1.1 CCDF Leadership

The governor of a State or Territory must designate an agency (which may be an appropriate collaborative agency) or establish a joint interagency office to represent the State or Territory as the Lead Agency. The Lead Agency agrees to administer the program in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations and the provisions of this Plan, including the assurances and certifications. 1.1.1 Designated Lead Agency Identify the Lead Agency or joint interagency office designated by the State or Territory. OCC will send official grant correspondence, such as grant awards, grant adjustments, Plan approvals, and disallowance notifications, to the designated contact identified here. a. Lead Agency or Joint Interagency Office Information: i. Name of Lead Agency: Department of Health and Social Services ii. Street Address: 1901 N. Dupont Highway iii. City: New Castle iv. State: Delaware v. ZIP Code: 19720 vi. Web Address for Lead Agency: https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/ b. Lead Agency or Joint Interagency Official contact information: i. Lead Agency Official First Name: Tom ii. Lead Agency Official Last Name: Hall iii. Title: Director iv. Phone Number: 302-255-9605 v. Email Address: tom.hall@delaware.gov 1.1.2 CCDF Administrator Identify the CCDF Administrator designated by the Lead Agency, the day-to-day contact, or the person with responsibility for administering the State’s or Territory’s CCDF program. The OCC will send programmatic communications, such as program announcements, program instructions, and data collection instructions, to the designated contact identified here. If there is more than one designated contact with equal or shared responsibility for administering the CCDF program, identify the Co-Administrator or the person with administrative responsibilities and include their contact information. a. CCDF Administrator contact information: i. CCDF Administrator First Name: Jacqueline ii. CCDF Administrator Last Name: Bensel iii. Title of the CCDF Administrator: Senior Administrator iv. Phone Number: 302-875-8420 v. Email Address: jacqueline.bensel@delaware.gov b. CCDF Co-Administrator contact information (if applicable): i. CCDF Co-Administrator First Name: Caitlin ii. CCDF Co-Administrator Last Name: Gleason iii. Title of the CCDF Co-Administrator: Associate Secretary iv. Phone Number: (302) 735-4154 v. Email Address: caitlin.gleason@doe.k12.de.us vi. Description of the Role of the Co-Administrator: The CCDF Co-Administrator manages the quality initiatives of the CCDF Plan FY25-FY27. Caitlin Gleason, the CCDF co-administrator, is the Associate Secretary, Early Childhood Support in the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Support (ECS) Team is comprised of three workgroups, described below. The ECS team creates the conditions for all children, birth to age five, to grow, develop, and learn through positive experiences with their families, adults, and peers that prepare them for success in school and life. We support all families and their children, birth through five, by providing equitable access to high-quality, dual-generational care and education programs and services. Major Workgroups within Early Childhood Support: Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) purpose is to ensure safeguards and enhance quality of out-of-home care for children in Delaware. This office promulgates regulations, issues licenses, investigates complaints of regulation non-compliance and unlicensed care, and monitors multiple early care and education programs, including: • family child care homes • large family child care homes • early care and education and school-age centers which includes early education programs (younger than kindergarten) in public and private schools • residential child care facilities and day treatment programs • child placing agencies and • summer youth camps that receive Purchase of Care subsidies. Office of Early Learning (OEL) is responsible for developing and administering Delaware's Early Childhood Education (ECE) Quality Improvement System (QIS), which focuses on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), the State Funded Early Care and Education Program (SFECEP), formerly known in the ECE community as ECAP and Redding, and the DEEDS educator credentialing system for ECE staff in licensed child care programs. In this way, OEL is responsible for supporting high-quality early childhood professionals. The Office of Early Learning (OEL) informs, manages, and funds contracts with the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC) and the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC). The DIEEC provides technical assistance, professional development, and coaching for members of the Early Care and Education (ECE) workforce. The ECIC provides scholarships, career counseling, and CDA Cohort support, among other ECE workforce supports. OEL facilitates kindergarten registration, supports the implementation of the kindergarten Early Learner Survey (ELS), and connects families to local districts when they are requesting early admission to kindergarten. OEL oversees the Head Start Collaboration Office, administers the federal Early Childhood Head Start Partnership grant, manages the state funded Parents as Teachers program, and collaborates and funds other state agencies and partners to provide Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) services. Office of Early Childhood Intervention (OECI) purpose is to ensure full implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) under Part C and Part B, (section 619) through comprehensive policies and procedures. This includes access to child find and early childhood intervention for all eligible children ages birth through five with identified disabilities and their families by leveraging equitable supports, services, and community resources.