7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-early-childhood/forms--documents b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. OEC offers quality, research-based training, and professional development statewide through competitively bid grants. All OEC training aligns with the Arkansas Workforce Knowledge and Competencies framework and the state’s child development and early learning standards. ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. OEC will continue to maintain and implement the early learning and developmental guidelines in Arkansas through training and professional development contracts. iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. In January 2023, OEC added three additional levels to the Better Beginnings QRIS. OEC will continue to develop, implement, and enhance Better Beginnings to increase the availability of high-quality care for Arkansas children. OEC contracts with a university to provide training and technical assistance at no cost to providers to assist them in achieving higher levels of quality. OEC contracts with a public relations group to promote Better Beginnings and educate providers, parents, and the general public about the importance of high-quality early care and education. In addition, the local leads are working in their coverage areas to increase knowledge and availability of high-quality care. iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. OEC will administer the Child Care Supply Building Grant. OEC will seek applications from organizations and businesses interested in increasing the availability of quality early care and education in communities with an identified shortage or no services for infants and toddlers. All applicants must agree to obtain Better Beginnings Quality Level 2 or higher within one year of opening. v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. OEC funds five CCR&R’s in Arkansas. The five Child Care Aware agencies are located in each geographic region of the state for easy access for providers and families. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. OEC uses CCDF funds to maintain the Licensing Unit, comprised of Child Care Specialist who monitor for health and safety standards. vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. All CCDF Program Participants are required to participate in Better Beginnings. OEC evaluates the process and monitors the number of participants, by star level, monthly. Contractors work closely with providers to assist them in achieving and maintaining higher quality viii. Accreditation support. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Both Minimum Licensing Requirements and Better Beginnings QRIS requirements support high quality program standards in the areas related to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity and physical development. All CCDF participating providers in Arkansas are required to be a level 2 or above Better Beginnings participant. Arkansas maintains contracts to provide TA and training for providers to assist them in achieving their quality goals. All licensed child care providers are eligible to receive TA and training at no cost to them. All licensed providers are required to have ERS and PAS/BAS trainings to introduce them to high quality program standards. Mental health support is available through the behavior help team in Arkansas. Behavioral help is provided free of charge to the providers on an as needed basis to assist them with providing service to children experiences behavioral challenges. x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. In January 2023, OEC added three additional levels to the Better Beginnings QRIS. OEC will continue to develop, implement, and enhance Better Beginnings to increase the availability of high-quality care for Arkansas children. OEC contracts with a university to provide training and technical assistance at no cost to providers to assist them in achieving higher levels of quality. OEC contracts with a public relations group to promote Better Beginnings and educate providers, parents, and the general public about the importance of high-quality early care and education. In addition, the local leads are working in their coverage areas to increase knowledge and availability of high-quality care. 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.