4.5 Supply Building

Building a supply of high-quality child care that meets the needs and preferences of parents participating in CCDF is necessary to meet CCDF’s core purposes. Lead Agencies must support parent choice by providing some portion of direct services via grants or contracts, including at a minimum for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 4.5.1 Child care services available through grants or contracts Does the Lead Agency provide direct child care services through grants or contracts for child care slots? [ ] Yes, statewide. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [ ] Yes, in some jurisdictions, but not statewide. Describe how many jurisdictions use grants or contracts for child care slots and how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [x] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: The lead agency has submitted a waiver for this requirement. If no, skip to question 4.5.2. i. If yes, identify the populations of children served through grants or contracts for child care slots (check all that apply). For each population selected, identify the number of slots allocated through grants or contracts for direct service of children receiving CCDF. [ ] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Other populations. If checked, describe: ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? 4.5.2 Care in the child’s home (in-home care) The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care (i.e., care provided in the child’s own home) but may limit its use. Will the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way? [ ] Yes. [x] No. If yes, what limits will the Lead Agency set on the use of in-home care? Check all that apply. i. [ ] Restricted based on the minimum number of children in the care of the in- home provider to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) requirements. Describe: ii. [ ] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: iii. [ ] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: iv. [ ] Restricted to care by relatives. (A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age based on the definition of eligible child care provider.) Describe: v. [ ] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: vi. [ ] Restricted to in-home providers that meet additional health and safety requirements beyond those required by CCDF. Describe: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 4.5.3 Shortages in the supply of child care Lead Agencies must identify shortages in the supply of child care providers that meet parents’ needs and preferences. What child care shortages has the Lead Agency identified in the State or Territory, and what is the plan to address the child care shortages? a. In infant and toddler programs: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The lead agency conducts surveys of all licensed child care providers quarterly, which includes questions regarding availability of slots in the child care program. Additionally, the agency retained the services of Auburn University to conduct a survey of parents with children who categorically are in the population served by the child care industry. The survey included questions that addressed barriers such as availability of care within a reasonable commute, cost of care, parental choice of type of care, and parental decision regarding care based upon the parent's employment (whether child care was a barrier to the parent entering the workforce). ii. Method of tracking progress: The lead agency conducts survey of all licensed child care providers quarterly and responses are tracked accordingly. The agency also reviews survey results from advocacy groups as well as sister agencies citing child care findings related to workforce demand and availability of care. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes The lead agency has determined there are no shortages present in family child care homes using the quarterly surveys conducted by the child care licensing staff. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The lead agency has determined there are no shortages of slots in child care centers. The data compiled by the agency from providers and the Auburn study may suggest a need for infant and toddler care. There isn't sufficient evidence of an overall need for slots. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The lead agency conducts surveys of all licensed child care providers in the state quarterly. The agency retained the services of Auburn University to conduct a survey of parents with children who categorically are in the population served by the child care industry. The survey included questions that addressed barriers such as availability of care within a reasonable commute, cost of care, parental choice of type of care, and parental decision regarding care based upon the parent's employment (whether child care was a barrier to the parent entering the workforce). ii. Method of tracking progress: The lead agency conducts surveys of all licensed child care providers quarterly and responses are tracked accordingly. The agency retained the services of Auburn University to conduct a survey of parents with children who categorically are in the population served by the child care industry. The survey included questions that addressed barriers such as availability of care within a reasonable commute, cost of care, parental choice of type of care, and parental decision regarding care based upon the parent's employment (whether child care was a barrier to the parent entering the workforce). iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The lead agency has determined there are no shortages of slots in family child care homes based on the study from Auburn University. The agency retained the services of Auburn University to conduct a survey of parents with children who categorically are in the population served by the child care industry. The survey included questions that addressed barriers such as availability of care within a reasonable commute, cost of care, parental choice of type of care, and parental decision regarding care based upon the parent's employment (whether child care was a barrier to the parent entering the workforce). iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The lead agency has determined there are no shortages of slots in child care centers based on the study from Auburn University. The agency retained the services of Auburn University to conduct a survey of parents with children who categorically are in the population served by the child care industry. The survey included questions that addressed barriers such as availability of care within a reasonable commute, cost of care, parental choice of type of care, and parental decision regarding care based upon the parent's employment (whether child care was a barrier to the parent entering the workforce). c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Agency has collaborated with Alabama Early Intervention and United Cerebral Palsy to assist providers who care for or are considering caring for children with special needs. The lead agency gathered this information from meetings with the agency. The agency has established a collaborative relationship with Early Intervention to assist with the identification and referral of process for families with children who have special needs. Further, the Agency also communicates via the Child Care Citizens Coordinating Committee which is comprised of the advocacy community, parental representation, and sister state agencies such as Medicaid, Education, and Rehabilitation. The Agency makes the participants aware of progress regarding all CCDF goals and solicits referrals and recommendations from these entities. Finally, the lead agency has also collaborated with employers that operate 24 hours for the purpose of either creating child care centers on site for employees or creating partnerships with established child care programs to offer care for their employees. ii. Method of tracking progress: The method used to track progress is periodic review of participation numbers (percentage served), the creation of new initiatives to meet demand, and the increase in services provided for special populations needing care. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The lead agency has supported the program creation of a workforce initiative designed to create new family child care homes/providers. The program is piloted in Tuscaloosa County only at this time. Additionally, the Agency is supporting program efforts from the Chamber of Commerce, and the Women's Fund of Alabama (centers and home providers), in different areas of the state where their employers express interest. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The lead agency has identified these shortages during meetings with the Alabama Early Intervention and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) that has informed the lead agency the need to increase wages for providers to accept children with special needs. The lead agency created 500 slots for children with special needs to be paid at tiered rates based on the severity of the child's diagnosis. Rates range from $170 to $250 per week. Child care providers that accept children under this category receives additional supports and trainings to maintain the child in the program to minimize suspensions and expulsions. The trainings and supports are specific to the care need for the child placed in their facility, provided exclusively by Alabama Early Intervention or UCP. 4.5.4 Strategies to increase the supply of and improve quality of child care Lead Agencies must develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of and improve the quality of child care services. These strategies must address child care in underserved geographic areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities, as defined by the Lead Agency; and children who receive care during non-traditional hours. How does the Lead Agency identify any gaps in the supply and quality of child care services and what strategies are used to address those gaps for: a. Underserved geographic areas. Describe: The lead agency has not developed any strategies to increase supply of programs in underserved geographic areas in the state as it has not been determined an area of need in the state. The Agency has increased incentives for participation in the Quality Rating Improvement System to encourage and recruit more providers to provide higher levels of quality care for Alabamians. The Agency has also entered into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to provide technical support for providers seeking to attain higher level quality ratings. The lead agency completed a needs assessment in 2023. The findings of the assessment did not suggest the need to increase supply of programs in underserved areas. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Agency has not developed strategies to increase supply of infant and toddlers slots in child care programs as it has not determined sufficient demand for the state. The lead agency's needs assessment identified gaps however results suggested a need for an increase in infant and toddler slots by raising ratios. Per the recommendation of the assessment from participants revealed a desire to increase current license capacities to allow for more a larger teacher to child ratio. The licensing ratios are set based on square footage of the space as well as the safety of children based on the age. Therefore the agency has not gathered enough information to support the need to increase the supply at this time. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: The lead agency has created 500 slots to serve children with special needs beginning in October 2022. The program has been reevaluated in January 2024 to tier reimbursement rates based on the diagnosis of the child to better support providers in maintaining the children in their programs. The lead agency has had a contract with the United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley or UCP (which serves the entire state) to provide early intervention services to childcare providers and families since 2009. UCP also addresses expulsion and suspension in the childcare facility and provides technical assistance to providers that care for special needs children. The lead agency had determined the need for child care subsidy slots from the ongoing relationship with UCP, identifying families that did not qualify for traditional child care assistance based on the working or income requirements. The slots were to support families to meet this need. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: The 2023 Needs Assessment reported 15% of the state’s child care programs offer care after 7pm and roughly half are child care centers. This gap was identified as a result of the needs assessment. The lead agency has implemented policies that allow for parents seeking extended hours of care to receive 125% of the base reimbursement rate for child care that extends after 7pm. The policy will become effective at the start of the new plan cycle. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: Not applicable. 4.5.5 Prioritization of investments in areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment Lead Agencies must prioritize investments for increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and do not currently have sufficient numbers of such programs. Describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have access to high-quality programs. The Lead Agency has prioritized increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children and families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have high-quality programs in multiple ways. The lead agency continues to pay higher reimbursement rates to providers participating in the state's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) and pays yearly incentives to providers ranging from $2,200 to $84,000 based on the star rating. All providers that participate in the child care subsidy program are participants in QRIS. The Lead Agency continues to recognizes that in rural and/or poverty-stricken areas, child care is often limited to family child care homes and Head Start. The continued investment in the QRIS system will provide for higher quality programs for these populations and the state in general. The Lead Agency continues to operate as an Early Head Start- Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) grantee in areas with high poverty and unemployment levels. The program operates in 23 counties in high poverty areas throughout the state. The Lead Agency blends CCDF funding with EHS-CCP dollars for eligible families participating in the EHS-CCP programs. This ensures sufficient funding for the child care facilities to meet the high-quality standards required. Finally, the Lead Agency invests in services through local CCR&R's to support programs in these 36 counties through technical assistance and training, both on-site and online. The technical assistance and training supports the programs in increasing the quality. Increasing online training opportunities helps remove barriers for providers in more rural parts of the state to access professional development. 5 Health and Safety of Child Care Settings Child care health and safety standards and enforcement practices are essential to protect the health and safety of children while out of their parents’ care. CCDF provides a minimum threshold for child care health and safety policies and practices but leaves authority to Lead Agencies to design standards that appropriately protect children’s safety and promote nurturing environments that support their healthy growth and development. Lead Agencies should set standards for ratios, group size limits, and provider qualifications that help ensure that the child care environment is conducive to safety and learning and enable caregivers to promote all domains of children’s development. CCDF health and safety standards help set clear expectations for CCDF providers, form the foundation for health and safety training for child care workers, and establish the baseline for monitoring to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. These health and safety requirements apply to all providers serving children receiving CCDF services – whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt, must be appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served, must include specific topics and training on those topics, and are subject to monitoring and enforcement procedures by the Lead Agency. CCDF-required annual monitoring and enforcement actions help ensure that CCDF providers are adopting and implementing health and safety requirements. Through child care licensing, Lead Agencies set minimum requirements, including health and safety requirements, that child care providers must meet to legally operate in that State or Territory. In some cases, CCDF health and safety requirements may be integrated within the licensing system for licensed providers and may be separate for CCDF providers who are license- exempt. This section addresses CCDF health and safety requirements, Lead Agency licensing requirements and exemptions, and comprehensive background checks. When responding to questions in this section, OCC recognizes that each Lead Agency identifies and defines its own categories of care. OCC does not expect Lead Agencies to change their definitions to fit the CCDF-defined categories of care. For these questions, provide responses that best match the CCDF categories of care.