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 Lead Agency uses multiple methods to share information, including the lead agency’s website and communication services through our contract with CCR&R. The Lead Agency’s website includes information about the types of child care providers in Iowa, the Child Care Assistance program for families that need support paying for child care services, compliance and complaint reports and a resources page full of additional programs that families may be eligible for as well as information on child development. Additionally through our contract with CCR&R there are email distribution lists, the CCR&R website, printed materials such as the Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care and community development specialists who attend meetings and network throughout individual communities to help increase awareness and understanding of child care issues. 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. On the Lead Agency’s main child care webpage there is a link to a child care tools and resources page ( https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/programs-and-services/child-care/child-care-tools-and- resources). This page contains a number of sections that can be expanded to see resources, including sections on Child Development, Screening and Early Intervention and Associations and Accreditation. Additionally the CCR&R webpage has sections for families, providers, communities and providers each with resources around best practice directed specifically to that audience. In the CCR&R contract they are also required to provide educational presentations to parents, the community and employers on the following topics: Types of child care in Iowa; the IQ4K system, how to search for and interview child care providers, how community leaders can support availability of child care, and how employers can support availability of child care 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: Iowa has a Pyramid Model initiative called Early Childhood Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (EC-PBIS). This initiative is co-led by the Lead Agency and the Department of Education. For providers the Lead Agency supports the Pyramid Model module training from the National Center on Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) which was developed by national experts. Additionally, Iowa has a program wide cohort process for providers in which they receive training, coaching and technical assistance for at least three years to implement practices from the Pyramid Model framework program wide. For families and the general public information about the Pyramid Model and general social/emotional development resources are contained on the Lead Agency’s Child Care Tools and Resources page under the section called ￿Child Development and Additional Resources￿. Families that apply for CCA are made aware of these resources as part of the intake process. 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: Iowa Administrative Code for child development homes (441-110), child care homes (441- 120) and licensed centers/preschools (441-109) addresses using positive discipline practices that promote self-esteem and problem-solving. Information about these requirements is available to parents on the Lead Agency's website. They can access the requirements in multiple forms, including a checklist format and a guide that explains each requirement. Additionally, Iowa’s QRIS has requirements intended to build providers' capacity to support children and prevent suspension and expulsion. The requirements build on each other starting at level one with development of a comprehensive behavior policy that promotes positive relationships. Then at level 2 participating programs must implement a policy that eliminates or severely limits expulsion, suspension, punitive or other exclusionary discipline. There are also other requirements throughout the QRIS such as provider training and family engagement activities that while not directly related to a policy on suspension and expulsion create the supportive environments that are needed for prevention. 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: All policies mentioned in item (a) for birth to age five also apply to school-age children. Iowa Administrative Code for child development homes (441-110), child care homes (441- 120) and licensed centers/preschools (441-109) addresses using positive discipline practices that promote self-esteem and problem-solving. Information about these requirements is available to parents on the Lead Agency's website. They can access the requirements in multiple forms, including a checklist format and a guide that explains each requirement. Additionally, Iowa’s QRIS has requirements intended to build providers' capacity to support children and prevent suspension and expulsion. The requirements build on each other starting at level one with development of a comprehensive behavior policy that promotes positive relationships. Then at level 2 participating programs must implement a policy that eliminates or severely limits expulsion, suspension, punitive or other exclusionary discipline. There are also other requirements throughout the QRIS such as provider training and family engagement activities that while not directly related to a policy on suspension and expulsion create the supportive environments that are needed for prevention.