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. [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. [x] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [x] 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. [ ] Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. ii. [x] 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. [x] Other. Describe: Florida has an online application through the family portal, which allows homeless families to apply from anywhere, including from their phones. 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 DEL's SharePoint site for ELCs/RCMA contains resources and links to training and technical assistance to be shared with providers regarding serving homeless children and families. In the Registry, instructors and directors can access training targeting the needs of families experiencing homelessness. The DEL program staff continuously research and take courses in serving children experiencing homelessness. The Florida Early Learning and Afterschool Career Pathway includes training targeting the needs of families experiencing homelessness as a core requirement. This course covers the experience and needs of children in housing transition. 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 DEL partners with the FLDOE’s McKinney-Vento office and the Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSSCO) to share training opportunities and provide cross program training information on eligibility of services and best practices to meet the needs of children experiencing homelessness. The DEL’s SharePoint site for ELCs/RCMA contains resources and links to training and technical assistance to be shared with providers regarding serving homeless children and families. DEL also created the Florida's CCR&R Specialist Training Service Delivery modules. Each training model encourages trainees to be mindful of children and families who may be experiencing homelessness and aware of local services and supports for these families, and other agencies that also provide assistance. DEL’s CCR&R Training Modules for new CCR&R specialists and coordinators includes a section on homelessness. After completing that section of the training, staff are able to: Define and discuss factors that may lead to homelessness, identify self-assessment tools that can assist in identifying families who are at risk for homelessness, connect these families to community supports, and utilize and access the Self-Assessment Tool for Early Childhood Programs Serving Families Experiencing Homelessness.