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. [x] Collaboration with Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. ix. [ ] Home visiting programs. x. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. [x] 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. [x] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [x] Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. v. [ ] 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. [ ] Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. viii. [ ] 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: Available support for hearing impaired population, including staff certified in American Sign Language (ASL). 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. [ ] 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. Training for child care providers and early educators in identifying and working with children and families experiencing homelessness is available through OSSE’s online professional development offerings. An example of a training is titled ￿Resources for Supporting Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness￿. Level II providers also receive required training on subsidy application requirements and exemptions for children experiencing homelessness and an overview of the District’s intake center for families experiencing homelessness. Participants in the training learn about the requirements for the 60 calendar day grace period, the appropriate follow-up procedures (once the grace period ends), and information for families regarding working with an approved subsidized child care provider during the grace period. 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. OSSE provides training to DHS eligibility workers and child care providers designated as Level II providers on subsidy application requirements and exemptions for children experiencing homelessness and an overview of the District’s intake center for families experiencing homelessness. Participants in the training learn about the requirements for the 60 calendar day grace period, the appropriate follow-up procedures (once the grace period ends), and information for families regarding working with an approved subsidized child care provider during the grace period). Additionally, the CCDF co-administrator participates in McKinney-Vento Liaison Training offered to District local education agencies (LEAs). This partnership increases understanding for the staff and homeless liaisons and registrars in LEAs on the availability of child care services for children experiencing homelessness. Through this work, the CCDF co-administrator collaborates with the staff delivering the training to share knowledge across sectors and address barriers identified by either homeless liaisons working in LEAs or child care eligibility staff working with children and families experiencing homelessness.