9.2 Consumer Education Website

Lead Agencies must provide information to parents, the general public, and child care providers through a State or Territory website, which is consumer-friendly and easily accessible for families who speak languages other than English and persons with disabilities. The website must: • Include information to assist families in understanding the Lead Agency’s policies and procedures, including licensing child care providers; • Include monitoring and inspection reports for each provider and, if available, the quality of each provider; • Provide the aggregate number of deaths, serious injuries, and the number of cases of substantiated child abuse that have occurred in child care settings; • Include contact information for local CCR&R organizations to help families access additional information on finding child care; and • Include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency and other organizations to better understand the information on the website. 9.2.1 Consumer-friendly website Does the Lead Agency ensure that its consumer education website is consumer-friendly and easily accessible? i. Provide the URL for the Lead Agency’s consumer education website homepage: https://www.decal.ga.gov/ ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for families who speak languages other than English? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for persons with disabilities? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.2.2 Additional consumer education website links Provide the direct URL/website link for the following: i. Provide the direct URL/website link to how the Lead Agency licenses child care providers: https://www.decal.ga.gov/CCS/StartingACenter.aspx ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the processes for conducting monitoring and inspections of child care providers:: https://www.decal.ga.gov/CCS/PoliciesAndProcedures.aspx iii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the policies and procedures related to criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers: https://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/crcpolicy.pdf iv. Provide the direct URL/website link to the offenses that prevent individuals from being employed by a child care provider: https://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/DisqulaifyingCrimesforChildc are.pdf 9.2.3 Searchable list of providers a. The consumer education website must include a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code. i. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website includes a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the list of child care providers searchable by ZIP code: http://www.qualityrated.org/ and https://caps.decal.ga.gov/en/CAPSCaregiverVisits/ iii. In addition to the licensed child care providers that must be included in the searchable list, are there additional providers included in the Lead Agency’s searchable list of child care providers? Check all that apply: [x] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. [ ] License-exempt family child care CCDF providers. [x] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. [x] Relative CCDF child care providers. [x] Other (e.g., summer camps, public pre-Kindergarten). Describe: Local school systems (with Georgia’s Pre-K classes); Head Start (with classes blended with Georgia’s Pre-K Program or that are participating in Quality Rated or both); government owned and operated; technical schools; universities. b. Identify what additional (optional) information, if any, is available in the searchable results by ZIP code. Check the box when information is provided. Provider Information Available in Searchable Results -- All licensed providers License- exempt CCDF center- based provide rs License- exempt CCDF family child care home provide rs License- exempt non- CCDF provider s Relative CCDF providers Contact information [x] [x] [ ] [x] [x] Enrollment capacity [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Hours, days, and months of operation [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Provider education and training [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Languages spoken by the caregiver [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Quality information [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Monitoring reports [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [x] Willingness to accept CCDF certificates [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Ages of children served [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] Specialization or training for certain populations [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Care provided during nontraditional hours [x] [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] c. Identify any other information searchable on the consumer education website for the child care provider type listed below and then, if checked, describe the searchable information included on the website. i. [x] All licensed providers. Describe: -All child care providers - Quality rated status providers only - Search from an address - distance from address - Search along a route - distance from address - Provider number - Zip code - Drop in care - Accepts Child Care Subsidies (CAPS) - After school only care - Evening/night care - Weekend care - Full time care for school age children - Transportation: To/From School - Transportation: To/From Home - Full time/part time child status - Weekly full day rate ii. [x] License-exempt CCDF center-based providers. Describe: -All child care providers - Quality rated status providers only - Search from an address - distance from address - Search along a route - distance from address - Provider number - Zip code - Drop in care - Accepts Child Care Subsidies (CAPS) - After school only care - Evening/night care - Weekend care - Full time care for school age children - Transportation: To/From School - Transportation: To/From Home - Full time/part time child status - Weekly full day rate iii. [ ] License-exempt CCDF family child care providers. Describe: iv. [ ] License-exempt, non-CCDF providers. Describe: v. [x] Relative CCDF providers. Describe: - Informal caregiver name - CAPS Provider ID - Visit dates - County - Zip code vi. [x] Other. Describe: - Informal non-relative caregiver name - CAPS Provider ID - Visit dates - County - Zip code 9.2.4 Provider-specific quality information Lead Agencies must identify specific quality information on each child care provider for whom they have this information. Provider-specific quality information must only be posted on the consumer education website if it is available for the individual child care provider. a. What specific quality information does the Lead Agency provide on the website? i. [x] Quality improvement system. ii. [x] National accreditation. iii. [ ] Enhanced licensing system. iv. [ ] Meeting Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards. v. [ ] Meeting pre-Kindergarten quality requirements. vi. [ ] School-age standards. vii. [x] Quality framework or quality improvement system. viii. [x] Other. Describe: Family engagement practices. The Lead Agency used funds from its PDG-5 renewal grant to develop The Family Friendly Licensing Dashboard. The dashboard was created to provide families with an overview of child care programs and allow them to review more information if they desired. The foundation of the dashboard is compliance and prominently displays the program’s most recent compliance zone determination of Good Standing, Support, or Deficient. There are definitions and explanations of the regulatory language throughout the dashboard to help families understand the rules child care programs are required to follow daily and to provide an analysis of the overall rules within that chapter, how many are out of compliance, etc. b. For what types of child care providers is quality information available? i. [x] Licensed CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: A provider’s QRIS star level, national accreditations, and family engagement practices are displayed. Families can search Quality Rated providers as a search parameter. ii. [x] Licensed non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: : A provider’s QRIS star level, national accreditations, and family engagement practices are displayed. Families can search Quality Rated providers as a search parameter. iii. [x] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: For certain licensed-exempt center-based providers eligible to participate in the QRIS, including those associated with the Department of Defense, technical colleges, and public universities, a provider’s QRIS star level, national accreditations, and family engagement practices are displayed. Families can search Quality Rated providers as a search parameter. iv. [ ] License-exempt FCC CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: v. [x] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: A provider’s QRIS star level, national accreditations, and family engagement practices are displayed. Families can search Quality Rated providers as a search parameter. vi. [ ] Relative child care providers. Describe the quality information: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 9.2.5 Aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated abuse Lead Agencies must post aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of child abuse that have occurred in child care settings each year on the consumer education website. This aggregate data must include information about any child in the care of a provider eligible to receive CCDF, not just children receiving subsidies. This aggregate information on serious injuries and deaths must be separated by category of care (e.g., centers, family child care homes, and in-home care) and licensing status (i.e., licensed or license-exempt) for all eligible CCDF child care providers in the State/Territory. The information on instances of substantiated child abuse does not have to be organized by category of care or licensing status. Information must also include the total number of children in care by provider type and licensing status, so that families can better understand the data presented on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of abuse. a. Certify by checking below that the required elements are included in the Aggregate Data Report on serious incident data that have occurred in child care settings each year. i. [x] The total number of serious injuries of children in care by provider category and licensing status. ii. [x] The total number of deaths of children in care by provider category and licensing status. iii. [x] The total number of substantiated instances of child abuse in child care settings. iv. [x] The total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status. v. If any of the above elements are not included, describe: b. Certify by providing: i. The designated entity to which child care providers must submit reports of any serious injuries or deaths of children occurring in child care and describe how the Lead Agency obtains the aggregate data from the entity: All programs submit incidents of serious injuries or deaths to the Child Care Services division within the Lead Agency through their individual DECAL KOALA account under the Required Reporting section. If a program is unable to submit the incident through their individual DECAL KOALA account, the report may be submitted to their assigned regional consultant or exemption specialist or by calling the Child Care Services division at 404-657-5562 or emailing Childcareservices@decal.ga.gov. A licensing representative will then enter the incident into the KOALA database. ii. The definition of “substantiated child abuse” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: The Lead Agency cannot legally determine if child abuse is substantiated. The agency in Georgia that determines if child abuse is substantiated is the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). DFCS is bound by O.C.G.A. 19-15-1, which defines child abuse as (A) Physical injury or death inflicted upon a child by a parent or caretaker thereof by other than accidental means; provided, however, that physical forms of discipline may be used as long as there is no physical injury to the child; (B) Neglect or exploitation of a child by a parent or caretaker thereof; (C) Sexual abuse of a child; or (D) Sexual exploitation of a child. If DFCS has determined under the law that child abuse has occurred, then the Lead Agency may use such a determination in its findings. iii. The definition of “serious injury” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: The Lead Agency’s definition of serious injury is defined for all program types as: A death or an incident requiring hospitalization or professional medical attention other than first aid of a child while in the care of the provider that was the result of a substantiated intentional or gross negligent act on behalf of the provider and or staff that indicates a deficiency in the operation and or management of the program. Any case of serious injury that was substantiated by the Lead Agency will be deemed as Extreme Harm and Imminent Danger according to the Lead Agency's Integrated Enforcement and Compliance System. c. Provide the direct URL/website link to the page where the aggregate number of serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated child abuse, and the total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status are posted: http://www.decal.ga.gov/CCS/FederalReportingDataLanguage.aspx. The information is listed under Federal Reporting Data and is updated annually. 9.2.6 Contact information on referrals to local child care resource and referral organizations The Lead Agency consumer education website must include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations. a. Does the consumer education website include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations? [x] Yes. [ ] No. [ ] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not have local CCR&R organizations. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: https://www.decal.ga.gov/CCS/CCRRSystem.aspx 9.2.7 Lead Agency contact information for parents The Lead Agency consumer and provider education website must include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs that can help the parent understand information included on the website. a. Does the website provide directions on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs to help them understand information included on the website? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: https://www.decal.ga.gov/BftS/ContactList.aspx 9.2.8 Posting sliding fee scale, co-payment amount, and policies for waiving co-payments The consumer education website must include the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co- payments. a. Does the Lead Agency certify that their consumer education website includes the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co-payments? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to the sliding fee scale. https://caps.decal.ga.gov/assets/downloads/CAPS/09-CAPS_Policy-Family%20Fees.pdf AND https://caps.decal.ga.gov/assets/downloads/CAPS/AppendixD- Family%20Fee%20Assessment%20Chart.pdf