8.3 Coordination with Child Care Resource and Referral Systems

Lead Agencies may use CCDF funds to establish or support a system or network of local or regional child care resource and referral (CCR&R) organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined by the Lead Agency, by a statewide public or private non-profit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization (such as a statewide CCR&R network). If Lead Agencies use CCDF funds for local CCR&R organizations, the local or regional CCR&R organizations supported by those funds must, at the direction of the Lead Agency: • Provide parents in the State with consumer education information concerning the full range of child care options (including faith-based and community-based child care providers), analyzed by provider, including child care provided during non-traditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their area. • To the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance to offer the families support and assistance to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in the most appropriate child care setting that suits their needs and one that is of high quality (as determined by the Lead Agency). • Collect data and provide information on the coordination of services and supports, including services under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. • Collect data and provide information on the supply of and demand for child care services in areas of the State and submit the information to the Lead Agency. • Work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities, including faith- based and community-based child care providers, to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State and, as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the Lead Agency and local agencies that administer funds made available through CCDF. 8.3.1 Funding a system or network of CCR&R organization(s) Does the Lead Agency fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s)? [ ] No. The Lead Agency does not fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) and has no plans to establish one. [ ] No, but the Lead Agency has plans to develop a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s). [x] Yes. The Lead Agency funds a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) with all the responsibilities outlined above. If yes, describe the activities outlined above carried out by the CCR&R organization(s), as directed by the Lead Agency: The Lead Agency funds a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) with all the responsibilities outlined above. If yes, describe the activities outlined above carried out by the CCR&R organization(s), as directed by the Lead Agency: Connecticut funds a state-wide CCR &R (United Way of Connecticut) to provide information to the public seeking quality affordable child care and to child care providers who offer quality child care services. Activities include: (1) Counseling and consumer education regarding all legal child care options in Connecticut; (2) Researched-based information on the long- term impact of high quality early childhood education and development; (3) Assistance for low income families to access child care and early education services; (4) Maintenance of a referral system to provider services and information to support families and providers; (5) Information for families of services available through the Help Me Grow/ Child Development Infoline regarding Birth to 3 services and managing the state-wide Ages and Stages Child Monitoring program for families to track the development of child from birth - 5 years of age. Help Me Grow has a database that tracks demographics, client service needs and outcomes of referrals; and (6) Providing technical assistance through on-site visits to newly licensed family child care providers. There are a variety of ways that the United Way of CT collaborates with public and private entities to increase the supply and quality of child care in the state. One way is their involvement in local and statewide provider associations such as their membership in the Early Childhood Alliance which is a state-wide organization for early childhood agencies (state and local organizations. The Early Childhood Alliance provides information sharing, networking, policy development and advocacy for over 100 members serving thousand of young children. The UW also connects with health and human services to help families and provider connected to needed resources. UWC maintains and updates a 211 child care data base. Part of this process is surveying providers on a regular basis to update their information, i.e., enrollment numbers, etc. UWC providers OEC with an omnibus report containing data regarding supply and location on a quarterly basis. This information is shared with UConn to use in their process of determining unmet need across the state with involves use of US census and SVI information. As a result of this collaboration, OEC is able to identify supply of child care, and demand in terms of unmet need.