care services and then to their work activity.
New Jersey	Appropriate staff of the 21 New Jersey County Welfare Agencies (CWAs) and Boards of Social Services (BSSs) [New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD)] DFD	Means the child care provider is located within a distance that is en route from the parent's home and work activity and that the parent can get the child to care and then to their activity within 90 minutes.
New Mexico	The New Mexico Human Services Department	Travel to a facility located in the community or surrounding community in which the TANF recipient resides, which takes into account parental or caretaker choice and availability of transportation.
New York	Department of Labor	Reasonable distance means the child care provider is located within a reasonable distance from the parent or caretaker relative's home and work activity, based on locally accepted community standards as defined by the social services district in the child care portion of the district's consolidated services plan.
North Carolina	The Division of Social Services: However, The Division of Social Services collaborated with the Division of Child Development to develop these definitions	In evaluating "reasonable distance," counties or local agencies consider the total time it takes for parents to travel one-way from home to the child care provider then to work or work related activity. Because of differences in North Carolina's geography and highway road systems, county departments of social services or local purchasing agencies have maximum discretion to decide what is "reasonable" for individuals based on their resources (i.e. whether they have a vehicle in working order or family resources available for transporting the family) and local transportation considerations. As a guideline, counties or local purchasing agencies should consider that it may not be reasonable to require families receiving Work First to travel more than 80 minutes one-way to child care and work. Eighty minutes is approximately 4 times the average one-way commute time in North Carolina (not including stops at child care arrangements), as reported by the US Census Bureau based on the 1990 decennial census. This does not preclude exemption from the sanction based on a shorter commute if the local purchasing agency considers the commute an obstacle to children's healthy development or the family's self-sufficiency goals.
North Dakota	Lead Agency, Department of Human Services	Child Care is unobtainable at a location such that the usual commuting time from the parent's home to the location at which child care is provided, and on to the parent's worksite, is one hour or less.
Ohio	Ohio Department of Job and Family Services	Reasonable distance is defined by each individual county department of job and family services and is based on availability of transportation.
Oklahoma^**	Department of Human Services	The above criteria are defined in the following policy: 340:10-2-2. Sanction process (d) Determination of good cause. All good cause situations are temporary in nature. An individual may have good cause for refusing or failing to participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work. The social services specialist determines whether or not good cause exists. 6. An example of good cause is: (1) Appropriate child care for the child(ren) is not available. Appropriate child care is care provided by: (A) A licensed, contracted child care facility; (B) An approved in-home care giver; (C) A dependable relative who is able and willing to assume responsibility for care and supervision of the child for a part of the day; (D) A free or low cost facility, such as a day care pre-school or Head Start program operated by a community action agency; or (E) Informal arrangements made by the parent with a neighbor or friend for occasional care; (2) The custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained six years of age has demonstrated an inability to obtain needed child care. This is demonstrated by the unavailability: (A) Of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the individual's home or work site. A reasonable distance is a distance determined and agreed upon by the parent and the social services specialist and is dependent upon the individual needs of the parent and child(ren); or (B) Unsuitability of informal child care provided by a relative or provided under other arrangements. Unsuitability of informal child care is an arrangement that does not: (i) Afford the child(ren) adequate care and supervision. Supervision of a child(ren) means the function of observing, overseeing, and guiding a child; (ii) Encourage social development or stimulate the child(ren)'s mental capabilities; and (iii) Afford the child(ren) a safe and stable environment that provides for learning opportunities; (3) The illness or incapacity of the participant or any household member who cannot give self-care and for whom special care is unavailable; (4) A court-required appearance or incarceration of the participant; (5) The participant's attendance at parent and teacher conferences; (6) A family crisis or markedly changed individual or family circumstances; (7) The unavailability of planned transportation when needed or the inability to arrange for transportation; (8) The occurrence of inclement weather which prevented the participant, and other persons similarly situated, from traveling to, or participating in, the prescribed activity; (9) The lack of necessary social services or work activity; (10) The assignment or job referral does not meet the appropriate criteria as defined in OAC 340:10-2-3 (d); (11) The refusal to accept major medical services even if such refusal precludes participation in the program; (12) Racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or age discrimination or harassment by employer or other employees; (13) A participant is engaged in another work activity that is consistent with the employability plan; (14) The lack of available treatment in the community for substance abuse or mental health issues affecting the family; or (15) Crisis intervention due to domestic violence issues.
Oregon	Department of Human Services	The parent's total travel time from home to the child care provider and the workplace or JOBS activity will be no more than one hour either way unless a longer commute time is customary in the community.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare	A TANF client will have good cause for not participating in a work or work-related activity if travel time to the work-site, including travel time to the child care provider, is more than two hours, round-trip, by reasonably available public or private transportation.
Puerto Rico	The Administration of Social Economic Development	Reasonable distance means that [the] child care provider is located within Two (2) hours in-between parents home and work activity, to and from.
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Human Services [RI DHS]	Is treated in the context of transportation under good cause in the conciliation process.
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Social Services	Reasonable distance is defined by the TANF agency as the fair and reasonable travel distance to a child day care facility that will not interrupt Family Independence [FI] participation. Parents must be given parental choice to select the child care facility that meets the needs of the child. The Supportive Services Specialists in collaboration with the FI Case Manager will determine judgment of "reasonable distance."
South Dakota	Office of Economic Assistance	The child care provider is located in close enough proximity to the parent home or workplace to allow children to be transported without risk of harm.
Tennessee	The Tennessee Department of Human Services.	The distance from the parent's home to the child care arrangement is considered "reasonable" travel when the care location is within walking distance, or access to personal, other private or public transportation is known to be available to that parent.
Texas	The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Even though the Texas Department of Human Services is the state's Lead TANF Agency, TWC administers Choices employment services in Texas.	Formal or informal child care within a reasonable distance, as defined by each Board, from home or the work site is unavailable.
Utah	The Department or Workforce Services, Service Delivery Support	Travel that requires a two hour round trip unless the commute time for the community is generally longer.
Vermont	Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access (PATH)	Within five miles of the caretaker's residence or within five miles of the caretaker's normal route to a program activity or employment.
Virgin Islands	The Virgin Islands' Department of Human Services.	Location accessible via public and/or private transportation and is within the venue of the parents employment and/or residence.
Virginia	Virginia Department of Social Services	Means that the travel time from the child's home to the child care provider and the work site is generally no more than one hour, based on transportation available to the parent.
Washington	Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.	Means that you can reach the child care site without travel that exceeds normal expectations in your community.
West Virginia	Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, Office of Family and Children's Policy, Division of Family Support	Travel to access child care is not in excess of 60 minutes per day.
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	Child care which is available within a reasonable geographic area is a definition that is determined by the local W-2 agency. The definition for reasonable distance is dependent upon the amount of child care slots available within the service delivery area and the availability of public transportation within a local area to access these care providers. Rural areas with no form of public transportation face different barriers to accessing distant child care providers as compared to urban areas. The W-2 agency and/or the county/tribal agency make the determination of reasonable distance by looking at the specific needs/barriers of the individual and the local area. If child care is not available within a reasonable geographic area, the family may choose to request in-home child care. The provider coming into the child's home will be required to be certified in order to receive Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy payment. Reasonable distance, as defined for a TANF cash grant recipient, means no more than 60 minutes travel time one-way, using available transportation, from the parent's home to the child care provider's location and then on to the parent's work site. Travel time may be extended up to 90 minutes one-way if there is a good placement opportunity for the participant and the participant is willing to enter into this arrangement.
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Family Services	The distance from home to work does not exceed two hours per day, not including the transportation of a child to and from a child care facility.

Definition of “unsuitability of informal child care”

State	TANF Agency Establishing Criteria For Definitions	*Definition for “unsuitability of informal child care”
Alabama	Alabama Department of Human Resources	TANF policy considers informal child care to be suitable only to the extent such care is provided within the constraints of applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and requirements.
Alaska	The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance	Informal care is suitable if it is acceptable to the parent or caretaker relative, and it allows the participant to meet Temporary Assistance work requirements.
American Samoa	Not Applicable	American Samoa does not have a TANF program.
Arizona	The Arizona Department of Economic Security, JOBS Administration	Means child care that is available through a relative provider, but the recipient declares in writing that the provider is inappropriate based on factors such as, that the relative provider: a) Has a history of child neglect or abuse; b) Is experiencing domestic violence; c) Has a history of serious crime; d) Is a drug abuser; e) Has an emotional, mental or physical condition which prevents the relative from providing safe care; or f) Resides in a home which is unsafe for children.
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of County Operations	Care which does not meet the developmental needs of the child or care that has been determined not to be in the best interest of the child or parent.
California	California Department of Social Services	Informal child care is unsuitable when the caregiver cannot be TrustLined in accordance with the TrustLine regulations or would otherwise be denied payment for child care services that are exempt from licensure because of a violent felony conviction.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	Not Applicable	The CNMI does not receive TANF funding. NOTE: The TANF agency, not the Child Care Lead Agency, is responsible for establishing the following criteria or definitions. These criteria or definitions are offered in this Plan as a matter of public record. The TANF agency that established these criteria or definitions is: N/A as the CNMI does not receive TANF funding.
Colorado	County departments of human services or their agents determine TANF eligibility. Colorado’s TANF Program is known as Colorado Works.	Care provided in a legally exempt setting that endangers the health or safety of the child or that hinders the growth and development of the child, as defined by the county in the county Colorado Works and Child Care Assistance Plan.
Connecticut	CT Department of Social Services	Unsuitable informal care means care that is exempt from the State's licensing requirements, but does not meet the health and safety standards described in a, above, or is otherwise shown to be unsafe or inappropriate for the child.
Delaware	Division of Social Services	Informal care that would not meet the physical or psychological needs of the child.
District of Columbia	Income Maintenance Administration, Department of Human Services	Unsuitable Informal Child Care is care that is not licensed or does not meet the programmatic criteria as included in the executed Provider Agreement with the Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD). Informal Child Care is defined as care provided by relative or in-home providers who are selected by the parents. Such providers must have an Official Provider Agreement with the Parent and the OECD along with current health certificates for themselves and the children in their care.
Florida	Department of Children and Families	A Florida Abuse Hotline Information Systems records check of all informal child care providers who receive public funding to provide child care services must be completed. If any individual in the household has a report with some indication or verified findings, the clearance form and copies of any reports are analyzed to determine whether the proposed provider will receive compensation from public funds. The local school readiness coalition or their subcontract provider will notify the parent of the decision by letter. Parents will be given the opportunity to select an alternate care provider.
Georgia	TANF Unit of the Employment Services Section of the Division of Family and Children Services in consultation with the Child Care and Parent Services Section of the Division of Family and Children Services	Care that does not meet state's minimum health and safety standards.
Guam	Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services	Travel is more than one hour from home or employment; or lacks adult supervision.
Hawaii	Department of Human Services	A provider who is not at least 18 years old; has been a perpetrator of child abuse or has members of his/her household who have been perpetrators of abuse; convicted perpetrator of a criminal offense involving violence, injury to families/children, certain other offenses, and/or is unable to meet the minimum health and safety requirements established by the Lead Agency.
Idaho	The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare	Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis by a reasonable person concept. Reasonable person is defined as whether the conduct would be that of a reasonably prudent person in the same or similar circumstances.
Illinois	Illinois Department of Human Services	Arrangements with family or friends to provide child care that does not meet the child’s needs, are unreliable, and/or violate applicable state or local laws and regulations.
Indiana	The CCDF Lead Agency is also the Lead Agency for TANF	Care which has resulted in abuse or neglect of a child or care which is subject to licensure requirements, but is not licensed.
Iowa	Iowa Department of Human Services	Unsuitability of Informal Care means a child care center that has not completed the licensing process or a nonregistered child care provider who cannot be approved upon evaluation of child abuse or criminal record checks or who cannot meet the minimum health and safety requirements for nonregistered child care home providers. The unavailability of appropriate child care within reasonable distance from the participants home and work-related activity does exempt a PROMISE JOBS participant from work requirements. Participants must demonstrate an inability to obtain needed child care. If the participant needs assistance in choosing a provider, the PROMISE JOBS or Department of Human Services (DHS) local office will refer the participant to the child care resource and referral agency serving the county or provide the participant with the list of approvable providers kept by the county DHS office. The availability of appropriate child care will be verified periodically. This exemption does not extend the 60-month life-time benefit limit. DHS informs parents of the child care exception to work requirement sanctions and of the definitions and criteria above used to determine whether a parent demonstrates an inability to obtain needed child care. Parents are also advised that granting this exception does not extend the time limit for receiving federal TANF benefits.
Kansas	Social and Rehabilitation Services [SRS], Economic and Employment Support Services	Care for which SRS would not enter into a Provider Agreement: i.e., a relative with an unwillingness to care for the child; age appropriateness; documentation of family services/protective services case histories.
Kentucky	The Cabinet for Families and Children, Department for Community Based Services	Means care, not regulated under Kentucky law, which does not meet the quality child care needs as defined by the parent or the health and safety requirements applicable to unregulated child care in the Commonwealth.
Louisiana	Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support	Child care is unavailable or unsuitable if basic health and safety standards are not met.
Maine	Maine Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence	Unsuitable child care is defined as a potential child care provider that has a substantiated complaints involving abuse or neglect, or a background check with the State Bureau of Investigation and/or the Department of Motor Vehicles that indicates convictions that would justify the denial of the application to receive child care payments.
Maryland	Department of Human Resources, Family Investment Administration	Informal care that does not meet the standards as stated in Section 6.3.3 of this Plan, state law and Code of Maryland Regulations governing the child care subsidy program, including not posing a risk to the health and safety of the child.
Massachusetts^**	Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)	DTA does not have specific definitions for these terms. However, the DTA regulations state the following: Good cause for failure to participate in the required work program may exist if "suitable state-standard child care is totally unavailable, or unavailable during the recipient's hours of training or employment, including additional commuting time, or arrangements for child care have broken down or have been interrupted. State standard child care is child care which is licensed or is exempt from licensure under M.G.L. Chapter 28A." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(A)(1 ).) Verification of the lack of suitable, state-standard child care must consist of "a written, dated and signed statement from an appropriate official of the designated agency under contract with the Department, stating that such services are unavailable during the hours of the grantee's employment or training. If there is a breakdown of such care not provided through a designated agency under contract with the Department, a statement from the child-care provider, or, if not available from the provider, a written, dated and signed statement from the grantee, must be submitted." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(B)(1).)
Michigan	Family Independence Agency [FIA]	Providers not registered/licensed by the Department of Consumer and Industry Services and not meeting FIA enrollment requirements.
Minnesota	The Minnesota Department of Human Services	Unsuitability of informal care means that the provider does not meet standards regarding health and safety of the child that would be applied to legal, non-licensed providers.
Mississippi	MS Department of Human Services, Division of Economic Assistance	a. Reasons for unavailable or unsuitable child care will be reported by the parent to the case manager. Complaints involving child abuse, neglect or an unsafe environment must be reported to the MS State Department of Health, Division of Child Care Facilities Licensure. b. If the parent refuses to take the child to a particular day care center, the individual must inform the case manager of the reason for refusal. The case manager must investigate and verify the parent's claim of unsuitable child care. The case manager must contact the OCY [Office for Children and Youth] Designated Agents to discuss the problem and determine what other child care services are available on the information gathered.
Missouri	Department of Social Services/Division of Family Services	Families are not required to accept care with providers who are not licensed or registered. There are certain circumstances that may exist that will deem a child care provider as "inappropriate" or "unsuitable" to a parent. Examples of such care are as follows: Child care provided by religious-exempt facilities when the parent states it infringes upon the family's beliefs. Child care provided by any caregiver when the parent states that their child is at risk of abuse or neglect.
Montana	Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Human and Community Services Division, Public Assistance Bureau	Care that does not met applicable state licensing standards, although it may be the parent's choice.
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Economic and Family Support	Unpaid care or personally arranged care by a friend or relative that would be unsafe or harmful to the child.
Nevada	Nevada State Welfare Division	Informal child care is unsuitable if it is not provided legally, or does not meet basic health and safety standards as outlined in the State Child Care Plan. Informal child care is unsuitable if circumstances exist that may cause possible abuse, neglect or harm to children as outlined in county ordinances and/or state statutes. Informal child care is unsuitable if: the arrangements do not support the working schedule of a parent; are not affordable; not easily accessible; or do not meet quality standards as defined by the parent.
New Hampshire	Division of Family Assistance	Means that the child care provider is licensed-exempt and was not able to successfully pass the background check required in RSA [Revised Statutes Annotated] 170E:7 related to state registry and criminal records check or the child care provider was not able to meet the conditions specified in Employment-related Child Care Program Rules HEC6910.05(d)(13).
New Jersey	Appropriate staff of the 21 New Jersey County Welfare Agencies (CWAs) and Boards of Social Services (BSSs) [New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD)] DFD	Informal child care is defined as "Approved Home caregivers in New Jersey." It is unsuitable if the provider cannot meet the minimum requirements as defined by the DFD. The minimum requirements for approval of the home are an inspection of the home using the "Self-Arranged Care Inspection and Interview Checklist" and standard interview procedure with the provider and family members.
New Mexico	The New Mexico Human Services Department	Informal child care shall be deemed to be unsuitable when CYFD [Children, Youth and Families Department] has determined that the care and supervision does not meet the minimum health and safety standards established by CYFD.
New York	Department of Labor	Unsuitability of informal care means the physical condition of the home or the physical or mental condition of the informal provider would be detrimental to the health, welfare and/or safety of the applicable child(ren).
North Carolina	The Division of Social Services: However, The Division of Social Services collaborated with the Division of Child Development to develop these definitions.	The unsuitability of an unregulated child care arrangement is determined on a case-by-case basis. An informal child care provider is considered "unsuitable" for a particular family if one of the following exists: The unregulated child care arrangement does not meet the health, safety, and criminal record check standards required of unregulated providers to receive subsidy payments from the State of North Carolina; or A parent does not want his/her child(ren) cared for by the unregulated child care provider.
North Dakota	Lead Agency, Department of Human Services	Child Care is unobtainable at a location such that the usual commuting time from the parent's home to the location at which child care is provided, and on to the parent's worksite, is one hour or less.
Ohio	Ohio Department of Job and Family Services	This is a decision by the parent or a child protective service agency based on findings during investigation of an abuse or neglect compliant.
Oklahoma^**	Department of Human Services	The above criteria are defined in the following policy: 340:10-2-2. Sanction process (d) Determination of good cause. All good cause situations are temporary in nature. An individual may have good cause for refusing or failing to participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work. The social services specialist determines whether or not good cause exists. 6. An example of good cause is: (1) Appropriate child care for the child(ren) is not available. Appropriate child care is care provided by: (A) A licensed, contracted child care facility; (B) An approved in-home care giver; (C) A dependable relative who is able and willing to assume responsibility for care and supervision of the child for a part of the day; (D) A free or low cost facility, such as a day care pre-school or Head Start program operated by a community action agency; or (E) Informal arrangements made by the parent with a neighbor or friend for occasional care; (2) The custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained six years of age has demonstrated an inability to obtain needed child care. This is demonstrated by the unavailability: (A) Of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the individual’s home or work site. A reasonable distance is a distance determined and agreed upon by the parent and the social services specialist and is dependent upon the individual needs of the parent and child(ren); or (B) Unsuitability of informal child care provided by a relative or provided under other arrangements. Unsuitability of informal child care is an arrangement that does not: (i) Afford the child(ren) adequate care and supervision. Supervision of a child(ren) means the function of observing, overseeing, and guiding a child; (ii) Encourage social development or stimulate the child(ren)’s mental capabilities; and (iii) Afford the child(ren) a safe and stable environment that provides for learning opportunities; (3) The illness or incapacity of the participant or any household member who cannot give self-care and for whom special care is unavailable; (4) A court-required appearance or incarceration of the participant; (5) The participant's attendance at parent and teacher conferences; (6) A family crisis or markedly changed individual or family circumstances; (7) The unavailability of planned transportation when needed or the inability to arrange for transportation; (8) The occurrence of inclement weather which prevented the participant, and other persons similarly situated, from traveling to, or participating in, the prescribed activity; (9) The lack of necessary social services or work activity; (10) The assignment or job referral does not meet the appropriate criteria as defined in OAC 340:10-2-3 (d); (11) The refusal to accept major medical services even if such refusal precludes participation in the program; (12) Racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or age discrimination or harassment by employer or other employees; (13) A participant is engaged in another work activity that is consistent with the employability plan; (14) The lack of available treatment in the community for substance abuse or mental health issues affecting the family; or (15) Crisis intervention due to domestic violence issues.
Oregon	Department of Human Services	The Department of Human Services uses the same standards for informal care as for regulated care. Care that does not meet the criteria in “appropriate child care” would be considered unsuitable.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare	Any care is unsuitable/inappropriate if it is reasonably expected to result in physical or serious emotional harm to the child.
Puerto Rico	The Administration of Social Economic Development	Unsuitability of informal child care means that provider does not meet the minimum requirements established by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). For Example: health, safety, negative criminal history among others.
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Human Services [RI DHS]	Is defined as care which does not meet the standards for providers as specified in Section 0850.03.02 of the DHS Code of Rhode Island Rules.
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Social Services	Informal child care arrangements must meet the needs and parental choice rights of the FI [Family Independence] participant. Informal child care arrangements must comply with policy and procedures developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, ABC Child Care Voucher System. To address health and safety issues a Self-Arranged Child Care Certification form must be completed by all informal providers and reviewed by the Supportive Services Specialist. The FI participant will complete the informal facility checklist addressing the informal caregivers ability to care for child(ren).
South Dakota	Office of Economic Assistance	The provision of informal care is determined unsuitable when the health and safety or developmental needs of children are at risk.
Tennessee	The Tennessee Department of Human Services	Informal or unregulated care is considered unsuitable when it does not accommodate the parent's work schedule or his/her need for reliability. The unregulated provider who does not meet Lead Agency's requirements for appropriate character or capability to provide safe care is considered unsuitable. Also, the care setting which does not meet the Lead Agency's minimal requirements for health and safety is considered unsuitable.
Texas	The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Even though the Texas Department of Human Services is the state's Lead TANF Agency, TWC administers Choices employment services in Texas.	Any informal child care that does not meet the above definition of appropriate child care, or is deemed inappropriate by the parent, is considered to be "unsuitable."
Utah	The Department or Workforce Services, Service Delivery Support	A care setting chosen by the parent that is operating illegally as defined by Utah law or setting where substantiated evidence of child abuse exists.
Vermont	Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access (PATH)	If the only available child care is with a legally exempt child care provider, the parent or caretaker is not required to use it.
Virgin Islands	The Virgin Islands' Department of Human Services	Child Care environment in which the informal care provider is unable to meet the Territory's minimum health and safety standards as are established by the Department of Human Services.
Virginia	Virginia Department of Social Services	Means that the child care arrangement does not meet the requirements for relative care in the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Child Care Services policy.
Washington	Washington State Department of Social and Health Services	By implication, anything that is not allowable as a reimbursable child care option as defined in WAC 388-290-0125 would constitute unsuitable informal child care and could not be reimbursed with CCDF funding.
West Virginia	Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, Office of Family and Children’s Policy, Division of Family Support	Determination is made on a case-by-case basis. Family Support Specialist has discretion to determine unsuitability. (See all other items.): Appropriate Reasonable distance Affordable
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	In order to receive Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy the provider must be a licensed or certified provider. Licensing is administered at the state level, through the Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Regulation and Licensing. Licensing includes extensive health and safety standards, staff qualification standards, and ongoing program monitoring. Providers, who are not required to be licensed, are required to be certified in order to receive Wisconsin Shares. Certification is intended to ensure basic protections for children when public funds pay for child care. Certification standards include criminal record checks, references, basic health and safety standards, and on-site home visits to ensure compliance with standards. Beginning September 1, 2001, all certified providers must complete Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention Training. Child care providers are not required to be certified in order to be reimbursed for: 1. The short term care arrangement for a mildly ill child who is not able to receive care from a regularly authorized regulated child care provider due to that illness. 2. The short term care for a child when the regularly authorized child care provider has an emergency due to illness or other circumstance and is unable to care for the authorized child.
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Family Services	Child care that does not meet minimum health and safety requirements or fails to pass the Central Registry and criminal history prescreen check.

Definition of “affordable child care arrangements"

State	TANF Agency Establishing Criteria For Definitions	*Definition for “affordable child care arrangements”
Alabama	Alabama Department of Human Resources	TANF policy does not require recipients to engage in work activities unless child care is accessible and the Department subsidizes the cost of the care. The policy does not subject such recipients to a sanction or other penalty unless these criteria are met.
Alaska	The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance	Care for which the family has sufficient income or access to assistance through a subsidy program.
American Samoa	Not Applicable	American Samoa does not have a TANF program.
Arizona	The Arizona Department of Economic Security, JOBS Administration	Means child care that is available when the cost of care is equal to or less than the amount that DES will pay. NOTE: The TANF agency, not the Child Care Lead Agency, is responsible for establishing the following definitions.
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of County Operations	Care provided at no charge to the family for the first year after the family’s TANF case closes due to employment assures affordable care. The sliding fee scale is applied after the first year.
California	California Department of Social Services	Affordable child care is child care where the cost to the family does not exceed the regional market rate plus family fees established by the state in accordance with the family fee schedule.
Colorado	County departments of human services or their agents determine TANF eligibility. Colorado’s TANF Program is known as Colorado Works.	Care for which the cost to the parent does not exceed 14% of the family’s earned income, and may be further defined in the county Colorado Works and Child Care Assistance Plan.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	Not Applicable	The CNMI does not receive TANF funding. NOTE: The TANF agency, not the Child Care Lead Agency, is responsible for establishing the following criteria or definitions. These criteria or definitions are offered in this Plan as a matter of public record. The TANF agency that established these criteria or definitions is: N/A as the CNMI does not receive TANF funding.
Connecticut	CT Department of Social Services	Affordable formal child care means licensed child care that costs the parent (after subsidies) no more than ten percent of his or her total income.
Delaware	Division of Social Services	Care that would provide access to a full range of child care categories and types of providers and that would meet the needs of most children and their parents.
District of Columbia	Income Maintenance Administration, Department of Human Services	Affordable Child Care Arrangements are terms of agreement between the Parents and the Provider that meet the needs of the Parents and the children by using the Child Care Subsidy with the Providers in the District of Columbia. Parents can obtain care for their children using the available subsidy, as long as they are participating with the District of Columbia’s extensive provider system, which includes all categories of care (infants, pre-schoolers, school-age), in all wards. The subsidy is available through the Office of Early Childhood Development.
Florida	Department of Children and Families	A market rate survey is conducted annually to determine maximum county rates by age category and type of provider. Maximum rates are set by local school readiness coalitions and based on a "reasonable" relationship to the market rate survey. The Child Care Resource and Referral Network surveys the total provider population.
Georgia	TANF Unit of the Employment Services Section of the Division of Family and Children Services [DFCS] in consultation with the Child Care and Parent Services Section	Care in which the state participates at a minimum of 50% of the cost of care for the family and the provider accepts up to the maximum DFCS rate.
Guam	Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services	Child care arrangements which allow families to work.
Hawaii	Department of Human Services	Child care with a co-payment for parents of no more than 20% of the Lead Agency’s maximum child care payment rate.
Idaho	The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare	Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis by a reasonable person concept. Reasonable person is defined as whether the conduct would be that of a reasonably prudent person in the same or similar circumstances.
Illinois	Illinois Department of Human Services	Child care that is free or eligible for payments by the Department and that does not exceed the Department’s maximum rate for the type of care.
Indiana	The CCDF Lead Agency is also the Lead Agency for TANF	Any care which is totally subsidized by the agency as TANF recipients are not expected to pay for child care.
Iowa	Iowa Department of Human Services	Affordable Child Care Arrangements means that child care for approved PROMISE JOBS components is provided at no cost, except for the Monitored Employment component, which may include a co-pay. Co-payments are based upon a sliding fee schedule through the Child Care and Development Fund in accordance with 441--IAC 130.4(234, 239B).
Kansas	Social and Rehabilitation Services, Economic and Employment Support Services	The ability of a family to pay the costs of care through sufficient income or assistance through the child care subsidy program.
Kentucky	The Cabinet for Families and Children, Department for Community Based Services.	Means appropriate child care, at a reasonable distance, which is suitable and charges at or below the maximum provider payment rate under the CCDF plan.
Louisiana	Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support	Child care is unavailable if affordable child care costs exceed established maximum limits for state-administered child care program[s].
Maine	Maine Department of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independence	Affordable child care is defined by the child care market rate that is determined every 2 years by the Office of Child Care and Head Start of the Maine Department of Human Services.
Maryland	Department of Human Resources, Family Investment Administration.	Those arrangements for which the parent fee charged by the provider is less than or equal to the assigned copayment for a non-TANF family of the same size and income level who receives a subsidy.
Massachusetts^**	Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)	DTA does not have specific definitions for these terms. However, the DTA regulations state the following: Good cause for failure to participate in the required work program may exist if "suitable state-standard child care is totally unavailable, or unavailable during the recipient's hours of training or employment, including additional commuting time, or arrangements for child care have broken down or have been interrupted. State standard child care is child care which is licensed or is exempt from licensure under M.G.L. Chapter 28A." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(A)(1 ).) Verification of the lack of suitable, state-standard child care must consist of "a written, dated and signed statement from an appropriate official of the designated agency under contract with the Department, stating that such services are unavailable during the hours of the grantee's employment or training. If there is a breakdown of such care not provided through a designated agency under contract with the Department, a statement from the child-care provider, or, if not available from the provider, a written, dated and signed statement from the grantee, must be submitted." (DTA regulations 106 CMR 207. 190(B)(1).)
Michigan	Family Independence Agency	The child care is provided at the rate of payment or reimbursement set by the Michigan Legislature.
Minnesota	The Minnesota Department of Human Services	Affordable child care arrangements means the provider does not charge in excess of the maximum amount the county is allowed to pay, as established in a rate schedule set each year by the Department of Human Services.
Mississippi	MS Department of Human Services, Division of Economic Assistance	Child care that is equal to or less than the established rates for the type of care according to the Office for Children and Youth's Child Care Policy Manual.
Missouri	Department of Social Services/Division of Family Services	Available child care is affordable when the cost of care does not exceed ten percent (10%) of a family's gross income less medical insurance premiums. This ten percent (10%) includes a family's sliding fee and any additional co-payment a family is required to pay. This ten percent (10%) does not include federal, state, or local child care subsidies.
Montana	Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Human and Community Services Division, Public Assistance Bureau	The total parental (caretaker, relative or person acting in loco parentis) co-payment and “above and beyond” obligation does not exceed 25% of gross family income. If access to child care is an issue to a family participating in a Family Investment Agreement (FIA), TANF Case Managers negotiate FIA activities, which reduce or eliminate the need for child care.
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Economic and Family Support	Care at no cost to the client.
Nevada	Nevada State Welfare Division	Affordable child care is child care that does not exceed 10-15% of the parent’s gross income.
New Hampshire	Division of Family Assistance	Affordable child care arrangements ensure equal access and can be maintained without undue financial hardship to the family.
New Jersey	Appropriate staff of the 21 New Jersey County Welfare Agencies (CWAs) and Boards of Social Services (BSSs) [New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD)] DFD	Are those which do not exceed the DHS maximum child care reimbursement rates. In addition, parent co-payment fees shall not exceed the DHS co-payment schedule for subsidized child care services.
New Mexico	The New Mexico Human Services Department	Those arrangements that are subsidized by CYFD [Children, Youth and Families Department], or those arrangements which are not subsidized and are made directly with a facility or an individual by the parent or caretaker, taking into account parental or caretaker choice.
New York	Department of Labor	Affordable means the parent or caretaker relative would have sufficient income to pay the parent share for the child care services if required according to State regulations and/or to pay the cost of care above the market rate, if applicable. If the potential provider is a caregiver of informal child care who would be providing care in the child(ren) 's home, affordable also means that the parent or caretaker relative would have sufficient income to provide the caregiver with all the required federal and State employment benefits. In addition, the following definition is applied to determine inability to obtain child care. Accessible means the parent or caretaker relative is able, by available public or private transportation, to get the applicable child(ren) to and from the child care provider(s) taking into consideration the age and any special needs of the children.
North Carolina	The Division of Social Services: However, The Division of Social Services collaborated with the Division of Child Development to develop these definitions.	When a child care subsidy is available to the family, the child care is deemed affordable.
North Dakota	Lead Agency, Department of Human Services	Child care is unobtainable, from a child care provider licensed or registered under North Dakota Century Code chapter 50-11.1, at a rate equal to or less than 1.1 times the market survey average rate for child care provided to children of the age of the parent's child in the region in which the parent lives.
Ohio	Ohio Department of Job and Family Services	All [Ohio Works First ] OWF/TANF participants are guaranteed eligibility for child care subsidy with co-payments based on family size and income.
Oklahoma^**	Department of Human Services	The above criteria are defined in the following policy: 340:10-2-2. Sanction process (d) Determination of good cause. All good cause situations are temporary in nature. An individual may have good cause for refusing or failing to participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work. The social services specialist determines whether or not good cause exists. 6. An example of good cause is: (1) Appropriate child care for the child(ren) is not available. Appropriate child care is care provided by: (A) A licensed, contracted child care facility; (B) An approved in-home care giver; (C) A dependable relative who is able and willing to assume responsibility for care and supervision of the child for a part of the day; (D) A free or low cost facility, such as a day care pre-school or Head Start program operated by a community action agency; or (E) Informal arrangements made by the parent with a neighbor or friend for occasional care; (2) The custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained six years of age has demonstrated an inability to obtain needed child care. This is demonstrated by the unavailability: (A) Of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the individual’s home or work site. A reasonable distance is a distance determined and agreed upon by the parent and the social services specialist and is dependent upon the individual needs of the parent and child(ren); or (B) Unsuitability of informal child care provided by a relative or provided under other arrangements. Unsuitability of informal child care is an arrangement that does not: (i) Afford the child(ren) adequate care and supervision. Supervision of a child(ren) means the function of observing, overseeing, and guiding a child; (ii) Encourage social development or stimulate the child(ren)’s mental capabilities; and (iii) Afford the child(ren) a safe and stable environment that provides for learning opportunities; (3) The illness or incapacity of the participant or any household member who cannot give self-care and for whom special care is unavailable; (4) A court-required appearance or incarceration of the participant; (5) The participant's attendance at parent and teacher conferences; (6) A family crisis or markedly changed individual or family circumstances; (7) The unavailability of planned transportation when needed or the inability to arrange for transportation; (8) The occurrence of inclement weather which prevented the participant, and other persons similarly situated, from traveling to, or participating in, the prescribed activity; (9) The lack of necessary social services or work activity; (10) The assignment or job referral does not meet the appropriate criteria as defined in OAC 340:10-2-3 (d); (11) The refusal to accept major medical services even if such refusal precludes participation in the program; (12) Racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, or age discrimination or harassment by employer or other employees; (13) A participant is engaged in another work activity that is consistent with the employability plan; (14) The lack of available treatment in the community for substance abuse or mental health issues affecting the family; or (15) Crisis intervention due to domestic violence issues.
Oregon	Department of Human Services	Are those where the expense to the parent is less than ten percent of family income.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare	Any care which costs less than or equal to the Department’s established child care daily maximum allowances for payment of child care services.
Puerto Rico	The Administration of Social Economic Development	Payment rates are based on a local market survey and co-payments are less than average rates.
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Human Services [RI DHS]	FIP [Family Independence Program] recipients pay no co-payment to RI DHS CCAP [Child Care Assistance Program] Approved Providers and those providers are prohibited from charging more than the established CCAP rate for CC services delivered to CCAP eligible families.
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Social Services	Affordable child care arrangements are determined by a market rate survey conducted for the Department of Health and Human Services.
South Dakota	Office of Economic Assistance	Affordable childcare arrangements ensure equal access can be maintained without undue financial hardship to the family.
Tennessee	The Tennessee Department of Human Services.	An affordable child care arrangement is care provided by those agencies and individuals who are participating in the Lead Agency's certificate program for subsidized assistance and with whom the arrangement was selected by the parent.
Texas	The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Even though the Texas Department of Human Services is the state's Lead TANF Agency, TWC administers Choices employment services in Texas.	Child care arrangements that fall within the maximum rates established by each local Board. Parents participating in Choices employment services are exempt from co-pay.
Utah	The Department or Workforce Services, Service Delivery Support	An available provider in the community whose charge for services does not exceed the MLMR [Maximuj Local Market Rate] established at the 75th percentile.
Vermont	Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access (PATH)	Child care arrangements that require a co-payment of no more than 10% of parents’ income.
Virgin Islands	The Virgin Islands' Department of Human Services	Arrangements which provide access to quality child care services and consumes not more than 10% of the family's gross income.
Virginia	Virginia Department of Social Services	Means the cost of the child care is less than or equal to the payment amounts specified in the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Child Care Services policy.
Washington	Washington State Department of Social and Health Services	Means at or below your share of the child care costs (“co-payment”) calculated by the Working Connections Child Care Program.
West Virginia	Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, Office of Family and Children’s Policy, Division of Family Support	Can access and be eligible for child care subsidy (CCDF). Provider (regulated or informal) is eligible to receive child care subsidies.
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	Individual county/tribal maximum reimbursement weekly rates are established for licensed group and licensed family child care providers by surveying these providers for their prices each summe