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. [ ] Bilingual caseworkers or translators available. vi. [ ] 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. [x] 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. [ ] 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. [ ] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [ ] Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. v. [x] Partnerships with State and local programs and associations focused on disability- related topics and issues. vi. [x] 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. [x] Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. viii. [x] Availability and/or access to specialized services (e.g., mental health, behavioral specialists, therapists) to address the needs of all children. ix. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. [x] Partnerships with community-based organizations. iii. [ ] 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. The lead agency has a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education (DOE). This MOA coordinates activities implemented through CCDF. DOE is the agency that houses the McKinney-Vento coordinator. Through the University of Delaware, Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood Education the state has developed ￿Supporting Children When They Are Homeless," a free three-hour training offered online through www.depdnow.com. This course provides child care subsidy providers with an understanding of homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento act, an opportunity to be reflective about the impact on children and families, as well as gives them strategies and resources to assist families. The Department of Education also offers an online training for Homeless Liaisons in each local education agency to prepare them to train their school staff on identifying and serving homeless children and their families. The goal of this collaboration is to ensure alignment of quality services for children who are considered a part of this vulnerable population. Members of the ECE workforce in DE are currently encouraged to utilize iPD, the free professional development platform available through the Office of Head Start. This platform offers nine 30 minute modules , and upon completion of the modules, a Certificate of Completion is provided to the user. DOE has and will continue to provide information about the Homelessness modules through this platform to ECE programs via email, at State Funded meetings, on Provider calls, and on Delaware Early Childhood Council (DECC) meetings. 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. The state now uses the federal McKinney Vento definition of homelessness and eligibility workers are now trained to ask the appropriate questions to determine a family's housing status. The state also provides outreach to families who may be unhoused by providing case management services in libraries and through community partners throughout the state. State technical assistants point child care professionals to resources on ECKLC website: "Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness." https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/family-support-well-being/article/supporting- children-families-experiencing-homelessness Members of the ECE workforce in DE are currently encouraged to utilize iPD, the free professional development platform available through the Office of Head Start. This platform offers nine 30 minute modules , and upon completion of the modules, a Certificate of Completion is provided to the user. DOE has and will continue to provide information about the Homelessness modules through this platform to ECE programs via email, at State Funded meetings, on Provider calls, and on Delaware Early Childhood Council (DECC) meetings.