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: Currently, IDHW does not pay direct child care services through grants and contracts through child care slots. IDHW will request a waiver to obtain technical assistance on how to implement this requirement. 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: The Department limits the approval of all in-home child care under ICCP to the following circumstances: There are three (3) or more ICCP eligible children in the home who are not in school at any time during the day and require child care. (16.06.06.12.400.01) Parents are responsible to pay persons providing care in the child’s home the minimum wage, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 206a) and other applicable state and federal requirements. (IDAPA 16.06.12.502.03) ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: Age of Provider - (IDAPA 16.06.12.0802.01) All child care providers providing services must be 18 years old or older. Persons sixteen or seventeen years old may provide child care if they have direct, on-site supervision from a licensed child care provider who is at least 18 years old. iii. [x] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: Requirements for In-Home Care Under ICCP - (IDAPA 16.06.12.400.02.a and b) Parents must contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to request approval of in-home child care. Only parents who have qualified activities outside their home will be considered for in-home care approval. DHW limits the approval of all in-home child care under ICCP for fewer than three children in the home. If there are fewer than three children in the home who are eligible for ICCP and require child care, in-home care will be approved by DHW only when one of the following special circumstances are met: 1. Parents' qualifying activity occurs during times when out-of-home care is not available. If child care is needed during any period when out-of-home care is not available, in-home care will be approved for the entire time care is needed. A family is not expected to change between out-of-home and in-home care 2. The family lives in an area where out-of-home care is not available. 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. [x] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: Requirements for In-Home Care Under ICCP - (IDAPA 16.06.12.400.02.c) Parents must contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW)to request approval of in-home child care. Only parents who have qualified activities outside their home will be considered for in-home care approval. DHW limits the approval of all in-home child care under ICCP to fewer than three children in the home. If there are fewer than three children in the home who are eligible for ICCP and require child care, in-home care will be approved by DHW only a child has a verified illness or disability that would place the child or other children in an out-of-home facility at risk. 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: Facility data, including age ranges of children served and slots available, is collected in the RISE Application with regular reminders to facility administrators to update data. Data is also collected on the direct referrals to IdahoSTARS for infant and toddler care. For quality efforts, IdahoSTARS is expanding Infant Mental Health Endorsement for Infant Educators, tracking progress through endorsement and number of Infant Educators endorsed in the state. Pyramid Model implementation with programs and providers serving children birth to three years of age includes data collection on the programs’ Benchmarks of Quality, results of fall and spring Teaching Pyramid Infant-Toddler Observation Scales (TPITOS), and two mid-year surveys examining impact and participant experience through implementation of the Pyramid Model practices. IdahoSTARS collects and analyzes specific data related to childcare availability, including information on programs that have opened or closed. When a program closes, IdahoSTARS assists families in finding alternative childcare that meets their needs, if available, through referrals and follow-up surveys to ensure they were able to secure care. While IdahoSTARS’ primary role is increasing access to high- quality child care, project activities do support broader understanding of infant toddler shortages such as data collection and reporting, along with professional development offerings that can influence availability and sustainability of infant and toddler care. Childcare programs report their capacity and waitlist information in the RISE system, which is used in referrals to help families locate available childcare. This data also allows IdahoSTARS to identify gaps in care, particularly for infant and toddler care. Current data indicates that there is a shortage of infant and toddler care, as families often report difficulty in finding suitable care for these age groups. ii. Method of tracking progress: Facility data is entered directly into the RISE application by program administrators. Referral data is entered into RISE by IdahoSTARS Resource Specialists. Quality improvement and professional development data is housed in RISE and within secure project management and survey software. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes In collaboration with statewide partners, IdahoSTARS provides supports to those interested in starting a child care business helping to ensure their successful start- up. In addition, quality support with aligned grants are available to new programs. IdahoSTARS also provides additional program incentives to family child care homes expanding their support and engagement in quality improvement activities The specific data elements that identify infant and toddler care shortages include waitlists, reported openings/closures, and families who report being unable to find care through referrals. These indicators point to existing shortages in the availability of infant and toddler care. Additionally, Business Practice Cohorts help child care providers stay in business by offering modules on budgeting, record-keeping, and marketing. IdahoSTARS also supports home providers by encouraging them to become ICCP certified and assists them in expanding their childcare businesses. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? In collaboration with statewide partners, IdahoSTARS provides supports to those interested in starting a child care business helping to ensure their successful start- up. In addition, quality support with aligned grants are available to new programs. IdahoSTARS also provides additional program incentives to child care centers expanding their support and engagement in quality improvement activities. Implementing the Pyramid Model in childcare settings can improve the quality of care provided to infants and toddlers by equipping caregivers with strategies to support the social-emotional development of young children. By enhancing caregivers' skills, the model helps create more stable and supportive environments, making these settings more attractive for both caregivers and parents, potentially reducing shortages. Integrating ITMH principles into childcare practices ensures that caregivers are trained to recognize and support the mental health needs of infants and toddlers. This training can lead to higher-quality care, better child outcomes, and increased job satisfaction among caregivers, which could help retain staff and reduce shortages. In the context of infant-toddler care shortages, direct referrals can help ensure that available spots in quality programs are filled efficiently, reducing the gap between supply and demand. Additionally, referrals to specialized programs or training can support caregivers in developing the skills needed for infant-toddler care, potentially increasing the number of providers willing and able to care for this age group. By improving business practices, childcare providers can create more sustainable operations. For example, better financial management might allow a provider to offer competitive wages or benefits, which could attract and retain caregivers for infant-toddler care. Additionally, efficient staffing practices can ensure that more spots are available for infants and toddlers, helping to alleviate shortages. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: Facility data, including age ranges of children served, slots available, and program location is collected in the RISE Application with regular reminders to facility administrators to update data. Data is also collected on the direct referrals by region to IdahoSTARS for child care. ii. Method of tracking progress: IdahoSTARS sets quality improvement targets which are regularly reviewed for recruitment and retention of programs into the state quality rating and improvement system and the Idaho Child Care Program. Strategic progress is tracked and reported to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? IdahoSTARS will continue to incentivize family child care homes for their engagement in quality initiatives, and will continue to provide technical assistance to new child care programs along with opportunities to receive start-up grant funding. The efforts described by IdahoSTARS address child care supply in different regions by focusing on a few key strategies: Incentivizing Family Child Care Homes: By providing incentives for family child care homes to engage in quality initiatives, IdahoSTARS is encouraging existing child care providers to improve and maintain high standards. This can lead to more reliable and quality child care options across various regions, as providers are motivated to meet these higher standards. Technical Assistance to New Child Care Programs: Offering technical assistance to new child care programs is crucial for increasing the supply of child care in underserved or growing regions. By helping new providers navigate the complexities of starting a child care business, IdahoSTARS ensures that these programs are more likely to succeed and sustain their operations, thereby increasing the overall availability and sustainability of child care. Start-Up Grant Funding: Providing opportunities for start-up grant funding helps reduce the financial barriers to opening new child care facilities. This is particularly important in regions where child care supply is low, as it makes it easier for new providers to enter the market and serve communities that may lack sufficient child care options. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? IdahoSTARS will continue to incentivize child care centers for their engagement in quality initiatives, and will continue to provide technical assistance to new child care programs along with opportunities to receive start-up grant funding. The efforts mentioned focus on addressing regional shortages in child care by identifying and responding to gaps in child care availability and supporting child care providers in those areas. Here's how the efforts are structured to focus on regional shortages: Identifying Shortages: IdahoSTARS uses data from waitlists, reported openings/closures, and feedback from families who were unable to find care to identify regions across the state where there are significant shortages in child care, particularly in child care centers. Incentivizing Quality: IdahoSTARS incentivizes family child care homes to engage in quality initiatives, which can improve the overall availability and quality of care in regions where shortages are identified. Supporting New Programs: IdahoSTARS provides technical assistance and start-up grant funding to help establish new child care programs in regions with shortages. This directly addresses the lack of available child care by encouraging the development of new providers. Sustaining Existing Providers: Through Business Practice Cohorts, IdahoSTARS offers targeted support to help existing child care centers stay in business, especially in areas where child care options are limited. These cohorts cover essential business skills like budgeting, record keeping, staffing, and marketing, which are critical for the sustainability of these centers. Encouraging ICCP Certification: By encouraging center directors and owners who do not currently accept Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) subsidies to become certified, IdahoSTARS aims to increase the availability of subsidized child care in regions where there are shortages, making care more accessible to low-income families. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: Data is collected by IdahoSTARS on direct ￿enhanced￿ referrals, those that necessitate additional support and follow up due to special child and family needs. ii. Method of tracking progress: Data is collected in the RISE Application by Resource Specialists on enhanced referral. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? IdahoSTARS is expanding their quality efforts to increase the availability of quality programs better able to meet the diverse needs of young children through implementation of the Pyramid Model. For enhanced referrals, the Child Care Resource Center staff, including Child Care Health Consultants, will be available to support successful access and inclusion of children with disabilities into child care settings. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? IdahoSTARS is expanding their quality efforts to increase the availability of quality programs better able to meet the diverse needs of young children through implementation of the Pyramid Model. For enhanced referrals, the Child Care Resource Center staff, including Child Care Health Consultants, will be available to support successful access and inclusion of children with disabilities into child care settings. 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: According to the Idaho Needs Assessment completed in April 2024 by the Idaho School Readiness Project (with funding from the Preschool Development Birth-5 grant), Idaho's supply of child care is especially difficult to measure: "The potential demand for early childhood care and education (ECCE) in Idaho based on American Community Survey (ACS) data on the count and percentage of children ages birth through 5 with all parents in the labor force and, therefore, potentially needing care. To estimate the availability of ECCE relative to the potential demand, researchers employ a variety of methodologies to identify ￿child care deserts￿ where the quantity of ECCE slots does not meet the potential demand for care. 10 For all methodologies, it is necessary to have reliable early care licensed capacity data to compare with the counts of young children potentially needing care. As indicated above, it is only possible to provide broad-range estimates of licensed capacity for Idaho child care, and these estimates are only possible for children ages birth through 12. Therefore, it is not possible, with currently available data, to accurately assess the adequacy of ECCE capacity in the state." (Idaho Needs Assessment Report page 47) The report also notes: "A basic methodology for determining child care deserts is calculating the gap between licensed slots and the number of children with all parents in the labor force (as a proxy for the number of children potentially needing care). The Center for American Progress definition is more nuanced: ￿A child care desert is any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.￿ In their 2017 study, they estimated that 49% of people in Idaho lived in a child care desert. This was similar to the national rate of 50%." (Idaho Needs Assessment Report page 47) With the outcome of this most recent report unable to provide specificity related to underserved geographic areas, Idaho will continue to refine data collection efforts utilizing technical assistance and partners to continue our research in this area. With an understanding that nearly half the state lacks adequate access to needed child care, Idaho continues to have regionally located child care consultants available to provide on-site and over-the-phone technical assistance to new and existing providers considering providing child care in underserved geographic areas. Consultants have knowledge and resources available to assist providers serving children in rural and remote communities, as well as in the start-up and expansion of child care businesses. Start up grants are available to newly enrolled child care providers. The grant is a reimbursement grant that may cover such expenses as background checks for the provider or items needed to pass their health inspection. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: IdahoSTARS delivers professional development specific to infants and toddlers. In addition, IdahoSTARS provides supports and funding for Infant Mental Health Endorsement, to include reflective consultation and other provider retention activities. Based on data analysis from our RISE application, we have identified a significant shortage of infant and toddler care providers. Our findings indicate that many infant and toddler teachers frequently transition to preschool positions or leave the field altogether. In response to this issue, we have recognized the need for targeted professional development tailored specifically to the unique needs and challenges of infant and toddler care. The Infant Mental Health endorsement addresses this need by formally recognizing providers' expertise in this specialized area, thereby enhancing their marketability. Additionally, the endorsement supports reflective practice as a retention strategy, offering ongoing support to caregivers to address challenges and improve their practice. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: IdahoSTARS is working with state partners to expand access to child care slots for children with disabilities through enhanced referrals, collaborative developmental screening activities, through professional development on specific disabilities and inclusive practices, and through implementation of the Pyramid Model and aligned behavioral supports. The gap in access to child care slots for children with disabilities can be identified through a series of data collection, analysis, and stakeholder engagement activities, particularly focusing on the following areas: Enhanced Referrals: Data Collection: Identify the current number and types of referrals made for children with disabilities to child care providers. This includes understanding the rate of successful placements versus referrals that do not result in placement. Gap Identification: A gap may be identified if there is a significant number of referrals that do not lead to child care placements or if there is a lack of providers available to accept these referrals. Additionally, a disparity in referrals between children with and without disabilities could indicate a gap. Collaborative Developmental Screening Activities: Data Collection: Assess the current availability and usage of developmental screening tools in child care settings and the follow-up actions taken when a screening indicates a potential disability. Gap Identification: A gap may be identified if there are insufficient screening activities, if screenings are not reaching all children (especially those in rural or underserved areas), or if there is a lack of follow-up resources or services when a developmental concern is identified. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: Anecdotal information indicates that in Idaho a variety of professions such as law enforcement and the military are seeking child care solutions for care during non-traditional hours. According to a July 18, 2023 press release from Idaho Senator Mike Simpson, The National Law Enforcement Foundation is partnering to build a childcare center for law enforcement officers in the Treasure Valley to provide "safe and secure childcare and education coverage that matches the needs of law enforcement families and would meet a widely acknowledged need within Idaho law enforcement." The Idaho National Guard in Boise has also constructed a child care facility to meet the non-traditional hour child care needs of Guardsmen during their drill weekends. Additionally, the recently completed statewide needs assessment is informing future strategies for increasing access and quality of child care during non-traditional hours. In the meantime, Idaho continues to have regionally located child care consultants available to provide on-site and over-the-phone technical assistance to new and existing providers considering providing child care during non-traditional hours. Consultants have knowledge and resources available to assist providers serving children during non- traditional hours. Start up grants are available to newly enrolled child care providers. The grant is a reimbursement grant that may cover such expenses as background checks for the provider or items needed to pass their health inspection. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: IdahoSTARS is implementing internal professional development support for our coaching team to improve their ability to build responsive relationships in coaching. This activity is intended to increase the quality of coaching relationships for providers of all race/ethnicities, preferred languages, and facility types. 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. An analysis was performed so that the Lead Agency could highlight the poverty information (through census data) and the child and provider level data to get an idea of where children participating in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) were being served and what types of providers were serving the most children in correlation to which of those counties had poverty rates. Unemployment data was gathered through the Department of Labor to contribute to the analysis. Idaho plans to use this data to work with IdahoSTARS to target the areas of need and increase recruitment of providers in those high need areas. The report will also be a tool to review data during the process of conducting the market rate study. Idaho defined areas with significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment by comparing number of children in poverty by county, per number of providers available. These data were derived from the Census. Idaho does not have a waiting list for subsidized care, so all children/families in areas of significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment would have access to the Idaho Child Care Program subsidy as an option pending other eligibility criteria are met. The IdahoSTARS project, through the University of Idaho, targets child care providers who currently run businesses in identified high poverty communities to increase technical assistance and recruit current providers into enrolling in the Steps to Quality, Idaho's Quality Rating Improvement program. In efforts to recruit more providers, the CCRC staff offer start up grants to assist providers in starting their business. 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.