9.3 Increasing Engagement and Access to Information

Lead Agencies must collect and disseminate information about the full range of child care services to promote parental choice to parents of children eligible for CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. 9.3.1 Information about CCDF availability and eligibility Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with eligible parents, the general public, and child care providers about the availability of child care services provided through CCDF and other programs for which the family may be eligible. The description should include, at a minimum, what is provided (e.g., written materials, the website, and direct communications) and what approaches are used to tailor information to parents, the general public, and child care providers. The DEL provides information to parents, providers, and the general public via DEL’s website. On the webpage, DEL provides links to the Family Portal, where parents can access applications for SR and VPK programs. The website provides an overview of DEL’s programs for families and providers and directs them, via DEL’s ELC directory, where to locate their local offices for further assistance. The DEL and the ELCs employ the CCR&R program to provide information and outreach to families via websites, telephone, and email. State rule requires each CCR&R organization to maintain a website and at least one other form of outreach and awareness within its service area that describes the CCR&R program and child care services offered. The home page of the website for the ELC and the contracted CCR&R organizations, if applicable, clearly displays CCR&R, family services and provider services contact information, including phone numbers, hours of operation, and a brief description of services available for families and providers. 9.3.2 Information about child care and other services available for parents Does the Lead Agency certify that it provides information described in 9.3.1 for the following required programs? • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. • Head Start and Early Head Start programs. • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). • Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) program. • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). • Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). • Programs carried out under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.3 Consumer statement for parents receiving CCDF services Lead Agencies must provide parents receiving CCDF services with a consumer statement in hard copy or electronically that contains general information about the CCDF program and specific information about the child care provider they select. Please certify if the Lead Agency provides parents receiving CCDF services a consumer statement that contains the following 8 requirements: 1. Health and safety requirements met by the provider 2. Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider 3. Date the provider was last inspected 4. Any history of violations of these requirements 5. Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider 6. How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access 7. How to submit a complaint through the hotline 8. How to contact a local resource and referral agency or other community-based organization to receive assistance in finding and enrolling in quality child care Does the Lead Agency provide to families, either in hard copy or electronically, a consumer statement that contains the required information about the provider they have selected, including the eight required elements above? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.4 Informing families about best practices on child development Describe how the Lead Agency makes information available to parents, providers, and the general public on research and best practices concerning children’s development, including physical health and development, and information about successful parent and family engagement. At a minimum, the description should include what information is provided; how the information is provided; any distinct activities for sharing this information with parents, providers, the general public; and any partners in providing this information. Given the proliferation of mobile phone use and the volume of resources DEL provides, DEL primarily uses QR codes on fliers and banners to direct parents, providers and the general public to our online resources when presenting at conferences or when manning tables to inform participants of early learning programs. The DEL website, social media platforms, and ELC partners also disseminate information about the FELDS and supporting activities that informs families, child care providers and the general public of the growth and developmental milestones for children ages birth to kindergarten. The DEL is in the process of updating its First Teacher: A Parent’s Guide to Growing and Learning for ages birth to four that includes family engagement activities to help parents support their children’s learning during daily routines and educate families on their children’s developmental milestones. In addition, DEL is updating its Quality Checklist and Family Guide to educate families on provider types (licensure and exemptions, faith based, family day care home, center, etc.) to assist parents in their search for quality child care options based on their needs. These resources will be made available on the DEL’s and the ELCs’ websites and shared with families requesting child care listings. Furthermore, DEL has developed 9 video vignettes to support new and existing child care providers establish quality programs and educate them on resources to support services offered to families. Also distributed through these channels is a monthly Parents’ Pages newsletter that references services and resources from DEL as well as other state agencies, such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida DOH. ELCs and HMG also provide information on and offer free developmental screenings. 9.3.5 Unlimited parental access to their children Does the Lead Agency have procedures to ensure that parents have unlimited access to their children whenever their children are in the care of a provider who receives CCDF funds: [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.6 Informing families about best practices in social and emotional health Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with families, providers, and the general public regarding the social-emotional and behavioral and mental health of young children, including positive behavioral intervention and support models based on research and best practices for those from birth to school age: The Inclusion and Developmental Screening Network is used to provide information about social skills and emotional competency development, behavioral and mental health of young children, PBIS, and support models based on research and best practices. The network is comprised of more than 120 members, the majority of whom are ELC staff who have direct contact with parents and child care providers. Other partners come from universities and non-profit agencies. The network meets weekly with a consistent attendance of 60 to 80 participants. During this voluntary one-hour meeting, DEL facilitates presentations from experts in the field, where exchanges of concerns and knowledge occur. Participants share input about the conditions of the field as they are happening. Based on this information, DEL can capture the current trends in needs and almost immediately provide presentations, resources, or discussions led by experts for solving those needs. Topics related to suspensions and expulsion, the implementation of the PBIS program, challenging behaviors, teacher turn-over, ELC staff turn-over, creation of reflective supervision, infant, toddler, and young children mental health issues, developmental screening, interagency collaboration, and many more are covered. DEL also offers one-on-one technical assistance sessions for ELC staff where the focus is on their individual concerns and solutions, which include the creation of information dissemination systems about the topics above and DEL’s other quality initiatives. Goals are established and checked monthly during these meetings. DEL shares information about the above topics through the developmental standards’ website, social media platforms, and ELC partners. Also distributed through these channels is a monthly Parents’ Pages newsletter that references services and resources from DEL as well as other state agencies, such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida DOH. ELCs and HMG also provide information on and free developmental screenings. 9.3.7 Policies on the prevention of the suspension and expulsion of children a. The Lead Agency must have policies to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children from birth to age 5 in child care and other early childhood programs receiving CCDF funds. Describe those policies and how those policies are shared with families, providers, and the general public: DEL recommends prevention and limitation of expulsion and suspension practices in all early childhood settings. The DEL Expulsion Position Statement is offered to support ELCs and their providers as they develop their own suspension and expulsion policies. These policies may be built upon a tiered approach to provide universal support to all children, targeted services for children who need more support, and referrals for intensive supports for children who need additional services. This tiered approach is supported through training and coaching on evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s healthy social skills and development. In addition, the DEL’s SR Provider Contract requires providers to give advance notice to an ELC regarding the ￿dismissal of children, including documentation specifying reasons for dismissal, within fourteen (14) calendar days prior to termination or within five (5) calendar days after termination.￿ These policies are shared with families, providers, and the general public through the early identification and referral network comprised of specialists located at each of the 30 ELCs is the first point of contact for providers and families in need of long-term support and, for many children, the beginning of their early intervention services. The early childhood education professional learning system which provides training opportunities to ECEs to ensure children receive developmentally appropriate educational opportunities. A tiered approach to provide universal support to all children with the goal of promoting social skills and emotional competency support for children, families, and child care providers to prevent exclusionary discipline. DCF also requires providers to have written disciplinary and expulsion policies. Additionally, a copy of the current policies must be available for review by parents, legal guardians and the licensing authority. b. Describe what policies, if any, the Lead Agency has to prevent the suspension and expulsion of school-age children from child or youth care settings receiving CCDF funds: The lead agency follows the same polices for preventing expulsion and suspension that are described in 9.3.7 and in addition resources and referrals will be requested from Part B from the school districts.