2.4 Lead Agency Outreach to Families Experiencing Homelessness, Families with Limited English Proficiency, and Persons with Disabilities

The Lead Agency must conduct outreach and provide services to families with limited English proficiency, families experiencing homelessness, and persons with disabilities. 2.4.1 Families with limited English proficiency and persons with disabilities: outreach and services a. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with limited English proficiency. Check all that apply. i. ☐ X Application in languages other than English (application and related documents, brochures, provider notices). ii. ☐ X Informational materials in languages other than English. iii. ☐ X Website in languages other than English. iv. ☐ X Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. v. ☐ X Bilingual caseworkers or translators available. vi. ☐ X Bilingual outreach workers. vii. ☐ X Partnerships with community-based organizations. viii. ☐ X Collaboration with Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. ix. ☐ X Home visiting programs. x. ☐ X Other. Describe: Our state regulations governing the information that is given to parents states that if the parent(s) speak(s) a language other than English or is (are) hearing impaired, the information shall be provided either through written materials or by presentation of an interpreter in the language the parent understands (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 18222). b. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with a person(s) with a disability. Check all that apply.☐ Applications and public informational materials available in braille and other communication formats for access by individuals with disabilities. i. ☐ X Websites that are accessible (e.g., Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). ii. ☐ X Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iii. ☐ X Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. iv. ☐ X Partnerships with State and local programs and associations focused on disability- related topics and issues. v. ☐ Partnerships with parent associations, support groups, and parent-to-parent support groups, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers. Not applicable. vi. ☐ X Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. vii. ☐ X Availability and/or access to specialized services (e.g., mental health, behavioral specialists, therapists) to address the needs of all children. viii. ☐ Other. Describe: Not applicable. 2.4.2 Families experiencing homelessness: Outreach and technical assistance efforts a. Check, where applicable, the procedures used to conduct outreach for children experiencing homelessness and their families. i. ☐ X Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. ii. ☐ X Partnerships with community-based organizations. iii. ☐ X Partnering with homeless service providers, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and others who work with families experiencing homelessness to provide referrals to child care. iv. ☐ X Other. Describe: Local Education Agencies partner with their McKinney- Vento liaisons to support families experiencing homelessness. b. The Lead Agency must provide training and technical assistance (TA) to providers and appropriate Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff on identifying and serving children and families experiencing homelessness. i. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for providers in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provides, at no cost to providers, professional development and training opportunities and resources to support families experiencing homelessness. Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness is a publication available to providers which provides essential factual information and resources about the extent of early childhood homelessness, in addition to concrete research-based strategies teachers can implement that benefit all of the children in their care and are essential for young children and their families impacted by homelessness. Providers can receive training to accompany this publication through the Program for Infant/Toddler Care , the California Preschool Instructional Network , and through self-paced online training modules available on California Early Childhood Online (CECO). The CDSS supported Bridge Program for Foster Children includes Trauma-Informed Care training and coaching, delivered to the early childhood education workforce through local Resource and Referrals, which addresses many of the needs of families and children who are experiencing homelessness. If the workforce is participating in programs like the Workforce Pathways Grant, Quality Counts California, the Child Care Initiative Project, etc., they may be eligible for incentives including stipends. ii. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. The CDSS’ Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) staff attend trainings provided at the national and state level. Staff share the information from these trainings with other state staff. These trainings focus on how contractors can meet the regulatory requirements in identifying and serving families experiencing homelessness. The CCDD Program Quality Improvement Branch provides webinars and cluster trainings on the eligibility and need requirements associated with families experiencing homelessness. The guidance includes immediate measures allowable by program regulations to enroll families experiencing homelessness and prioritizing families experiencing homelessness according to California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 18090. Additionally, CDSS provides resources to support families experiencing homelessness. A set of online training modules on supporting families who are experiencing homelessness are available to providers as well as CDSS’ staff, contractors, and resource and referral staff through CECO https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/