ENCOURAGING KIDS AFTERSCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PILOT PROGRAM

Section A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Self-Hired Transport financial assistance is a new option provided to families eligible and admitted to our program via PerformCareNJ who want to recruit their own transportation provider. Driver can be a family member, neighbor, etc. Parent/guardian must confirm child's attendance via mybrightwheel.com app on a weekly basis. Site supervisors will verify the child's attendance and our accounts payable will issue payment TO PARENT for days child attended. Parent is responsible for paying driver directly. Parent/guardian will receive annual documentation for tax purposes.

Self-Hired transport funding is limited to the days our afterschool program location is open. Transportation is strictly to bring students FROM school or home TO Encouraging Kids program. These funds do not include round trip transportation.

All transportation funding will be sent via direct deposit once a month - no exceptions. Direct deposit forms must be submitted with enrollment for self-hired transportation. Payment via paper checks, money orders, Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, etc. will NOT be issued under any circumstances.

Section B - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Financial assistance for transportation shall be provided for eligible youth attending Encouraging Kids Family Resource Center (EKFRC) afterschool programs Monday through Friday September to June on days when the afterschool programs are in session.

EKFRC will not offer transportation financial assistance for students when transportation is provided by agency owned vehicles. Transportation providers can be your neighbor, relative, or via care.com.

EKFRC will only provide financial assistance when the application for transportation and/or payment requests are properly submitted. All financial assistance will be distributed via direct deposit.

Section C - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for transport financial assistance to any EKFRC afterschool program location students shall:

1. Be a legal resident of the State of New Jersey.

2. Be continuously eligible for, enrolled in, and attending an EKFRC afterschool program.

3. Parents are required to maintain eligibility for respite care through PerformCare NJ.

4. If a student's PerformCare NJ eligibility expires, is withdrawn, or authorization is cancelled or rescinded for any reason, at any time; student will not be eligible for financial aid for afterschool transportation.

ENCOURAGING KIDS AFTERSCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PILOT PROGRAM

Section D - RESPONSIBILITY

1. Transportation financial aid will not exceed $25 per day/per student. Any cost over $25 per day is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian.

2. Parents/guardians are fully and solely responsible for the cost and arrangement of transporting their child to any of our afterschool programs.

3. Parents must have back-up transportation in the event their 1st or 2nd choice of driver, Taxi/Uber/Lyft is unavailable. EKFRC will NOT provide backup transportation for students.

4. EKFRC will not be involved in or responsible for hiring, screening, testing, background checks, verifying driver's license, or otherwise choosing transportation providers. Transportation provider is NOT an employee, volunteer, vendor, or subcontractor of EKFRC or otherwise under the supervision of EKFRC staff or volunteers.

5. EKFRC will only be responsible for the care and safety of students once they are signed into one of our program locations AND custody is given to one of our staff or volunteers.

6. Financial assistance will only be provided for students when they actually attend one of EKFRC programs. If a student is absent from an afterschool program, they are NOT eligible for financial assistance for that day.

Section E - REGISTRATION

1. Enrollment for all students MUST BE DONE via www.mybrightwheel.com Parents/Guardians will be required to create an account on mybrighwheel.com if they haven't already done that. It is most helpful to have the brightwheel app on parent's phone or tablet in order to "check-in" their child each day. Verification for transportation funding will be based on brightwheel enrollment and check-in by our staff each day.

2. Distribution of funds will be done once a month Sept-June when our programs are open.

3. Because this will be an automated process; site supervisors will not have access to financial information.

4. When this form for your child's transportation registration is received by Encouraging Kids; you will receive a link to enroll in secure direct deposit via bill.com.

Questions? Email transport@encouragingkids.org

*For more information on respite eligibility contact PerformcareNJ 1-877-652-7624

BY SIGNING ELECTRONICALLY BELOW:

I acknowledge and agree to terms above in Sections A through E, for participation in Encouraging Kids Family Resource Center Transportation Pilot Program.