4.5 Supply Building

Building a supply of high-quality child care that meets the needs and preferences of parents participating in CCDF is necessary to meet CCDF’s core purposes. Lead Agencies must support parent choice by providing some portion of direct services via grants or contracts, including at a minimum for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 4.5.1 Child care services available through grants or contracts Does the Lead Agency provide direct child care services through grants or contracts for child care slots? [ ] Yes, statewide. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [ ] Yes, in some jurisdictions, but not statewide. Describe how many jurisdictions use grants or contracts for child care slots and how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [x] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: The lead agency currently contracts for wraparound services for HeadStart, Title 1 preschool and special education classrooms but does not currently funds slots absent these core programs. The Lead Agency is requesting a waiver for this requirement and will be reviewing data from our new Iowa Child Care Connect dashboards to identify areas of greatest need. If no, skip to question 4.5.2. i. If yes, identify the populations of children served through grants or contracts for child care slots (check all that apply). For each population selected, identify the number of slots allocated through grants or contracts for direct service of children receiving CCDF. [ ] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Other populations. If checked, describe: ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? 4.5.2 Care in the child’s home (in-home care) The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care (i.e., care provided in the child’s own home) but may limit its use. Will the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If yes, what limits will the Lead Agency set on the use of in-home care? Check all that apply. i. [x] Restricted based on the minimum number of children in the care of the in- home provider to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) requirements. Describe: Payments may be made for in-home care when there are three or more children in a family who require child care services ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: Provider must be at least 18 years of age iii. [ ] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: iv. [ ] Restricted to care by relatives. (A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age based on the definition of eligible child care provider.) Describe: v. [ ] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: vi. [ ] Restricted to in-home providers that meet additional health and safety requirements beyond those required by CCDF. Describe: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 4.5.3 Shortages in the supply of child care Lead Agencies must identify shortages in the supply of child care providers that meet parents’ needs and preferences. What child care shortages has the Lead Agency identified in the State or Territory, and what is the plan to address the child care shortages? a. In infant and toddler programs: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency, in partnership with Iowa State University has developed an operational data store called Child Care Connect (C3). Iowa child care providers’ desired capacity and vacancies (supply data) is sent to C3 from child care management systems, CCR&R’s database (National Data System by WorkLife Systems) and monthly provider data collection forms. Demand estimates are generated based on birth records and a statistical estimation model. Integrated into C3, this data powers four interactive data dashboards that generate meaningful visualizations for current child care vacancies, total supply, demand estimates and supply compared to demand. The new dashboards were launched in June of 2024. Lead Agency staff are able to use the dashboards to filter by child age groups, program type, city, county and demand level to view different aspects of the child care supply and demand data. ii. Method of tracking progress: All four dashboards referenced above have graphs that track data trends over time and can be filtered by the age category of infants/toddlers. With the launch of the dashboards in June 2024, trend data is captured beginning in April 2024. The data will grow over time and allow the Lead Agency to track progress. The Lead Agency is in the process of determining team members responsible for reviewing and solidifying the process for reviewing this data quarterly. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes The Lead Agency is currently using the dashboards launched in June 2024 to analyze gaps between demand estimates and supply of child care slots for infants/toddlers. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will develop strategies at the state-level. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start grantees and delegates, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that community. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency is currently using the dashboards launched in June 2024 to analyze gaps between demand estimates and supply of child care slots for infants/toddlers. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will develop strategies at the state-level. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start grantees and delegates, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that community. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency, in partnership with Iowa State University, has developed an operational data store called Child Care Connect (C3). Iowa child care providers’ desired capacity and vacancies (supply data) is sent to C3 from child care management systems, CCR&R’s database (National Data System by WorkLife Systems) and monthly provider data collection forms. Demand estimates are generated based on birth records and a statistical estimation model. Integrated into C3, this data powers four interactive data dashboards that generate meaningful visualizations for current child care vacancies, current supply, demand estimations, and supply compared to demand. The new dashboards launched in June of 2024. Lead Agency staff are able to use the dashboards to filter by child age groups, program type, city, county and demand level to view different aspects of supply and demand data. ii. Method of tracking progress: All four dashboards referenced above have graphs that track data trends over time. The dashboards can be filtered by city and county to look at the data for specific counties and regions. With the launch of the dashboards in June 2024, trend data is captured beginning in April 2024. The data will grow over time and allow the Lead Agency to track progress. The Lead Agency is in the process of determining team members responsible for reviewing and solidifying a the process for reviewing this data quarterly. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency is currently using the dashboards launched in June 2024 to analyze gaps between demand estimates and supply of child care slots in counties and regions throughout the state. Based on the data analysis, the lead agency will develop strategies at the state-level. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start grantees and delegates, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that county or region. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency is currently using the dashboards launched in June 2024 to analyze gaps between demand estimates and supply of child care slots in counties and regions throughout the state. Based on the data analysis, the lead agency will develop strategies at the state-level. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start grantees and delegates, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that county or region. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency, in partnership with Iowa State University, has developed an operational data store called Child Care Connect (C3). Iowa child care providers’ desired capacity and vacancies (supply data) is sent to C3 from child care management systems, CCR&R’s database (National Data System by WorkLife Systems) and monthly provider data collection forms. Demand estimates are generated based on birth records and a statistical estimation model. Integrated into C3, this data powers a new child care search application. The application can be filtered to identify programs with experience and training in supporting children with special needs and programs that are open during non-traditional hours. Lead Agency staff are able to use this application to identify the number and geographic locations of programs that serve these special populations.. ii. Method of tracking progress: The lead agency is in the process of determining team members responsible for reviewing and solidifying the process for reviewing this data quarterly. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency is currently analyzing data to determine any shortages. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will develop strategies at the state- level and/or collaborate with local communities that have supply shortages. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency is currently analyzing data to determine any shortages. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will develop strategies at the state-level and/or collaborate with local communities that have supply shortages. 4.5.4 Strategies to increase the supply of and improve quality of child care Lead Agencies must develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of and improve the quality of child care services. These strategies must address child care in underserved geographic areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities, as defined by the Lead Agency; and children who receive care during non-traditional hours. 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 is currently analyzing data from our child care dashboards powered by C3 that launched in June 2024 to determine geographic areas that are underserved. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will determine strategies to implement. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start grantees and delegates, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that community. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Lead Agency is currently analyzing data from our child care dashboards powered by C3 that launched in June 2024 to determine areas that have a gap between estimated demand and supply of infant/toddler slots. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will determine strategies to implement. Additionally, the Lead Agency is training stakeholder groups throughout the state such as staff from CCR&R agencies, local Early Childhood Iowa area boards, Head Start delegates and grantees, Iowa Afterschool Alliance, local economic development agencies, community action agencies and United Way agencies on how to use the dashboards. The intent is to empower local communities to use the data to be a part of the development of local-level solutions that fit the unique needs of that community. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: As part of the Shared Services Project, the Lead Agency launched a new child care search application in June 2023. The application is powered by data from C3 to support families searching for child care. The search portal can identify programs with education and training that support children with special needs. The Lead Agency will use this application to identify the number and location of programs with education and training that support children with special needs. Based on data analysis of this information, the Lead Agency will implement strategies such as targeted professional development opportunities to increase workforce knowledge d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: As part of the Shared Services Project, the Lead Agency launched a new child care search application in June 2023. The application is powered by data from C3 to support families searching for child care. The search portal can identify programs that operate during non-traditional hours. The Lead Agency will use this application to identify the number and location of programs that operate during non-traditional hours. Based on data analysis of this information, the Lead Agency will determine appropriate strategies through collaborations with stakeholders and employers in local communities that need more care during non- traditional hours. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: N/A 4.5.5 Prioritization of investments in areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment Lead Agencies must prioritize investments for increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and do not currently have sufficient numbers of such programs. Describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have access to high-quality programs. Using the C3 child care data dashboards that launched in June 2024, the Lead Agency will complete a data analysis of the availability and quality of child care slots in the 10 counites with the highest poverty and unemployment rates. Based on the data analysis, the Lead Agency will determine strategies to implement to support child care service needs. 5 Health and Safety of Child Care Settings Child care health and safety standards and enforcement practices are essential to protect the health and safety of children while out of their parents’ care. CCDF provides a minimum threshold for child care health and safety policies and practices but leaves authority to Lead Agencies to design standards that appropriately protect children’s safety and promote nurturing environments that support their healthy growth and development. Lead Agencies should set standards for ratios, group size limits, and provider qualifications that help ensure that the child care environment is conducive to safety and learning and enable caregivers to promote all domains of children’s development. CCDF health and safety standards help set clear expectations for CCDF providers, form the foundation for health and safety training for child care workers, and establish the baseline for monitoring to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. These health and safety requirements apply to all providers serving children receiving CCDF services – whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt, must be appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served, must include specific topics and training on those topics, and are subject to monitoring and enforcement procedures by the Lead Agency. CCDF-required annual monitoring and enforcement actions help ensure that CCDF providers are adopting and implementing health and safety requirements. Through child care licensing, Lead Agencies set minimum requirements, including health and safety requirements, that child care providers must meet to legally operate in that State or Territory. In some cases, CCDF health and safety requirements may be integrated within the licensing system for licensed providers and may be separate for CCDF providers who are license- exempt. This section addresses CCDF health and safety requirements, Lead Agency licensing requirements and exemptions, and comprehensive background checks. When responding to questions in this section, OCC recognizes that each Lead Agency identifies and defines its own categories of care. OCC does not expect Lead Agencies to change their definitions to fit the CCDF-defined categories of care. For these questions, provide responses that best match the CCDF categories of care.