1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: On October 3, 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) released a save the date announcement to all subscribers of the CCDD email distribution lists for the scheduled 2025-27 Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan Input Sessions. The distribution list includes, but is not limited to, representatives from other state agencies, Local Child Care and Development Planning Councils (LPCs), county offices of education, and Tribal organizations. The CCDD facilitated a total of eight input sessions including in-person and virtual sessions. During each of the input sessions CDSS elicited comments from the participants on different current policies and procedures identified in different sections of the state plan and possible changes the State is considering to those policies. The CDSS also consulted with local governments by means of its LPCs. The LPCs are state supported local planning entities which include representation from subsidized and non-subsidized child care and development care providers, employers, County Welfare Departments (CWD) and human services agencies, Local Educational Agencies, regional centers, colleges, county First 5 agencies, job training programs, and parent organizations to create local strategic priorities for child care and development services for children and families. b. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: California’s state advisory council is the Early Childhood Policy Council (ECPC), which was established in 2019 by Governor Newsom “…to elevate the needs of young children and their families as well as advise the Governor, Legislature and Superintendent of Public Instruction on statewide early learning and care and child development.” The ECPC is comprised of a diverse group of individuals who are experts and practitioners in the early learning and care field, including parent advocates. An input session was facilitated during the ECPC’s November 2023 meeting of the Parent Advisory and Workforce Advisory Subcommittees. Questions from relevant sections of the plan pertaining to parent engagement and workforce retention and professional development opportunities were presented and panel members, as well as the general public in attendance, provided comments and input for CDSS’ consideration. Following the Advisory committees meeting, CCDD presented the results of the input session to the ECPC in its December 2023 meeting. Participants at the meeting, including council members and the general public, were afforded the opportunity to provide more feedback on the identified topics and other issues they wanted CCDD to consider. The CCDD, after reviewing and discussing all the comments received, provided recommendations to the Director of CDSS to incorporate into the state plan or hold for future consideration. c. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: The CDSS’ CCDF Lead Administrator and members of the CCDD Policy Office presented an overview of the CCDF State Plan at the CDSS’ Office of Tribal Affairs (OTA) monthly Advisory Committee meeting in August 2023. The overview included a description of the eight sections of the state plan, timelines for submission, and the requirement to collaborate with internal and external partners including consultation with Tribal governments in the development of the triennial plan. During the advisory committee meeting it was suggested by the Tribal governments to enter into a formal consultation between the Tribal leaders and CDSS. The OTA assisted in scheduling a formal government to government consultation with Tribal leadership throughout the state and representatives from CDSS on Friday, November 17, 2023. As part of the formal consultation, written comments were accepted, which were submitted via email to the OTA and shared with CCDD. After reviewing and discussing all the comments received, CCDD provided recommendations to the Director of CDSS to incorporate appropriate comments received into the state plan or hold for future consideration. d. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: At the request of the Executive Director of the California Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Network, CDSS joined the monthly meeting of the statewide association for a virtual input session on December 12, 2023, with a focus on the state plan sections related to the federal requirements of the CCR&Rs. Representatives from the various CCR&Rs throughout the state shared with CDSS some of their successes and challenges in supporting the providers with meeting the CCDF requirements including the Health and Safety requirements, consumer education information, data collection, and establishing partnerships to increase the supply and demand of child care throughout the state. Additionally, the CCR&Rs identified successes and challenges in providing access to trainings and professional development that are relevant and beneficial to the providers. 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: March 6, 2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: February 8, 2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide notice. Throughout the development of the plan, California Department of Social Services (CDSS) staff provided Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan updates at meetings with community partners, advocacy groups, and other state agencies, during training webinars, and contractor meetings, including information about the public hearing. Additionally, Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) released a division update sent via the Division’s listserv on February 8, 2024, notifying the public of an in-person hearing scheduled for March 6, 2024. The listserv messages are distributed to anyone who has subscribed to the email list, which includes but is not limited to, advocate groups, child care and development program administrators, directors, staff, providers, Local Planning Council representatives, colleges, community partners, representatives from other state agencies, and individuals from the general public. Additionally, in efforts to ensure the broadest attendance, CDSS’ Office of Regulations Development (ORD) sent the notice to their usual distribution list used when notifying the public of new proposed regulations. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: The public hearing was held in- person at the CDSS headquarters in downtown Sacramento on March 6, 2024. In the notice that went out 20 days prior to the hearing, CDSS provided a dedicated email address where written comments could be sent through 5:00pm the day of the hearing for those who were unable to attend. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): A link to the draft plan was attached to both of the notices sent out via the CCDD listserv and ORD listserv prior to the hearing. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: All comments received from the public hearing were reviewed by the CCDF State Plan Team and recommendations for the comments to be incorporated into the plan were presented to the CDSS Director. Final decisions were made on which to include and which to hold for future consideration. Appropriate responses were incorporated into the final version submitted on July 1, 2024. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. Child Care and Development Fund State Plan Website b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. ☐ X Working with advisory committees. Describe: The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provides monthly updates during the Early Childhood Policy Council meetings and Parent and Workforce Advisory subcommittee meetings, sharing progress regarding the development of the state plan, including notifying the committees when amendments have been approved and posted to the Child Care and Development Fund State Plan Website. Additionally, CDSS provided updates about the development of the plan in standing monthly and quarterly meetings with community partners, such as Thriving Families California, EveryChild California, and the Tribal Child Care Association of California. ii. ☐ X Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: The CDSS provides monthly updates at meetings with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. The CDSS shares progress regarding the development of the state plan, including notification of when amendments have been approved and posted to the Child Care and Development Fund State Plan Website. iii. ☐ X Providing translation in other languages. Describe: The CDSS has begun conversations within the department to support providing translation of the plan and future amendments as funding is available. iv. ☐ X Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: The Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) will be working with CDSS’ Public Affairs and Outreach Programs to learn how they can support CCDD in using social media as a means to notify the public of Child Care Development Fund related activities. v. ☐ X Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: The CDSS provides updates in ongoing meetings with our community partners such as the EveryChildCA, an association that supports center-based programs, and Thriving Families California, an association that supports Alternative Payment Programs, and during monthly contractor webinars, including when approved amendments are posted to the CCDD website. vi. ☐ Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: Not applicable. vii. ☐ Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: Not applicable. viii. ☐ X Other. Describe: Each time the state plan is amended, and the amendments have been approved by the Office of Child Care, a notification to the CCDD listserv is released with a summary of all the sections that have been changed. The notification includes a link to the CCDD website where the most recent, approved version can be found. 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. The CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.