7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. The Lead Agency has the annual CCDF expenditures posted on the following link: Annual Child Care Report: FY23 Illinois Child Care Program Report (state.il.us) https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/AnnualRpts/FY23ChildCare AnnualReport.pdf The Lead agency posts its Quality Progress Report on their website at the following link: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/EC/ACF- 218_QPR_FFY_2023_For_Illinois_FINAL(24)08-02Access_A11Y.pdf b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency will continue to contract with the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) and the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies to offer professional development and learning opportunities for our prospective and current child care workforce members. INCCRRA will continue to administer our iLearning training offerings system, our Illinois Trainers Network, Gateways Credentials framework and career lattice, and the Professional Development Advisory Council. The Lead Agency in conjunction with the CCR&R and INCCRRA are conducting a streamlined training needs assessment for the child care providers in Illinois. Additionally, the state is utilizing PDG B-5 funds to invest in a coordinated process for training delivery and needs for providers across Home Visiting, Child Care, Early Intervention and State Board of Education programs. ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency supports programs seeking above the licensed (foundational) level of quality by awarding ￿quality add-ons" for those programs who care for children who receive child care subsidy program dollars. The Early Learning Council has approved the future consideration for expanding the Quality Recognition and Improvement System framework in Illinois. This framework takes a high quality with funding first approach. As the Lead Agency transitions with other state agencies into a new Early Childhood state agency in Illinois, the framework will continue to be a focus for the Early Learning Council to align with future efforts and investments. The Lead Agency continues to fund the Smart Start Quality Supports program that gives programs participating in ExceleRate Illinois additional funds for upskilling and providing increased training opportunities for their staff. Programs participating in this program receive program level coaching from our partners at the McCormick Center at National Louis and additional funds to pay staff as they earn more credentials. iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency will continue to work with the Child Care Advisory Council on recommendations to improve the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. The Lead Agency includes programs who serve infants and toddlers as priority population for current grant offerings through the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. The Lead Agency will continue to fund the Infant and Toddler Specialists at the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to support programs in providing high quality care for the youngest learners in their program. v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency has sustained a position at the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that was originally support via Federal Relief dollars. This position has been established to support the prospective and current child care workforce access professional development opportunities and financial support opportunities for higher education coursework. Additionally, the Lead Agency continues to contract and fund the 16 local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies that support Service Delivery Areas across the state. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency collects and assesses monthly data for participation in the Quality Improvement System for licensed and license exempt providers. The Lead Agency receives quarterly reports on programs’ assessment scales reports to review and assess areas for improvement. The Lead Agency reviews scales reports to determine technical assistance and training needs for programs. viii. Accreditation support. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency invests Individual Professional Development funds to support programs seeking accreditation. These funds are administered through the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies on behalf of the Lead Agency. Additionally, the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) conducts the Statewide Accreditation Mentoring (SAM) Project to provide child care programs (centers and family homes) with consultation services to achieve national accreditation. The Lead Agency continues to review through the Child Care Resource and Referral System, committees' opportunities to enhance accreditation assistance. Based on recommendations from these committees and through partnerships with Advisory Councils across Illinois, the Lead Agency will review potential investments for accreditation supports. ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency is incorporating new curriculum offerings for child care providers. These are being added to the existing Illinois Trainers Network curriculum offerings. The trainings are PALS, How Trauma Impacts Young children, Social Emotional Development and Positive Behavior Outcomes, Better Together: Health Habits for Illinois Kids, and Go NAPSACC. The Lead Agency is streamlining the Training Needs Assessment conducted by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to ensure that curriculum offerings and trainings are consistent with the needs identified by the providers in Illinois. Following the results of the needs assessments, the Lead Agency will review potential new curriculum for providers. x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.