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C. Monitoring Compliance for Immunizations and Health Screenings
D. Failure to Comply with the Immunization and Health Screening Requirements
The caretaker is responsible for obtaining immunizations and health screenings for children, receiving assistance, in their care unless the caretaker has good cause. The goal of this requirement is for children to receive proper medical care and to be as healthy as possible. Children’s health has a direct impact on their ability to learn in school. Also, preventing childhood illnesses through immunizations and health screenings reduces the amount of time a family member must take off work for an ill child and, therefore, reduces the risk of losing employment due to absenteeism.
The following chart lists the recommended immunizations and the recommended ages at which each immunization should be given. However, a child’s healthcare provider determines the age and frequency at which a particular immunization is appropriate.
TYPE OF SHOT |
DOSE |
RECOMMENDED AT |
Polio |
1st |
2 months |
2nd |
4 months | |
3rd |
6-18 months | |
4th |
Before starting school (4-6 years) | |
DTaP (diphtheria, |
1st |
2 months |
Tetanus, and |
2nd |
4 months |
Acellular Pertussis) |
3rd |
6 months |
4th |
15-18 months | |
5th |
Before starting school (4-6 years) | |
MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) |
1st 2nd |
12-15 months Before starting school (4-6 years) |
Hib (bacterial |
1st |
2 months |
meningitis) |
2nd |
4 months |
3rd |
6 months | |
4th |
12-15 months | |
Hepatitis B |
1st 2nd 3rd |
At birth 1-4 months 6-18 months |
Varicella (chicken pox) |
1st |
12-18 months |
*Children born prior to April 1, 2001 are not required to have the varicella immunization. Also, if a child has had chicken pox, the child is not required to get the varicella immunization. Accept the statement of the healthcare provider or the caretaker as verification that the child had chicken pox.
The following schedule outlines the recommended frequency of Health Check screenings.
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*This screening may be done at 9 months of age instead of 15 months.
The caretaker is responsible for providing documentation at each review that the children in their care, who receive assistance, are receiving the required immunizations and health screenings. If documentation does not clearly indicate compliance, additional documentation from the caretaker is required. The caretaker may need to contact the children’s healthcare provider for the additional documentation. Work First caseworkers should not contact the health care provider directly, except upon special request of the caretaker. The final responsibility remains with the caretaker.
Once a child has entered a public, private or religious school, it is no longer necessary to monitor the immunization requirement. Children must receive all the required immunizations to enter school and stay current on immunizations to remain enrolled in school.
There are two exemptions to the immunization requirement: medical and religious. For medical exemptions, the caretaker must provide a medical exemption form certified by their healthcare provider or a State Health Director Exemption document. The caretaker may receive the religious exemption, if the caretaker submits a written statement of the bona fide religious beliefs and opposition to the immunization requirements. A statement of the personal belief or philosophy of the caretaker not founded upon a religious belief will not qualify for the religious exemption.
Unless there is good cause, such as the previously mentioned exemptions, for not getting the children their immunizations or health screenings, a sanction is applied. For Payment Type 1 cases refer to Section 120 for instructions regarding sanctions.
If the caretaker in a Work First Benefits (WFB) case fails to comply with the requirement, the caseworker will evaluate whether there is good cause. If there is good cause, the caseworker will issue the Work First payment. If there is not good cause, the payment will not be issued. The caseworker will evaluate and transfer the case to Medicaid after the first month of non-compliance.
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
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