Selection

POLICY:

NOCAC Child Development annually establishes selection criteria that prioritizes the selection of participants, based on community needs identified in the Community Assessment.

PROCEDURES:

1. The NOCAC Child Development selection criteria includes:
   1. Head Start age priority:
      1. 4 year old
      2. 5 year old with a letter from School District
      3. 3 year old
      4. 4 year old where there is a publicly funded Full Day Preschool Available
   2. Early Head Start age priority:
      1. Pregnant Women
         1. High Risk Pregnancy
         2. First trimester
         3. Second trimester
         4. Third trimester
      2. Children:
         1. Birth – 12 months
         2. 13 months – 24 months
         3. 24 months – 30 months
         4. 30 months – 36 months
   3. Income
      1. The family is equal to or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
      2. The family is eligible for or, in the absence of child care, would be potentially eligible for public assistance; including TANF child-only payments.
      3. Categorically Eligible – No income required for:
         1. Foster Children
         2. Homeless (determined by the McKinney Vento Act)
   4. Parental/Caretaker status
      1. Single Parent/Caretaker
      2. Two Parent/Caretaker
   5. Disability
      1. Whether the child is eligible for special education and related services or early intervention services as determined under the Individual Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
         1. Individual Educational Program (IEP)
         2. Professionally Diagnosed Medical Conditions (IDEA)
         3. Early Intervention (IFSP)
   6. Family/Household factors.
      1. Transition from Early Head Start
      2. Alcohol/Drug Abuse – Domestic Violence – Incarceration
      3. Child has chronic medical needs (Asthma, Seizures, Diabetes, etc…)
      4. Children removed from the home/Referred by Child Protective Services
      5. Currently received food assistance (SNAP) – Medicaid – OWF
      6. Death of immediate family member
      7. Diagnosed medical and/or mental health issue (family member)
      8. English Language Learner
      9. Family does not have reliable transportation
      10. Lice, fleas and/or bed bud infestation
      11. Needs assistance with basic needs (Housing-food-clothing)
      12. No Dental and/or Medical Access
      13. No Dental and/or Medical Insurance
      14. Parent does not have a Driver’s License
      15. Parent has no High School Diploma or GED
      16. Parent is in the US Military or is a Veteran
      17. Referred from WIC/LEA/HMG/Doctor or Other
      18. Teen Parent
      19. Under Employment in Family
2. NOCAC Child Development does not deny enrollment to any participant based on a disability or chronic health condition or its severity.
3. Ten percent of NOCAC Child Development enrollment opportunities each program year will be made available to children with disabilities.
4. NOCAC Child Development develops and maintains a waiting list that ranks participants according to age and the selection criteria process.
5. NOCAC Child Development continues to do applications year round.

Forms and Additional Guidance: