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83 | P a g e FFY 2025–2027 CCDF State Plan

How does the Lead Agency identify any gaps in the supply and quality of child care services and what strategies are used to address those gaps for: a. Underserved geographic areas. Describe: The Lead Agency has an internal research team that works closely with Lead Agency programs to consistently evaluate administrative data and public data to identify service gaps related to underserved geographic areas. The Lead Agency is using multiple programmatic strategies to improve the quality of licensed child care in underserved geographic areas. The Lead Agency has a quality rating and improvement system, Quality Rated, that is intended to improve the quality of child care and includes technical assistance from regional child care resource and referral agencies. 62 percent of all licensed child care providers are rated in Quality Rated. Also, Child Care and Parent Services providers must be rated to participate in the child care subsidy program. Currently, over 70 percent of children receiving subsidy are in care at a high quality (Quality Rated 2- or 3-star) program. Additionally, technical assistance for improving quality is available through the Lead Agency programs. The Infant and Toddler Program works with child care providers to emphasize that quality infant care is centered on relationships. Young children learn and grow in the context of secure, trusting relationships with caring adults. All supports and recommendations offered by our Infant Toddler Care Specialists help providers understand and practice a model of relationship- based care that is respectful and responsive to each child’s individual needs. The SEEDS (Supporting Early Education and Development for Success) program. SEEDS specialists provide support through training, technical assistance, and coaching to classroom teachers, program administrators, and family childcare providers. The focus is on strategies to improve classroom management and climate, address challenging behaviors, and scaffold learning. In addition, with the assistance of the child care supply and demand data tool and new technology not available in years past, the Lead Agency is currently working on a strategy to more accurately target underserved geographic areas. This strategy involves using data to define the term underserved as it relates to Georgia's early childhood and education system. Once the term underserved is defined, it can be measured and quantified to enable the Lead Agency to more accurately define an underserved geographic area and the degree by which an area is underserved. The work on this strategy is ongoing and once it is completed, the Lead Agency will use the data regarding potential geographic gaps to group those areas into community-based zones. Through creating community-based zones, the Lead Agency can implement policy in a more targeted and impactful way to increase the supply and quality of child care in these underserved geographic areas. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Lead Agency has an internal research team that works closely with Lead Agency programs to consistently evaluate administrative data and public data to identify service gaps related to Infants and toddlers. The Lead Agency is using multiple programmatic strategies to improve the quality of licensed child care for infants and toddlers. The Lead Agency has a quality rating and improvement system, Quality Rated, that is intended to improve the quality of child care and includes technical assistance from regional child care resource and referral agencies. 62 percent of all licensed child care providers are rated in Quality Rated. Also, Child Care and Parent Services providers must be rated to participate in the child care subsidy program. Currently, 72 percent of infants and toddlers receiving subsidy are in care at a high quality (Quality Rated 2- or 3-star) program. Additionally, technical assistance for improving quality is available through the Lead Agency's Infant and Toddler and SEEDS programs.