8.3 Coordination with Child Care Resource and Referral Systems

Lead Agencies may use CCDF funds to establish or support a system or network of local or regional child care resource and referral (CCR&R) organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined by the Lead Agency, by a statewide public or private non-profit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization (such as a statewide CCR&R network). If Lead Agencies use CCDF funds for local CCR&R organizations, the local or regional CCR&R organizations supported by those funds must, at the direction of the Lead Agency: • Provide parents in the State with consumer education information concerning the full range of child care options (including faith-based and community-based child care providers), analyzed by provider, including child care provided during non-traditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their area. • To the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance to offer the families support and assistance to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in the most appropriate child care setting that suits their needs and one that is of high quality (as determined by the Lead Agency). • Collect data and provide information on the coordination of services and supports, including services under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. • Collect data and provide information on the supply of and demand for child care services in areas of the State and submit the information to the Lead Agency. • Work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities, including faith- based and community-based child care providers, to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State and, as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the Lead Agency and local agencies that administer funds made available through CCDF. 8.3.1 Funding a system or network of CCR&R organization(s) Does the Lead Agency fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s)? ☐ No. The Lead Agency does not fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) and has no plans to establish one. ☐ No, but the Lead Agency has plans to develop a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s). ☐ X Yes. The Lead Agency funds a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) with all the responsibilities outlined above. If yes, describe the activities outlined above carried out by the CCR&R organization(s), as directed by the Lead Agency: California has a non-profit statewide resource and referral organization, the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCCR&R), and one or more Child Care R&R service providers in each of California’s 58 counties, some counties having more than one child care R&R. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) funds and contracts these entities through 68 R&R contracts at 57 agencies in the network. These agencies are primarily non-profit or Offices of Education. The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCCRRN) coordinates, supports, and organizes the local child care R&R’s working with CDSS. These state contracted local community-based organizations and Offices of Education help families, regardless of income, find child care that best meets their needs, provide consumer education, recruit and train child care providers, and collect data from parents and child care providers. The R&Rs provide a variety of services to parents seeking care, to providers seeking professional development and incentives for remaining in the profession, and to communities seeking support for their youngest residents, including working to expand the supply of services as needed. There is legislative oversight and state level monitoring by CDSS.