Childcare Before and Aftercare

1. I make too much money for Families First childcare help, but I can't afford childcare.

Families First At-Risk Childcare for Child-Only Caretakers (ARCO)

This Department of Human Services (DHS) statewide program provides temporary childcare help to adults caring for their relative's children. At Risk Child-Only child care cases are certified for 6 month periods. At the end of six months, the case must be reviewed to continue the Childcare Certificate help. Currently this is an on-going process and there are no limits to the number of 6-month periods that can be given. However, this is subject to change based on funding availability. Formerly, this program was limited to relative caregiver for one year. Each caregiver must pay a part of the childcare cost. The amount relative caregivers pay depends upon their income and size of their family. Here are the ways to qualify.

You must:

• Be receiving the Families First Child-only Grant. For further information, visit the section on Money.
• Be working full-time or working and in school for a total of 40 hours per week for the entire 12 months. If the individual works 30-39 hours and the employer considers that to be full-time, the requirement of working full-time is met. Your statement that your employer considers this to be full-time is all that is required. Thirty to 39 hours is acceptable if this is the best that you can do because it is very, very hard to get 40 hours of work in your area or given your skills and capabilities. If school attendance is less than 40 hours and additional hours must be made up in work, the total of the education and work hours must equal 40 hours. According to DHS, there are no work requirement exceptions for any limitations that may prevent you from working full-time, including being disabled, elderly, or incapacitated for physical and mental health problems. SSI child-only caregivers may get ARCO if they meet all of the qualifications. Graduate school credit hours don't count. Undergraduate internships and study time does count. If you don't currently meet this full-time activity requirement, DHS will issue a 30-day childcare certificate to allow you 30 days to find an eligible full-time work or educational activity.
• Cooperate with efforts to collect child support as required by the Families First Child-only Grant. Visit the section on Money for more information about the Families First regular grant requirements.

The child must:

• Not be in the custody of the Department of Children's Services (DCS).
• Live with a relative who is within a 5th degree of relationship. This includes a child's grandparent, great grandparent, great-great grandparent, uncle, great uncle, aunt, great aunt, sister, brother, or first cousin. The caregiver may be related through blood, marriage or adoption.
• Be 12 years old or younger. However, a child over 12 may qualify if he or she is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.

If you and your child meet all of the above qualifications, you may be eligible for ARCO.

For further information about ARCO, visit DHS Childcare Certificate Manual or contact your area DHS Childcare Certificate Program.

Read the Childcare Certificate Program.

Check with your child's daycare, school, or before/ after-care program about a reduced fee or fee waiver.

Visit DHS Childcare Services or call 1.800.462.8261 to find which daycares offer discounts.

Search the Children's Issues Category on TennHelp.com.

Limitation:
There is not a work requirement exemption for relative caregivers who are 60 years old or older, and disabled persons who are unable to work full-time.

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2. I don't have a car to get my children to Head Start and/or childcare (or I can't drive).

Head Start usually provides transportation to the children that live within each area served. Head Start is a free federal program for three to five year old children from low-income families. Early Head Start serves children from birth to three years old. Head Start provides childcare, educational activities, free medical and dental care, and healthy meals. Head Start requires that there be a legal relationship between the caregiver and child. A legal relationship is a relationship between a nonparental caregiver and a child such that the caregiver has written, legal documentation to support the kinship family's care giving responsibilities. These relationships include power of attorney for care of a minor child, legal custody, permanent guardianship, and adoption. This does not include informal arrangements between family members, for example, family-arranged care or family-planned care. For more information about legal options available for relative caregivers, go to the Legal section of this website.

Children are eligible to participate in Head Start if they are from low-income families or if their families are eligible for public assistance. The following chart displays the income guidelines for eligible caregivers. A child from a family that gets public assistance or a child who is in foster care is eligible for Head Start even if the family income is more than the income guidelines. Head Start considers a family of one (1) to be a foster child. In this situation, only the foster child's board payment is considered as income. All other families will at least have two people. The definition of "family" is ?all persons living in the same household who are:

1. supported by the income of the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child enrolling or participating in the program, and
2. related to the parent(s) or guardian(s) by blood, marriage or adoption.?

HEAD START FAMILY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR 2006

2006 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

Persons in family unit	Poverty guideline
1.......................................................	$9,800
2.......................................................	13,200
3.......................................................	16,600
4.......................................................	20,000
5.......................................................	23,400
6.......................................................	26,800
7.......................................................	30,200
8.......................................................	33,600

For family units with more than 8 persons, add $3,400 for each additional person.*

*NOTE: The above definition and chart originally appeared on the Head Start website at: www.headstartinfo.org.

To locate a Head Start near you, visit www.tnheadstart.org, or call Head Start Information Center at 1.866.763.6481 or Tennessee Head Start State Collaboration Office at 615-741-4849. Early Head Start is limitedly available. Visit www.ehsnrc.org/ProgramLocator/ehssites.cfm to check if there is an Early Head Start in your area.

Choose a daycare or before/aftercare program that provides transportation. Visit DHS Childcare Services or call the Childcare Hotline at 1.800.462.8261.

Search the Transportation Category on TennHelp.com.

Check with your local school system about whether it offers a pre-kindergarten or preschool program for three and four year olds. If it does, ask if the school system provides transportation.

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3. How do I know what daycare to choose?

Call DHS Child Care Resource, Referral & Complaint Hotline at 1.800.462.8261 or visit DHS Childcare Services.

Read the Children's Defense Fund Grandparent's Guide to Childcare.