9.4 Providing Information on Developmental Screenings

Lead Agencies must provide information on developmental screenings to parents as part of the intake process for families participating in CCDF and to child care providers through training and education. This information must include: • Existing resources and services that the State can make available in conducting developmental screenings and providing referrals to services when appropriate for children who receive child care assistance, including the coordinated use of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program carried out under Title XIX of the Social Security Act and developmental screening services available under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C; and, • A description of how a family or child care provider can use these resources and services to obtain developmental screenings for children who receive subsidies and who might be at risk of cognitive or other developmental delays, which can include social, emotional, physical, or linguistic delays. Information on developmental screenings, as in other consumer education information, must be accessible for individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities. 9.4.1 Developmental screenings Does the Lead Agency collect and disseminate information on the following: a. Existing resources and services available for obtaining developmental screening for parents receiving CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: b. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program under the Medicaid program—carried out under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.)— and developmental screening services available under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.). [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: c. Developmental screenings to parents receiving a subsidy as part of the intake process. [x] Yes. If yes, include the information provided, ways it is provided, and any partners in this work: The Department of Human Services is partnering with the Department of Health and the Department's Med-QUEST Division both of which are developing updated informational hand-outs of available community organizations that conduct developmental screening services and accessing information about covered Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) screenings through health coverage plans. The Department of Health’s current information and hand-out is posted on the Department’s website, and currently general information about the EPSDT program is posted on the Department’s website. The Department of Human Services will include guidance for TANF Work Participation case managers to provide information to each family as part of the interview process about ensuring the needs of the family and child are being addressed, including resources in the community for obtaining developmental screenings. The information will be given out to TANF Work Participation families during their in-person interview, and for non- TANF subsidy families, the information will be discussed over the phone and will be mailed to them along with other resource and referral information. The Department of Human Services contracted statewide Child Care Resource and Referral (CC R&R) agency, People Attentive To Children, will provide information to subsidy families and the general public about available community resources and providing development screening services available under Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment, Part B of Section 619, and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Information about research and best practices on child development particularly on healthy eating, physical activity and parent/family engagement will also be provided by the statewide CC R&R agency. [ ] No. If no, describe: d. How families receiving CCDF services or child care providers receiving CCDF can use the available resources and services to obtain developmental screenings for children at risk for cognitive or other developmental delays. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 10 Program Integrity and Accountability Program integrity and accountability activities are integral to the effective administration of the CCDF program. As stewards of federal funds, Lead Agencies must ensure strong and effective internal controls to prevent fraud and maintain continuity of services to meet the needs of children and families. In order to operate and maintain a strong CCDF program, regular evaluation of the program’s internal controls as well as comprehensive training for all entities involved in the administration of the program are imperative. In this section, Lead Agencies will describe their internal controls and how those internal controls effectively ensure integrity and accountability. These accountability measures should address reducing fraud, waste, and abuse, including program violations and administrative errors and should apply to all CCDF funds.