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: CDEC consulted on the development of Colorado’s CCDF plan by: 1) meeting with the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) County Sub-Committee, which is comprised of twelve directors and other senior level personnel who represent various county departments throughout the state, on 06/06/24; 2) meeting with County Allocation Committee which decides how the CCCAP appropriation is divided on April 24, 2024; 3) meeting with Rate Setting Committee made up of county leaders on May 6, 2024; 4) consultation with local County Departments of Human Services leaders at CDEC/County work sessions on April 18, 2024, and May 16, 2024; 5) meeting with county commissioners and county human services directors on May 29, 2024; and 6) meeting with CHATS User Group on May 30, 2024. CDEC’s consultation with the local government in the forums mentioned above helped our understanding of the child care needs at the local community level. It confirmed our understanding of the unique challenges of our rural and resort communities and our state-wide struggle with infant and toddler supply and demand. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: Colorado’s Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) serves as the State Advisory Council and includes representatives from the state agencies that support early childhood programs: I. CDEC ii. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), WIC and Title 5: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) iii. Part B: Colorado Department of Education CDE) iv. Child welfare: Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) v. CHIP and Medicaid: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) vi. Institutes of higher education: Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) vii. Other key leaders in the state such as early childhood service providers, philanthropic organizations, public health advocates, business leaders, and families receiving early childhood services. In addition to regular updates and conversations at the Commission’s bi-monthly meetings and subcommittee meetings, the Commission consulted on the development of the CCDF plan on April 25, 2024. In addition, the Commission held a work session to specifically provide feedback and recommendations on the published draft of the plan on May 20, 2024. Finally, the ECLC’s Data Subcommittee regularly provides feedback on the state’s rate-setting plan and discussed the alternative methodology for rate setting at the March 20, 2024 meeting. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: CDEC shared the CCDF plan with a variety of tribal connections including CDEC Tribal Advisory Council, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and other American Indian service organizations such as Denver Indian Family Resource Center, Western Slope Native American Resource Center, and other local organizations. The plan was presented for consultation at the CDEC’s Tribal Advisory Council meeting on May 22, 2024 virtually throughout the state. It was also presented at the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs Quarterly meeting on May 30, 2024 in Towaoc, CO in person and virtually. Invitations to join the June 3, 2024 All Day Public Hearing were circulated in tribal communities and tribal serving organizations throughout the state. c. 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: CDEC consulted with the Family Child Care Home Association, representatives from the local Early Childhood Councils, the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado, and the Head Start Association. This consultation was ongoing throughout the year and occurred no less often than monthly. This consultation included in-person meetings, virtual meetings, document sharing, and participation in stakeholder meetings for rule revisions. These entities support child care providers throughout the state, and their input during this consultation helped inform the Department's development of the Support for a Skilled, Qualified, and Compensated Workforce, Quality Improvement Activities, and Health and Safety Requirements sections of the State Plan. Invitations to join the June 3, 2024 All Day Public Hearing on the State Plan were provided by CDEC to these entities and the programs they support. 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: 6/3/2024 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: 5/14/2024 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: 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 noticeCDEC informed the public of the public hearing by sending a message to its 40,000 person email list (linked here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CODEC/bulletins/39c8915https://cont ent.govdelivery.com/accounts/CODEC/bulletins/39c8915), through posts on CDEC website - which has a function to translate to more than 100 languages, verbal and written announcements at all county/regional meetings, and verbally and in writing at all public meetings that occurred between April 1 and June 3. In addition, the registration link included a question to request language interpretation or other accommodations. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: In addition to opportunities to join in person, partners throughout the state could also participate virtually. 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.): The plan was made available on CDEC website, which has an option for translation when downloaded. The plan was also emailed to 40,000 people on CDEC email list in the announcement for the June 3 public hearing. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: Stakeholders provided feedback in a survey form, which was included in the announcement of the state plan public hearing. CDEC staff considered each comment and determined if adjustments to the state plan could be made and, if not, why. 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. https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans 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: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. ii. [x] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. iii. [x] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. iv. [x] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. vi. [x] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. vii. [x] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: CDEC shares the link to the website where the CCDF plan and amendments are available to the public: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, each time a new plan or amendment is approved. The CDEC website offers a translation option when downloading the plan or amendment to ensure it is available in multiple languages. viii. [x] Other. Describe: The CCDF State Plan, any amendments, and waivers are shared publicly on the CDEC website here: https://cdec.colorado.gov/resources/state-plans, which has an option for translation when downloaded. Once the plan is approved, the Department will share it via email with all of the groups listed above, including the ECLC (state advisory council), early childhood councils/CCR&Rs, social media, and other key constituent groups. It will also be shared in the CDEC newsletter, which reaches 40,000 constituents. 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. 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.