1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: The lead agency initially sent out a survey in January 2024 to the early care and education community to solicit volunteers to assist with the development of the state plan. We then worked with a vendor, Social Contract, who assisted with the development of a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process and stakeholder engagement activities to be done virtually and in person. Stakeholder engagement sessions were held the week of March 25-29 and May 20-24. The stakeholder engagement groups included representatives from the local government, child care programs, and community organizations. These initial meetings focused on workforce development and health safety aspects of CCDF. To solicit feedback from families, a family survey was developed that asked families about their experiences in accessing services and things they would like to see change. Surveys were given to providers in March 2024 who then gave them to families. Families were also asked to provide an email if they wanted to participate in focus groups to be held in person and/or virtually. We received 118 responses. Additional stakeholder engagement meetings focused on the childcare subsidy will be held in June. Policy and strategy revisions based on these meetings will be reflected in plan amendments. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: Public comment was requested on the written plan through State Advisory Council email blast on May 17, 2024. An initial draft of this CCDF State Plan, the ￿Early Childhood System of Today,￿ was presented to the State Advisory Council on May 21, 2024 for feedback. The lead agency first sent out a survey in January to the early care and education community through the State Advisory Council to solicit volunteers to assist with the development of the state plan. Stakeholder engagement sessions were held the week of March 25-29, May 20-24, and in June to brainstorm improvements and innovations for a plan amendment that reflects the design of Delaware's ￿Early Childhood System of Tomorrow.￿ b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: Delaware does not have any federally recognized tribes. c. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: The lead agency initially sent out a survey in January 2024 to the early care and education community to solicit volunteers to assist with the development of the state plan. We then worked with a vendor, Social Contract, who assisted with the development of a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process and stakeholder engagement activities to be done virtually and in person. Stakeholder engagement sessions were held the week of March 25-29 and May 20-24. The stakeholder engagement groups included representatives from the local government, child care programs, and community organizations. These initial meetings focused on workforce development and health safety aspects of CCDF. To solicit feedback from families, a family survey was developed that asked families about their experiences in accessing services and things they would like to see change. Surveys were given to providers in March 2024 who then gave them to families. Families were also asked to provide an email if they wanted to participate in focus groups to be held in person and/or virtually. We received 118 responses. Additional stakeholder engagement meetings focused on the childcare subsidy will be held in June. Policy and strategy revisions based on these meetings will be reflected in plan amendments. 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: 6/6/2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: 5/17/2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide noticeThe public hearing was announced on the state's consumer education website MyChildDE: https://www.mychildde.org/first-draft-of-the-child-care-development-fund-ccdf- state-plan-fy-25-fy-27/ The website also shared a survey where people could input public comments. Announcements were made about this process at the Delaware Early Childhood Council meeting on May 21, 2024. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: Public hearings were held virtually in order to be inclusive of all geographic regions within the state. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): The plan was made available on the state's consumer education website MyChildDE: https://www.mychildde.org/first-draft-of-the- child-care-development-fund-ccdf-state-plan-fy-25-fy-27/ vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: Delaware has drafted an "Early Childhood System of Today￿ plan that the state is submitting for July 1, 2024. The public was given the opportunity to comment on the state plan at state advisory council meeting in May and the public hearing which was held in June. The public was able to comment during those events but was also given time to submit comment via email to the CCDF Administrator and through a survey link for each section. The comments were reviewed, and at the lead agency's discretion, the plan will be revised accordingly for a future plan amendment. The themes and solutions brainstormed through Delaware’s stakeholder engagement process in 2024 will be integrated into a plan amendment that will describe our state’s early childhood processes that integrate the CCDBG final rule released in March 2024 and the priorities of a new state Governor. This version of our plan will be known as the ￿Early Childhood System of Tomorrow.￿ This timeline allows Delaware to integrate the CCDF Plan FY25-FY27 with the strategic planning initiative of the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal Grant. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. https://www.mychildde.org/ b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. [x] Working with advisory committees. Describe: The lead agency coordinates with the state advisory council, the Wilmington Early Care and Education Council, and Help Me Grow to ensure that the plan is made as widely available as possible. Each of these agencies are apprised of the plan development at their monthly meetings and provided with the various methods of accessing the plan. These groups were provided with an overview of the CCDF State Plan and the plan development timeline including when the plan would be made public, the date of the public hearing and due date for public comments. ii. [x] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: The lead agency collaborates closely with the state's resource and referral agency, which oversees the state's consumer education website. This agency not only maintains the comprehensive consumer education website, but also ensures that all pertinent details regarding the development of the CCDF State Plan are promptly posted on the website. iii. [x] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: The plan will be made available in Spanish. iv. [x] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: All members of the Delaware Early Childhood Council and Office of Child Care Licensing licensed program email listservs received links to the draft plan and survey. These listservs also received notice of the public hearing. v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: Stakeholders were notified via the state's early childhood advisory council, via the Delaware News Journal and the Provider Self Service Portal which is the site where providers enter their attendance for reimbursement. Information regarding the CCDF Plan is also shared between DOE, DHSS, DSCYF and their contracted partners. vi. [x] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: The Delaware Afterschool Network participated in the development of the state plan. The Delaware Afterschool Network and YMCA provided comments on the draft plan. vii. [x] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: The child care workforce is apprised of the plan process via provider calls every other month. Providers were also included in the stakeholder engagement meetings held March and May. All members of the Delaware Early Childhood Council and Office of Child Care Licensing licensed program email listservs received links to the draft plan and survey. These listservs also received notice of the public hearing. viii. [ ] Other. Describe: 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.