4.1 Access to Full Range of Provider Options

Lead Agencies must provide parents a choice of providers and offer assistance with child care services through a child care certificate (or voucher) or with a child care provider that has a grant or contract for the provision of child care services. Lead Agencies are reminded that policies and procedures should not restrict parental access to any type or category of care or provider (e.g., center care, home care, in- home care, for-profit provider, non-profit provider, or faith-based provider, etc.). 4.1.1 Parent choice a. Identify any barriers to provider participation, including barriers related to payment rates and practices, (including for family child care and in-home providers), based on provider feedback, public comment, and reports to the Lead Agency: The California Department of Social Services and other state representatives meet regularly with the Child Care Providers United - CA (CCPU), a provider organization which acts as the representative for the family child care homes and family, friend and neighbor child care and development workforce on matters related to child care subsidy programs. Assembly Bill (AB) 378 (Chapter 385, Statutes of 2019), established the scope of representation of the CCPU, and requires the Governor, through a California Department of Human Resources designee, to meet and confer in good faith on all matters within the scope of representation (also established via AB 378). The scope of bargaining includes many issues that have been identified by providers and public comments as barriers to provider participation, including barriers related to payment rates and practices, such as a need for rates that cover the cost of care, the impact of the expansion of transitional kindergarten on the definitions of part-time and full-time care, and the need for reimbursement based on certified need, as well as payment timeliness. Article 7 of the successor Agreement between State of California and Child Care Providers Union contains provisions that address barriers related to payment rates and practices. Some of the provisions became effective upon full ratification of the Agreement via SB 140 on September 13, 2023. Those re-defining part-time and full- time care and related to the timeliness of payments, became effective March 1, 2024. The Agreement calls for submission of necessary information to support use of a Single Rate Structure utilizing the Alternative Methodology to the Administration for Children and Families no later than July 1, 2024. Center-based providers, who are not represented by CCPU, have identified similar barriers regarding provider participation, including during the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup and Rate and Quality Advisory Panel meetings. The Senate Bill 140 incorporated provisions parallel to those in the Agreement in order to address these barriers for centers. Additionally, in recent state plan input sessions, our community partners have highlighted the importance of providing clear communications via Child Care Bulletins on how to implement these new requirements and the Department of Social Services is working to release Child Care Bulletins as needed. b. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through vouchers or certificates? ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. c. Does the Lead Agency offer child care assistance through grants or contracts? ☐ X Yes. ☐ No. d. Describe how the parent is informed that the child care certificate allows the option to choose from a variety of child care categories, such as private, not-for-profit, faith- based providers; centers; family child care homes; or in-home providers: The contracting agency responsible for enrolling and certifying will inform the family of their child care options. Contractors will support the family in identifying a provider that meets their child care needs while maximizing parental choice. For voucher-based programs, the Child Care Certificate is not linked to a specific provider. Contractors work with the resource and referral agency staff using a database called MyChildCarePlan.org that includes a full range of existing child care services available within the family’s geographical area per Welfare and Institution Code (WIC) 10219(a)(1)(A). The site is available statewide and allows families to enter their zip code to get connected with the resource and referral program that provides referral services in their area as well as see a list of providers (Find Child Care). The database contains a full range of child care options such as family child care home, public and private child care, full and part-time, infant, toddler, preschool, and school age. Families identify preferences and the database provides options for the family including: type of program, hours of service, ages of children served, fees and eligibility for service, and program information. Some alternative payment program agencies are co-located with a resource and referral program and will collaborate with the voucher staff enrolling the family to provide them with a list of providers in their area that meet their child care preferences. Resource and referral programs are required per WIC 10219(2)(A)(ii) to publicize their services through a range of media sources such as, but not limited to, social media, radio, and fliers. Direct service, voucher based, and resource and referral programs must develop and provide written materials on the services available to families related to their contract type and make them available to the public via hard copy and/or electronically. Within the written materials voucher- based programs will identify the range of providers and services available to families to select from to support parental choice. e. Describe what information is included on the child care certificate: The Child Care Certificate is not provided until the contracting agency completes the Confidential Application for Child Development Services and Certification of Eligibility (CCD 26) and has verified the days and hours of care needed based on eligibility and need documentation provided. The parent will sign the CCD 26 and the agency authorized representative will certify the family for child care services. The agency staff issues a Notice of Action (NOA – CCD 7617) indicating the following information: child(ren) receiving services, start date, parent information, approved days and hours per week, family fee information, eligibility and need criteria coinciding with the supporting documentation, and parent appeal process. If the type of care is direct service, the center information will also be on the NOA, which may act as the Child Care Certificate for some contractors. For other contractors, they may issue a separate Child Care Certificate that includes all the information listed above. For voucher- based programs, the contracting agencies issue the NOA with all the pertinent information. In addition, many agencies provide a Child Care Certificate that includes all the above-mentioned information and the Regional Market Rate Ceiling that is applicable to the type of provider the parent chooses, age of the child, and certified need. To facilitate parental choice, parents are given the flexibility to choose the provider that best fits their wants and needs. In most instances, the parent comes to the agency already having selected a provider. In this case, the Child Care Certificate would already have the provider’s name on it.