8.1 Coordination with Partners to Expand Accessibility and Continuity of Care

Lead Agencies must coordinate child care services supported by CCDF with other federal, State/Territory, and local level programs. This includes programs for the benefit of Indian children, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care. 8.1.1 Coordination with required and optional partners Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates and the results of this coordination of the provision of child care services with the organizations and agencies to expand accessibility and continuity of care and to assist children enrolled in early childhood programs in receiving full-day services that meet the needs of working families. The Lead Agency must coordinate with the following agencies: a. State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Coordination and consultation with the State Advisory Council, the Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC), occurs regularly at the Commission’s bi- monthly meetings and subcommittee meetings. The ECLC Administrator staff position is embedded within CDEC, which helps to facilitate coordination throughout the year. The coordination between the Commission and CCDF is evident in the new Commission 10- year Strategic Plan which includes three result areas: coordinating a comprehensive early childhood system; recruiting, retaining, and equitability compensating a diverse and qualified early childhood workforce; and ensuring that the state’s early childhood system has the data needed to make evidence based decisions and the funding resources to put best practices into action. Coordination goals include interagency efforts to improve the status of the early childhood workforce; early childhood program quality, alignment and access; data alignment and enhancements; and promoting a comprehensive strategy to elevate parent and community engagement. Results of this coordination and consultation include early childhood council waivers and child care licensing rules changes for Early Childhood Teacher qualifications to create the workforce necessary for additional child care slots for families, including those in underserved communities. b. Indian Tribe(s) and/or Tribal organization(s), at the option of the Tribe or Tribal organization. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination, including which Tribe(s) was (were) involved: Our tribally-focused work includes partnering with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and other Colorado-based American Indian and Alaska Native serving organizations such as the Denver Indian Family Resource Center, and the Western Slope Native American Resource Center to connect to American Indian and Alaska Native families and communities to support and contribute to their early childhood experience. We have created multiple ways for tribes to engage with CDEC and with programs that provide educational and health services. We have created a Tribal Advisory Council to provide spaces for tribal community input, plans to conduct focus groups and needs assessments, indigenized current CDEC content and resources, supported programs and built relationships that support future endeavors. The results of this coordination are an expanded awareness of CDEC programs and services in the American Indian and Alaska Native community, active participation from Tribal members in CDEC events and programming, co-creation of culturally responsive programming, input on funding applications and plans, and a baseline needs assessment from Tribal communities that outlines areas of growth and areas of strengths by the end of 2024. [ ] Not applicable. Check here if there are no Indian Tribes and/or Tribal organizations in the State/Territory. c. State/Territory agency(ies) responsible for programs for children with disabilities, including early intervention programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CDEC is the designated Lead Agency for the IDEA Part C program and implements its requirements through the Early Intervention Colorado Program. The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is the designated Lead Agency and State Education Agency (SEA) for administering Part B under IDEA and ensures that a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is available to all eligible children with disabilities ages three through twenty-one. Coordination with Early Intervention Colorado (Part C of IDEA) within CDEC and Part B at CDE includes goals related to consumer education, transitions and professional development. Pursuant to section 26.5-3-404, C.R.S., CDEC and CDE entered into a State Transition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in July 2022 to facilitate an ongoing, effective, and cooperative relationship that will enhance coordination of transitions for children and families as they move from Part C early intervention services into Part B special education services, including children who are in child care settings and moving into Part B Preschool Special Education. An MOU between CDEC and CDE regarding preschool special education services, created pursuant to section 26.5-4-206, was executed on February 1, 2023. The MOU ensures all preschoolers with disabilities are served equitably in Universal Preschool, ensures access to classrooms that meet the individual needs of children with disabilities based on their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and ensures that preschool program providers operate in accordance with federal and state law concerning education for children with disabilities. This MOU outlines the agencies’ respective responsibilities related to reporting, procedures, communications, training, data, technical assistance and guidance, legal compliance, and interagency cooperation. CDEC staff from the State Systems Building and Early Intervention Units collaborated with CDE Part B on the initial concept for the Colorado Early Learning: Universal Design and Inclusion Project which helps licensed child care providers, including Family Child Care Homes, centers and school district-based preschools learn to make adaptations across developmental domains through intensive training, coaching and materials support in a cohort model. The model has served 100s of licensed child care providers since its inception in 2020. EI and Part B continue to help advertise the cohort opportunity. Cohort members are provided information about how participation in the program helps them earn points on the Colorado Shines QRIS system. Additionally, CDEC staff from the State Systems Building, Instructional Design, and Early Intervention Units collaborated with CDE Part B to develop two PDIS courses to support providers’ understanding of Part B and C services and creating inclusive settings. Introduction to the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs, and Supporting Young Children Through Inclusive Care were added to the PDIS in English and Spanish. The Introduction to the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs course is now a required training for licensed child care centers and family child care homes according to the latest rules package. A resource guide (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-i- uKnv3OGjV_gkcChcwR1WmCqBegiZ8/view) was developed in partnership to support children with special health conditions as they transition between learning environments and into kindergarten. This guide was informed by CDE’s Part B Unit, CDE’s School Nursing and Health Services, CDPHE’s maternal and child health team, the Children’s Hospital, and Colorado families. d. State/Territory office/director for Head Start State collaboration. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Head Start State Collaboration Office is integrated in CDEC. Coordination with the director of the Head Start Collaboration Office resulted in identifying the following ongoing coordination goals: 1) Encourage the layering of funds, including parent fees, between child care subsidy, Head Start and Universal Preschool through information memoranda posted on CDEC website that support alignment between Head Start and Universal Preschool and CCCAP and Universal Preschool so that families have access to full day/full year calendar preschool services. Child care professionals taking training offered by Head Start through TA partners or National Centers can earn professional development hours through the Professional Development Information System (PDIS) and points toward their QRIS framework. 2) Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) eligibility and Head Start enrollment - Continue to reinforce and clarify the alignment of the 12-month eligibility with the Head Start enrollment period to ensure providers, local county government, and families are aware of this rule so that families will benefit from access and continuity of care. 3) Ensure the Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDG) align with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF). A crosswalk was created to ensure alignment with the Head Start ELOF. 4) Colorado Shines Quality Rating And Improvement System (QRIS) Coordination with the Head Start Collaboration Office Director to address Alternative Pathway and the process to review Head Start program level information to flag new programs and programs that are in the designation renewal system. Grantee and Delegate Head Start/Early Head Start Programs in good standing with the Office of Head Start (OHS) will automatically be rated at a Level 4, upon submission of relevant documents: (1) most recent review report, (2) documentation from OHS that shows no outstanding non- compliance issues, and (3) their annual Program Information Report along with their application within the QRIS data system. e. State/Territory agency responsible for public health, including the agency responsible for immunizations. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CDEC coordinates with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) on child care rules regulated by both departments. CDPHE implements 6 CCR 1010-7, Rules and Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities in the State of Colorado. The regulations cover a wide variety of topics including but not limited to environmental hazards, disease control, and food safety (including infant feeding). The regulations apply to all licensed child care facilities. CDPHE delegates authority to local public health agencies and performs all inspection work in counties that do not have a local program. CDPHE partners closely with CDEC on any regulation changes to avoid any duplication or conflict in regulations. CDEC and CDPHE also collaborate on processes to address immunization requirements and how the length of the grace period reasonably supports the enrollment of children experiencing homelessness. Section 725 of Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C.11434a), defines homeless children and youths as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. In Colorado, the grace period for children experiencing homelessness or in foster care, for meeting school-entry immunization requirements is 90 days, as established by the Colorado Board of Health. While inspections include a review of immunization records to ensure requirements are being met, the two agencies will continue to work to determine whether additional technical assistance or training is needed in this area. Another output of this coordination is the requirement in CDEC child care licensing rules for all staff members involved in the collection of immunizations to complete the immunization course developed and offered by CDPHE. CDEC promotes oral health and healthy eating resources developed by CDPHE to licensed child care programs. CDPHE’s Early Childhood Screening and Referral Policy Council includes CDEC staff to identify and implement policy and system changes that ensure all young children receive appropriate development screening and appropriate services. CDEC and CDPHE also collaborate on sharing information on federal and state tax credits for families and early childhood professionals. This collaboration resulted in outreach to thousands of providers and parents encouraging them to file their taxes and apply for programs they may be eligible for such as the child tax credit. f. State/Territory agency responsible for employment services/workforce development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has primary responsibility for ensuring that alignment takes place through the coordination of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan and the development of strategies and guidance that promote the continuous improvement of Colorado’s workforce system. The Office of New Americans (ONA) serves as the point of contact for state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public to advance the integration and inclusion of New Americans in Colorado communities. This coordination has resulted in several priority recommendations for removing barriers that refugees and immigrants face as they enter the early childhood workforce in Colorado. CDEC works with Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade and their network of Small Business Development Centers, in partnership with local Early Childhood Councils, to offer a variety of business trainings to child care providers. Child care providers can earn professional development hours through the Professional Development Information System (PDIS) and points toward their QRIS framework by attending all included training sessions. Training and consultation are available at no cost through this partnership. g. State/Territory agency responsible for public education, including pre-Kindergarten. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Colorado Universal Preschool Program offers a part-time, voluntary, high-quality universal preschool to every Colorado child in the year before kindergarten. CDEC is charged with operating the program to enable families to choose from a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool settings, including licensed community-based programs, school-based programs, and licensed home providers. Over 40,000 children currently participate at over 1700 providers around the state. Families access universal preschool through the state application system where they can find the just right provider to meet their needs. CDEC funds providers based on monthly enrollment by local rates that are part-time, half-day or full-day school year programs. CDEC strategically partners with 32 Local Coordinating Organizations around the state to support local navigation as well as consider local resources and capacity. CDEC is actively seeking strategies to align and integrate the Universal Preschool Program with CCCAP so families can access coordinated services and funding streams and ensure their needs, particularly when they need longer hours/day or days/year. CDEC collaborates with the Colorado Department of Education on implementation of Colorado Universal Preschool, special education services, and kindergarten transitions through an established Memorandum of Understanding. CDEC recognizes the partnership with CDE as essential as CDE provides leadership, resources, support and accountability to the state’s 178 school districts. CDE administers both the state's Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children with disabilities. h. State/Territory agency responsible for child care licensing. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Colorado has an integrated governance model, and child care licensing is part of CDEC. The Licensing Division meets regularly internally, with CDEC colleagues and leadership, and with partners. This integrated governance model ensures coordination across all CCDF programs, resulting in aligned practices, strategy, and policy implementation. i. State/Territory agency responsible for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and other relevant nutrition programs. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CACFP is implemented by CDPHE. CDEC partners with CDPHE to increase awareness of and access to CACFP for all eligible child care providers in Colorado, primarily through participation in the Quality Nutrition Workgroup. The Quality Nutrition Workgroup, started through the state’s Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Renewal Grant in 2020, meets biweekly to engage in cross-program alignment and strategies and to expand access to quality nutrition for underserved or vulnerable children in the early childhood system. The workgroup tracks CACFP participation trends, identifies barriers, and brainstorms outreach opportunities using department-respective dissemination mechanisms. The workgroup is convened by the State Systems Building Initiatives (SSBI) Program Access Administrator, CDEC’s staff authority on early childhood nutrition. Current membership includes representatives from: CDEC: Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Licensing Division, Data Management Unit, Workforce Division; CDPHE: CACFP and Farm to Child Program; CDE: School Nutrition Unit; Nourish Colorado, Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center; Grand Beginnings Early Childhood Council; Donnell Kay Foundation; and other nutrition advocates. Since its inception in 2020, the Quality Nutrition Workgroup has created a number of resources to increase awareness of and participation in quality nutrition programming in licensed child care settings, thereby leveraging cross-agency work to understand and promote these programs even as they remain outside CDEC. In addition to co-creating resources, the workgroup also identifies cross-entity intersections to elevate the importance of quality nutrition for young children. Outcomes of this collaboration included developing updated brochures to promote CACFP to family child care homes and child care centers in multiple languages. Those resources are shared throughout the licensing process, including while providers are in pending status. Additionally, these resources are shared with CCCAP providers when they receive their child care subsidy fiscal agreements. CACFP is also featured in CDEC’s Child Care Business Guides which support people opening child care businesses in understanding requirements and getting connected to statewide resources. The Quality Nutrition Workgroup’s biweekly meetings are designed to continuously explore other areas of intersection in the work of CDEC, CDPHE, and CDE to provide nourishing food to Colorado’s youngest children as well as to keep agencies informed of important organizational or programmatic updates. This strong foundation of shared work supported CDEC and CDPHE-CACFP in responding to nutrition advocates and obtaining federal approval to expand CACFP eligibility to Colorado’s CCCAP-Qualified Exempt providers. CDEC, CDPHE, and advocates from the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, Nourish Colorado, and other nutrition and early childhood advocates met virtually on a regular basis to advocate for expanding eligibility requirements to this specific population. As of June 6, 2023, this change was enacted and CCCAP-Qualified Exempt (QE) providers can now apply to participate in CACFP. Approximately 22 CCCAP QE providers are now participating. The aforementioned group of partners are continuing to work together to support this new population of providers in learning about CACFP and uncovering the participation barriers that exist for these providers. Finally, the Quality Nutrition Workgroup initiated and maintains quarterly data sharing between CDEC, CDPHE-CACFP and CDE’s School Nutrition Unit to determine utilization rates of school nutrition programs among eligible early childhood providers. The Workgroup then discusses action to take based on the data. Another area of collaboration is the CDPHE-led Farm to Child Collaborative. Farm to Child, administered by CDPHE, enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food by changing food purchasing and education practices in early care and education settings. CDEC’s staff authority on early childhood nutrition is the co-lead for the Farm to Child work. Center- and home-based providers who prepare meals on site might explore Farm to Child through CACFP so they can buy food from local farmers or grow their own food. Participating in Farm to Child can help build the provider’s connection to the community which could lead to more resources like grants or donations. The Collaborative consists of more than 285 members representing 20 early childhood and food system organizations across the state. The Collaborative ensures that work across sectors, organizations, and communities is aligned and identifies appropriate funders to advance local and regional food systems. The Collaborative’s work is informed by the Colorado Farm to Child Roadmap strategic initiatives, which include advancing agency coordination, policy, and funding for local food procurement. The Collaborative has created many resources over the last four years which are intended to support the implementation of Farm to Child. This includes resource guides and mini-grants for child care providers to help them implement Farm to Child in their programs. j. McKinney-Vento State coordinators for homeless education and other agencies providing services for children experiencing homelessness and, to the extent practicable, local McKinney-Vento liaisons. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Coordination with the McKinney-Vento State Coordinator focuses on providing increased access to child care and coordination between state and local organizations for children and families experiencing homelessness in Colorado. Strategies include: 1) Strengthening connections for families experiencing homelessness with infants and toddlers to child care, family supports and primary care and nutrition programs; 2) Evaluating and strengthening trainings for CCCAP caseworkers working with families experiencing homelessness; 3) Reevaluating policies to incorporate the needs of homeless parents relative to engaging in job search, employment or training, in order to establish a stabilization period necessary for families to engage in eligible activities and provide required documentation. Another output of this collaboration and coordination is that child care licensing aligns its rules on health care requirements, including immunizations, to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations in compliance with McKinney-Vento. This alignment led to the Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) including in its licensing rules immunization requirements that reasonably support the enrollment of children experiencing homelessness, granting a 90- day grace period for children experiencing homelessness or in foster care for meeting school-entry immunization requirements. k. State/Territory agency responsible for the TANF program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Coordination goals with the Division of Employment and Benefits at Colorado Department of Human Services, which oversees the TANF program, include: extensive work on the alignment of rule and policy to ameliorate the eligibility and referral process for families participating in TANF and the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP); joint work to develop an automated referral process to eliminate inefficiencies that exist in the current child care referral process; joint training for county CCCAP eligibility staff, Colorado Works eligibility staff and Employment Coaches. CDEC and CDHS continue to build on work conducted by a third party consultant that analyzed the referral and application process for families who are TANF eligible and BCA eligible. Information from this analysis was used to simplify categorical eligibility reporting requirements so that the application becomes more of an interface between programs. l. State/Territory agency responsible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CDEC and the Department of Health Care, Policy And Finance (HCPF), which oversees the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), coordinate in several ways. First, a representative from HCPF is a commissioner on the ECLC, along with CDEC. This provides a regular forum for sharing updates and ongoing coordination and collaboration. Second, several representatives from HCPF are members of the Colorado Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (CO-ECCS) Grant Working Group which is responsible for helping to implement the CO-ECCS grant administered by CDEC. The goal of the CO-ECCS grant is to better integrate the maternal and child health and early childhood systems in the state. Participation of HCPF in the group has enabled shared understanding and action around key issues across Medicaid and early childhood, such as Medicaid Unwinding and its impact on coverage for families with young children. During the pandemic, families receiving Medicaid assistance were offered continuous enrollment where there was no need to regularly prove eligibility; the term ￿Medicaid Unwinding￿ refers to the end of that continuous enrollment and the need for families to recertify their eligibility or lose coverage for themselves and their families. CDEC shared Medicaid Unwinding awareness materials through its listserv which reaches licensed child care providers to increase their awareness. CDEC also works closely with HCPF to maximize access to Medicaid billing for services offered in the Division of Community and Family Support, the outcome of which is a series of Medicaid Billing Guides and associated training. One of the programs with these resources is the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program which supports continuity and accessibility of care by ensuring child care providers have a qualified expert to help them support the mental health needs of the children they care for. The Head Start Collaboration Office supports alignment and increases access with the HCPF to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) and lead screenings while promoting access to Medicaid services for eligible Head Start families by building connections between local Head Start programs and Medicaid’s Regional Accountability Entities. This partnership supports the health and well being of Colorado’s children and provides families with information on healthy development that leads to children being ready to learn as they enter kindergarten. m. State/Territory agency responsible for mental health services. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CDEC and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), which oversees mental health services, coordinate in several ways. First, the BHA and CDEC have developed a formal agreement to define roles and facilitate collaboration. CDEC became a member of the of the Governor's Behavioral Health Task Force, a children's behavioral health subcommittee convened. This collaboration resulted in a strategic direction for the state. In 2023, CDEC joined the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and several other key state agencies to generate a supplemental Children’s Behavioral Health Operational Plan to support the multi-year implementation of that strategic plan which was a second product resulting from the coordination between the two agencies. CDEC currently serves on the ongoing Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Planning Steering Committee designed to promote statewide accountability and ensure target goals from the operational plan are met for increasing children’s access and quality of service. This committee provides a regular forum for sharing updates and ongoing coordination and collaboration. Another collaboration includes several representatives from BHA serving as members of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Advisory Council administered by CDEC. The goal of the IECMH Advisory Council is to guide the ongoing development and implementation of a robust, equitable, accessible continuum of mental health services and supports in Colorado, from promotion and prevention to intervention and treatment for expecting and pregnant persons, infants and young children through age 5 and their families and communities. This population is not called out as specifically in the work mentioned above. The result of this coordination has been the prioritization of three collective projects: the development of shared messaging on the early childhood mental health outcomes that the council is committed to achieving, research into additional funding streams that can sustain the early childhood mental health programs in Colorado, and a workgroup to strengthen the early childhood mental health workforce to ensure access to high quality services of families with children 0-5 years of age. n. Child care resource and referral agencies, child care consumer education organizations, and providers of early childhood education training and professional development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Colorado funds a network of 16 local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies through the ECCS as well as a state-wide call center (211 through Mile High United Way) for families to get support locating child care options, works directly with the families and provides enhanced referral options as requested (making calls to programs on behalf of the family). The statewide call center for Child Care Resource and Referrals works with local ECC’s and CCR&R’s to provide comprehensive resources for families within their location throughout the state as well as being the coordinator of assisting families to their local support agencies (ECC’s, CCR&R’s for enhanced referrals, Family Resource Center, etc.). The call center tracks all inquiries on reasons families are seeking care, including off-hours care, and care related to special circumstances. Local CCR&R agencies gather data on programs, ensuring searches are accurate. Additionally the state hosts an online child care search with consumer information hosted on the Colorado Shines website (https://www.coloradoshines.com/). All licensed programs are part of CCR&R referrals. The ECC’s host regular meetings with community partners focused on community level challenges such as early childhood workforce recruitment and retention, early childhood training and resource options, and access to quality to child care. The output of these collaborations is to increase the number of licensed capacity, especially in areas of the state that are child care deserts or underserved areas to ensure families have high-quality safe and stable child care options. o. Statewide afterschool network or other coordinating entity for out-of-school time care (if applicable). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The CDEC, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA), has worked with the Colorado Afterschool Partnership to align standards and goals for licensed afterschool programs and neighborhood youth organizations. DELLA participated in CAP’s Spring Showcase to give members the opportunity to engage with DELLA program managers on licensing topics. DELLA supported CAP in its application for an Opportunity Now grant to address the workforce shortage with a comprehensive, statewide, three-step approach. CAP was included in DELLA’s comprehensive rule revision process as part of the stakeholder engagement workgroup to ensure CAP and DELLA are coordinated on licensing requirements for afterschool providers. DELLA and CAP will continue to align efforts on supporting, training, recruiting, and retaining school-age child care providers. p. Agency responsible for emergency management and response. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: CDEC is responsible for emergency management and response in compliance with CCDF. CDEC developed the state emergency operations plan to ensure that in the case of emergency affected licensed child care facilities (Family Child Care Homes, Child Care Centers, Preschools, School-Age Child Care, Neighborhood Youth Organizations, Children’s Resident Camps, Qualified Exempt providers, and tribal communities) and their communities are aware of available State assistance programs and processes to assist in the delivery of programs, resources and supports to child care programs in the event of an emergency or disaster. The CDEC plan provides guidance to all components of the State government for effective coordination, interaction, and establishment of relations with child care programs and communities during a disaster. CDEC emergency plan covers all aspects of State and county departments of human/social services relations with licensed and Qualified Exempt child care facilities and families. All State government actions are provided in a manner that supports government-to- government relations. The results are included in the plan. This plan includes mitigation (preparedness and prevention), continuity of operations, reunification plan for families, and recovery. Departments/Agencies that have been consulted in the coordination of CDEC plan include the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Behavioral Health Administration; United Way (211 Colorado); Head Start Collaboration Office; Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs; Colorado State Emergency Management; Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Colorado Early Childhood Councils; Colorado Department of Human Services; Local Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies; Universal Preschool (UPK); Local Coordinating Agencies; Early Childhood Leadership Commission; Federal Emergency Management Agency; and the Colorado Governor’s Office. q. The following are examples of optional partners a Lead Agency might coordinate with to provide services. Check which optional partners the Lead Agency coordinates with and describe the coordination and results of the coordination. i. [x] State/Territory/local agencies with Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grants. Describe: Colorado has five EHS-CCP grants.The HSCO partners with child care licensing, QRIS, workforce, ECMH, Early Intervention, and home visiting to align early care and education services and supports for children and families, from prenatal to age three, through partnerships between EHS and Child Care. This is accomplished through regularly scheduled meetings. The HSCO works across systems to deepen awareness and support in oral, physical, and mental health, and social-emotional well-being. Through collaboration and partnerships, the HSCO aims to ensure that all families, regardless of their background or circumstances, have equal access to Colorado's comprehensive system of early childhood services. ii. [x] State/Territory institutions for higher education, including community colleges. Describe: CDEC supports three higher education partners in developing and sustaining federally registered apprenticeship programs. These partners currently include Red Rocks Community College, Colorado Mesa University and The University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Additional higher education partners are interested in becoming registered apprenticeship sites. CDEC partners with the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering at University of Colorado Denver on the Colorado Early Learning: Universal Design and Inclusion Project to provide a six month cohort model of training, coaching and materials support to help licensed child care providers - including family child care homes, child care centers and school-based preschool programs - understand how to adapt their early learning environment and materials to support all children birth through five across developmental domains. Another collaborative project between these partners, Project Include, offers professional development; domain-specific adaptive materials kits with QR code links to instructional videos that can be borrowed; and coaching in a stepped model of support to providers. iii. [ ] Other federal, State, local, and/or private agencies providing early childhood and school-age/youth-serving developmental services. Describe: iv. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for implementing the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs grant. Describe: CDEC is the state agency that receives federal and state funds for home visiting programs in Colorado. CDEC then contracts with community-based agencies across the state to implement the services. The local agencies regularly provide information from CDEC programs to the parents they work with in order to increase family access to needed support. v. [x] Agency responsible for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program. Describe: The HSCO works to support alignment and increase access with the HCPF to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) and lead screenings while promoting access to Medicaid services for eligible Head Start families by building connections between local Head Start programs and Medicaid’s Regional Accountability Entities. This partnership supports the health and well being of Colorado’s children and provides families with information on healthy development that leads to children being ready to learn as they enter kindergarten. vi. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for child welfare. Describe: The Colorado Department of Human Services is responsible for Child Welfare. Coordination occurs at the county level to fund Protective Services Child Care through CCDF. Furthermore, Child Welfare Child Care, which is not funded through the use of CCDF, is coordinated at the county level and is managed through the statewide Child Care eligibility system. vii. [x] Child care provider groups or associations. Describe: The Colorado Association of Family Child Care (CAFCC), which supports the promotion of communication among child care providers, officials, organizations, child care consumers, government agencies, and all others to enhance the general society’s understanding of family child care. CDEC meets with CAFCC on an ongoing basis on a variety of topics, including communication material on safe child care, how to ensure CDEC utilizes equality in the language to reflect family child care equally with center-based care, and how to expand access to licensed home-based care and reduce/eliminate illegal care so children are in higher quality, safe child care settings. Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado (ECEA) aims to promote the growth, long-term sustainability, and quality of licensed private early childhood education programs for children birth to 12 years. CDEC, Office of Program Delivery leadership, meets monthly with ECEA’s Executive Director to discuss opportunities for coordination, challenges brought forward by ECEA members, and collaboration on solutions for early childhood licensed providers. Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) a nationwide non-profit alliance of licensed child care providers, state child care associations, and premier educational service providers. ECEC’s mission is to advance policies that strengthen the child care system and expand access to high-quality early care and education programs for all families, particularly those from underserved communities. CDEC, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) meets regularly with ECEC leadership to discuss challenges and collaborate on solutions to concerns brought about by ECEC members. viii. [x] Parent groups or organizations. Describe: CDEC Family Voice Council (FVC) provides guidance on programs, services and supports across the early childhood system. Working with the FVC has resulted in more family-friendly materials (such as the CCCAP application, which was reviewed by the FVC); guidance and prioritization on grants and plans developed by CDEC; and a stronger commitment to equity across the Department’s work. ix. [x] Title IV B 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators. Describe: CDEC collaborates with 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators (CLCC) to assist in disseminating information on providing feedback, participating in focus groups, consultation services or webinars, and applying for grant opportunities offered through 21st Century CLCC. x. [ ] Other. Describe: