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? [x] 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: The application used by contracted providers is the same used by the certificate program and lists all qualified provider types. Contracted providers utilize the same eligibility system as the certificate program enabling the transfer of families between contracted and certificate providers without interruption to the 12-month eligibility period. Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are required to work with all families seeking child care. Based on the parent's needs, the CCR&R will offer a referral list of providers in their area who are listed on the CCR&R provider database. Vacancy checks are done by the CCR&R and providers may contact the CCR&R to identify vacancies. The Lead Agency does not allocate slots per population type. This is determined by licensed capacity. [ ] 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: [ ] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: 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. [x] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. Sites may apply for a 20% add-on to standard rates for caring for children with special needs. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. Contracted providers are located in both urban and rural areas of the state. Contracts do not include language regarding slot allocation. The lead agency does not allocate slots per population type. [x] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. Contracted providers are located in both urban and rural areas of the state. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [x] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: Slots funded through Site Administered contracts with centers and home networks are open to families enrolled with the provider who are determined eligible for subsidy. Contracted providers are located in both urban and rural areas of the state. These contracts do not specify how the slot are allocated by the provider, including designated slots for any specific population or locations. [ ] Other populations. If checked, describe: ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? Other than the 20% add-on for speacial needs care, standard rates apply. 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. [ ] 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: ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: Must be 18 or older. 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 reviews data collected by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that is entered into the Data Tracking Program (DTP). In addition, data from the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) website are reviewed. IECAM provides information about statewide early childhood services along with demographic characteristics of families with young children and census data. Finally, data from the ExceleRate Illinois (QRIS) are reviewed and compared to identify areas that do not have quality rated programs. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency completes an Annual Child Care Report that captures child care program participation and enrollment in the Quality Recognition Improvement System along with our Child Care Assistance Program. On a monthly basis the Lead Agency tracks the number and percentage of CCDF children enrolled in high quality programs. Data from IECAM is available ongoing through their website and as requested by the Lead Agency for specific data needs iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes The Lead Agency will work in partnership with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, the Child Care Advisory Council, and the Early Learning Council (State Advisory Council), to determine areas of child care shortages (no providers, part time care, before/after school care, etc.). The Lead Agency, based on the data provided in the Data Tracking Program, is able to run reports over multiple years to see trends, gaps, and identify a plan to increase child care slots in family child care homes. Lastly, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies support in recruitment and retention of child care providers through the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Position at the agency. These staff support providers in starting as a family child care provider and connect to available resources as needed. The lead agency works in partnership with SEIU Helen Miller Training Center to recruit and retain family child care providers. They also provide training and technical assistance to family child care providers. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies works in partnership with the lead agency to administer Smart Start Child Care. One of the top priorities in Smart Start Child Care is to expand the supply of child care home providers and raise wages. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency partners with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO) to address child care shortages across various age groups. Using findings from the Birth to Five Regional Needs Assessment, ISBE's identified early childhood deserts, and data synthesized by the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map, Illinois has developed strategies to address the identified gaps in care. These strategies include capacity- building grants and initiatives to address workforce shortages in regions where the need for care is most critical. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency reviews data collected by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that is entered into the Data Tracking Program (DTP). In addition, data from the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) website are reviewed. IECAM provides information about statewide early childhood services along with demographic characteristics of families with young children and census data. Finally, data from the Birth to Five Illinois Regional Needs Assessments were completed and provide the Lead Agency with qualitative and quantitate data across the State on Early Childhood Needs. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency completes an Annual Child Care Report that captures child care program participation and enrollment in the Quality Recognition Improvement System along with our Child Care Assistance Program. On a monthly basis the Lead Agency tracks the number and percentage of CCDF children enrolled in high quality programs. Data from IECAM is available ongoing through their website and as requested by the Lead Agency for specific data needs. Finally, the Birth to Five Illinois Councils will be working on Regional Action Plans that will be living community documents that focus on top priorities to address items identified in each region. The Lead Agency and its grantees participate on these Councils in creating and informing goals and recommendations. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency will work in partnership with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, the Child Care Advisory Council, and the Early Learning Council (State Advisory Council), to determine areas of child care shortages (no providers, part time care, before/after school care, etc.). The Lead Agency, based on the data provided in the Data Tracking Program, is able to run reports over multiple years to see trends, gaps, and identify a plan to increase child care slots in family child care homes. Finally, the Lead Agency and its grantees participate on the birth to Five Illinois Councils that are creating Regional Action Plans that identified Early Childhood needs throughout the state. Lastly, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies support in recruitment and retention of child care providers through the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Position at the agency. These staff support providers in starting as a family child care provider and connect to available resources as needed. The lead agency works in partnership with SEIU Helen Miller Training Center to recruit and retain family child care providers. They also provide training and technical assistance to family child care providers. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies works in partnership with the lead agency to administer Smart Start Child Care. One of the top priorities in Smart Start Child Care is to expand, maintain and increase child care choices for families. The main strategy to reach this goal is to raise wages for licensed family child care homes and centers. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency will work in partnership with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, the Child Care Advisory Council, and the Early Learning Council (State Advisory Council), and other state agencies to determine areas of child care shortages (no providers, part time care, before/after school care, etc.). The Lead Agency, based on the data provided in the Data Tracking Program and the IL Early Childhood Asset Map, is able to run reports over multiple years to see trends, gaps, and identify a plan to increase child care slots in family child care centers. The Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies support in recruitment and retention of child care center providers through the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Position at the agency. These staff support providers in starting as a child care center and connect to available resources as needed. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies works in partnership with the lead agency to administer Smart Start Child Care. One of the top priorities in Smart Start Child Care is to expand, maintain and increase child care choices for families. The main strategy to reach this goal is to raise wages for staff at licensed child care centers. Finally, the Lead Agency and its grantees participate on the birth to Five Illinois Councils that are creating Regional Action Plans that identified Early Childhood needs throughout the state. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency reviews data collected by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that is entered into the Data Tracking Program (DTP). In addition, data from the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) website are reviewed. IECAM provides information about statewide early childhood services along with demographic characteristics of families with young children and census data. Finally, data from the Birth to Five Illinois Regional Needs Assessments were completed and provide the Lead Agency with qualitative and quantitate data across the State on Early Childhood Needs. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency completes an Annual Child Care Report that captures child care program participation and enrollment in the Quality Recognition Improvement System along with our Child Care Assistance Program. On a monthly basis the Lead Agency tracks the number and percentage of CCDF children enrolled in high quality programs. Data from IECAM is available ongoing through their website and as requested by the Lead Agency for specific data needs. Finally, the Birth to Five Illinois Councils will be working on Regional Action Plans that will be living community documents that focus on top priorities to address items identified in each region. The Lead Agency and its grantees participate on these Councils in creating and informing goals and recommendations. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency will work in partnership with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, the Child Care Advisory Council, and the Early Learning Council (State Advisory Council), and other state agencies to determine areas of child care shortages (no providers, part time care, before/after school care, etc.). The Lead Agency, based on the data provided in the Data Tracking Program and the IL Early Childhood Asset Map, is able to run reports over multiple years to see trends, gaps, and identify a plan to address child care shortage utilizing opportunities for care through family child care homes. Lastly, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies support recruitment and retention of family child care providers through the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Position at the agency. These staff support providers in starting as a family child care provider and connect to available resources as needed. The lead agency works in partnership with SEIU Helen Miller Training Center to recruit and retain family child care providers. They also provide training and technical assistance to family child care providers. The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies works in partnership with the lead agency to administer Smart Start Child Care. One of the top priorities in Smart Start Child Care is to expand, maintain and increase child care choices for families. The main strategy to reach this goal is to raise wages for licensed family child care homes and centers iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency will work in partnership with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies, the Child Care Advisory Council, and the Early Learning Council (State Advisory Council), to determine areas of child care shortages (no providers, part time care, before/after school care, etc.). The Lead Agency, based on the data provided in the Data Tracking Program, is able to run reports over multiple years to see trends, gaps, and identify a plan to increase child care slots in family child care centers. Finally, the Lead Agency and its grantees participate on the birth to Five Illinois Councils that are creating Regional Action Plans that identified Early Childhood needs throughout the state 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 reviews data collected by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that is entered into the Data Tracking Program (DTP). In addition, data from the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) website are reviewed to identify underserved geographic areas across the state. IECAM provides information about statewide early childhood services along with demographic characteristics of families with young children and census data. The Birth to Five Illinois Councils completed Regional Needs Assessments that focus on top priorities to address related to Early Childhood Education and Care. The Lead Agency and its grantees participate on these Councils in creating and informing goals and recommendations based on identified needs, gaps, barriers etc. Based on the most recent slot gap analysis, throughout the State, there are 232,921 slots in licensed child care centers and family child care homes, as well as 41,752 slots in license-exempt centers, leaving 654,016 children aged birth to five without a slot in a licensed care center or home if they wanted to enroll their child. While slots are scarce throughout the State, rural families seem to have the most difficult time because the centers and homes just do not exist. The Lead Agency contracts with several child care centers and agencies to provide Site Administered Child Care Assistance to eligible parents. Contracts are awarded to licensed child care centers and family child care networks located throughout the state. At the local level, CCR&Rs promote and provide Quality Improvement Grants to providers working towards or maintaining a Circle of Quality. In addition, the Smart Start Workforce Grant (SSWG) program provides resources to child care centers and homes to support wage increases for personnel. Grantees are required to maintain that at least 15% of their total program enrollment consists of children receiving CCAP funding. SSWG will assist in ensuring staff recruitment and retention,. especially in communities across Illinois where there are limited child care slots available for underserved families and their children. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Lead Agency reviews data collected by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that is entered into the Data Tracking Program (DTP). In addition, data from the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM) website are reviewed to identify slots for infants and toddlers across the state. The Birth to Five Illinois Councils completed Regional Needs Assessments that focus on top priorities to address related to Early Childhood Education and Care. The Lead Agency and its grantees participate on these Councils in creating and informing goals and recommendations based on identified needs, gaps, barriers etc. Based on the recent data Illinois has slots to cover approximately 21% of the infant and toddler population eligible for child care. The Lead Agency contracts with several child care centers and agencies to provide Site Administered Child Care Assistance to eligible parents. Contracts are awarded to licensed child care centers and family child care networks located throughout the state. At the local level, CCR&Rs promote and provide Quality Improvement Grants to providers working towards or maintaining a Circle of Quality. Those programs serving infants and toddlers are a priority program for the Quality Improvement Grants. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: The Lead Agency does not gather specific data on the gaps in the supply and quality of child care services for children with disabilities. In the coming year this will be address by expanding our child care needs assessment survey to include more focus questions regarding the quality and supply of care for children with disabilities. . Currently , the Lead Agency contracts with several child care centers and agencies to provide Site Administered Child Care Assistance to eligible parents. Contracts are awarded to licensed child care centers and family child care networks located throughout the state. Site-administered contract providers who care for eligible children with a demonstrated disability are able to apply for a 20 percent special needs add-on rate. The additional funds are used by the provider for supports such as the purchase of adaptive equipment and securing specialized training for the care giver. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: There is currently not a broad representation of programs offering Non-Traditional care hours. According to an Urban Institute study, Illinois has 203,200 children under age 6 with parents working non- traditional hours. Data from the Illinois CCR&R System provider database, maintained by INCCRRA, shows that there are 6,796 child care providers that offer some form of non- traditional hour care. Those providers have a total capacity for 213,691 children. There are many variations in the non-traditional hour care schedules provided and not all schedules will meet the needs of families. In addition, the full licensed capacity of the program may not be available during non-traditional hours. This representation has been noted by legislators and was put forward in Public Act 102- 0912 to pilot increasing programs who offer Non-Traditional Care hours. The lead agency contracts with two CCR&Rs ￿ Illinois Action for Children and Skip-A-Long Family Services to implement a Non-Traditional hours pilot program that is set to begin in July 2025. These contracts will provide additional funding support beyond reach of current operating budgets for child care providers and shall be consistent with the requirements of the Non- Traditional Child Care Act (Public Act 102-0912). INCCRRA is working on a study to fully detail the non-traditional care schedules available in Illinois, as well as the potential demand for those schedules based on Census/IPUMS data. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: The Child Care Advisory Council’s CCAP Policy Committee discusses with the lead agency strategies to address the needs of special populations (homeless, special needs, military families￿) and makes recommendations to enhanced services. IDHS, the former Lead Agency, has identified the following populations as either priority or protective categories: Families experiencing homelessness; families transitioning form IDCFS service programs (Youth in Care, Extended Family Services, Intact Family Serivces); parents deployed from home by a branch of the US military; families receiving TANF; teen parents in high school or GED; employed families with special needs children. 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. IDHS, the former Lead Agency, identified areas with significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment based on data collected from Illinois Department of Employment Security, statewide Family Community Resource Centers, and the Census Bureau. The Lead Agency utilizes this data to identify areas that did not have enough number of quality programs. Deep poverty means an economic condition where an individual or family has a total annual income that is less than 50% of the federal poverty level for the individual or family as provided in the annual report of the United States Census Bureau on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the Unites States. The Lead Agency contracts with the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies to support families and targeted populations experiencing financial hardships connect with local community resources and access to quality child care through the Enhanced TANF referral process. This is conducted in partnership with the local Family Community Resource Center (FCRC). The CCR&R agencies are contracted to recruit and retain providers in their local service delivery area. This is to reduce child care deserts in areas where quality care programs are needed. 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.