9.4 Providing Information on Developmental Screenings

Lead Agencies must provide information on developmental screenings to parents as part of the intake process for families participating in CCDF and to child care providers through training and education. This information must include: • Existing resources and services that the State can make available in conducting developmental screenings and providing referrals to services when appropriate for children who receive child care assistance, including the coordinated use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program carried out under Title XIX of the Social Security Act and developmental screening services available under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C; and, • A description of how a family or child care provider can use these resources and services to obtain developmental screenings for children who receive subsidies and who might be at risk of cognitive or other developmental delays, which can include social, emotional, physical, or linguistic delays. Information on developmental screenings, as in other consumer education information, must be accessible for individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities. 9.4.1 Developmental screenings Does the Lead Agency collect and disseminate information on the following: a. Existing resources and services available for obtaining developmental screening for parents receiving CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. b. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program—carried out under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.)— and developmental screening services available under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.). ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. c. Developmental screenings to parents receiving a subsidy as part of the intake process. X Yes. If yes, include the information provided, ways it is provided, and any partners in this work: The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provides this information through the Resource and Referral (R&R) agencies located in each of the 58 counties. The R&Rs provides information and resources on developmental screening and share them with parents, early learning and care providers, and the broader public through their websites, trainings, collaborative meetings, and technical assistance. If it is determined that additional services are necessary, then referrals are made to local school districts or/county office of education. Additionally, many families are informed of additional resources to support children with special needs, e.g., regional centers, and “Warm Line." The Warm Line counselors provide phone consultations to providers and families and offer child care providers support with creating an inclusive and developmentally appropriate setting for all children. They also help families start a referral with the school district and their medical provider, or other community agencies. In addition, providers participating in the Quality Counts California are incentivized when they train and utilize the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). The Quality Counts California (QCC) Matrix lists ASQ as a health screening tool under Core 1, Item 2: Child Development and Health Screenings. Programs that rate will score a five if all children at entry into the program and as indicated by results thereafter are screened. Furthermore, the QCC programs will make sure families are engaged in the screening process and are given results in a supportive and confidential manner. Programs will ensure that the screening results are used to refer families to appropriate agencies for further assessment or resources. The ASQ increases quality and uses the results of the ASQ to make referrals and implement intervention strategies and adaptations as appropriate. The CDSS also supports the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network (IECMHC). Although this resource does not provide direct developmental screening services, participating providers are given information, and support to guide them in supporting the children in their care. Resources provided by the IECMHC Network include a toll-free helpline for immediate support, drop-in open- door sessions to join and discuss with IECMH Consultants any concerns they may have, monthly communities of support, as well as direct one-on-one consultation with an IECMH Consultant. Many resources and supports are shared with providers based on their unique needs and they are given information on the Center for Disease Control's Learn the Signs, Act Early resource for screening young children's development. In addition to advocacy through local R&Rs, contractors that are required to adhere to Program Quality Requirements outlined in California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 18276 identify the health and social service needs of children. This identification is often conducted by using an assessment or questionnaire, such as the ASQ. Through these identification processes, families are referred to other resources or agencies that may conduct further development screenings. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. d. How families receiving CCDF services or child care providers receiving CCDF can use the available resources and services to obtain developmental screenings for children at risk for cognitive or other developmental delays. ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. If no, describe: Not applicable. 10 Program Integrity and Accountability Program integrity and accountability activities are integral to the effective administration of the CCDF program. As stewards of federal funds, Lead Agencies must ensure strong and effective internal controls to prevent fraud and maintain continuity of services to meet the needs of children and families. In order to operate and maintain a strong CCDF program, regular evaluation of the program’s internal controls as well as comprehensive training for all entities involved in the administration of the program are imperative. In this section, Lead Agencies will describe their internal controls and how those internal controls effectively ensure integrity and accountability. These accountability measures should address reducing fraud, waste, and abuse, including program violations and administrative errors and should apply to all CCDF funds.