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. [ ] Collaboration with Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. ix. [ ] Home visiting programs. x. [x] Other. Describe: Over-the-phone interpretation using a language line service. 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. i. [ ] Applications and public informational materials available in braille and other communication formats for access by individuals with disabilities. ii. [x] Websites that are accessible (e.g., Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). iii. [ ] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [ ] Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. v. [x] Partnerships with State and local programs and associations focused on disability- related topics and issues. vi. [ ] 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. vii. [x] Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. viii. [x] Availability and/or access to specialized services (e.g., mental health, behavioral specialists, therapists) to address the needs of all children. ix. [x] Other. Describe: Counties are encouraged to partner with local organizations, child care providers, and other associations that support children with disabilities. 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. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. CDEC offers the following online, self-paced courses to providers: 1. Support Children and Families Impacted by Homelessness 2. Head Start: Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness Completion of both of these courses counts toward a program’s Colorado Shines Quality Rating, and hours also count toward CDEC’s Early Childhood Professional Credential (ECPC). CDEC contracts with Child Care Resource and Referral agencies statewide, which collaborate locally with homeless service providers, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and others who work with families experiencing homelessness to identify and provide referrals to child care in partnership with the Colorado Shines Call Center and county departments of human services. Both eLearning modules review how to determine if a family meets the definition of being ￿homeless￿ and the services available for these families. The courses include information regarding the required grace period of at least 90 days to gather documentation of immunizations and other health and safety requirements for families experiencing homelessness for licensed providers. The grace period for licensed exempt care is at least 60 days. 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. Training for county supervisory and CCCAP eligibility staff includes an overview of rules that relate to enrolling and serving children and families experiencing homelessness. Course content specifically addresses the required grace period. These staff have access to the two earlier mentioned eLearning courses that address supporting families experiencing homelessness within the CCCAP Learning Management System.