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 Illinois Department of Human Services has an extensive outreach program to parents who could benefit from Child Care Assistance Program. In 2022/2023 the agency advanced a $3 million Illinois Cares for Kids ad campaign, promoting the public education site, which equitably targeted parents across Illinois. In addition, the Division and its partners manage the Illinois Cares for Kids website as well as several social media channels aimed at parents and potential CCAP providers. These efforts are bolstered by touch points at the intake of other public support programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid; where eligible enrollees are encouraged to seek assistance via their local CCR&R. Moving forward, the Division of Early Childhood will be focusing on increasing the organic promotion of these programs through additional cross-promotional opportunities with local and state service providers and partners, as well as through the continuation of the Illinois Cares for Kids campaign as an online platform to drive parents to the Child Care Assistance Program.

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.

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:

Health and safety requirements met by the provider

Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider

Date the provider was last inspected

Any history of violations of these requirements

Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider

How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access

How to submit a complaint through the hotline

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?

Yes.

No. If no, describe: The Lead Agency is working in partnership with INCCRRA to update the illnoiscaresforkids.org website, our consumer education website, to address these areas.

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. The Lead Agency has developed the IL Cares for Kids website to inform and share with parents, care givers and providers resources associated with best practices concerning children's development, including physical, cognitive and social and emotional well-being. Additionally the 16 local Child Care Resource & Referral agencies, Birth to Five Regional Councils and 25 Child Family and Connections all have family engagement strategies that include parent education and distribution of resources associated with early intervention, parenting tips and directory of early childhood resources in the communities they serve.

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:

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:

The Lead Agency partners with the Illinois Network of Resource and Referral Agencies to provide Pyramid model training and technical assistance through the Illinois Trainers Network and the Gateways Registry. These trainings support the social emotional development and behavioral interventions of young children in center and home-based settings. Additionally, the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Program support providers to build understanding and confidence to support the families in their care. Mental health consultants work in partnership with early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers to support the staff and adults who care for and educate young children through staff training and consultation. . Information regarding social-emotional and behavioral and mental health of young children is also addressed by local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R). The staff support parents, based on identified need, and may provide referrals and/or resources to parents. Examples include, but are not limited to: Early Intervention, Home Visiting, WIC, early childhood program availability, or tips on a specific need identified in the conversation (e.g., healthy eating tips).

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: Early childhood programs receiving State funds are not considered expulsion under this paragraph (7). (A) When persistent and serious challenging behaviors emerge, the early childhood program shall document steps taken to ensure that the child can participate safely in the program; including observations of initial and ongoing challenging behaviors, strategies for remediation and intervention plans to address the behaviors, and communication with the parent or legal guardian, including participation of the parent or legal guardian in planning and decision-making (B) The early childhood program shall, with parental or legal guardian consent as required, utilize a range of community resources, if available and deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, developmental screenings, referrals to programs and services administered by a local educational agency or early intervention agency under Parts B and C of the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act, and consultation with infant and early childhood mental health consultants and the child's health care provider. The program shall document attempts to engage these resources, including parent or legal guardian participation and consent attempted and obtained. Communication with the parent or legal guardian shall take place in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. (C) If there is documented evidence that all available interventions and supports recommended by a qualified professional have been exhausted and the program determines in its professional judgment that transitioning a child to another program is necessary for the well-being of the child or his or her peers and staff, with parent or legal guardian permission, both the current and pending programs shall create a transition plan designed to ensure continuity of services and the comprehensive development of the child. Communication with families shall occur in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. (D) Nothing in this paragraph (7) shall preclude a parent's or legal guardian's right to voluntarily withdraw his or her child from an early childhood program. Early childhood programs shall request and keep on file, when received, a written statement from the parent or legal guardian stating the reason for his or her decision to withdraw his or her child. (E) In the case of the determination of a serious safety threat to a child or others or in the case of behaviors listed in subsection (d) of Section 10-22.6 of this Code, the temporary removal of a child from attendance in group settings may be used. Temporary removal of a child from attendance in a group setting shall trigger the process detailed in subparagraph (A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph (7), with the child placed back in a group setting as quickly as possible. (F) Early childhood programs may utilize and the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services shall recommend training, technical support, and professional development resources to improve the ability of teachers, administrators, program directors, and other staff to promote social-emotional development and behavioral health, to address challenging behaviors, and to understand trauma and trauma-informed care, cultural competence, family engagement with diverse populations, the impact of implicit bias on adult behavior, and the use of reflective practice techniques. Support shall include the availability of resources to contract with infant and early childhood mental health consultants.

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: The Department, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development and the State Board of Education, shall adopt rules prohibiting the use of expulsion due to a child's persistent and serious challenging behaviors in licensed daycare centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. The rulemaking shall address, at a minimum, requirements for licensees to establish intervention and transition policies, notify parents of policies, document intervention steps, and collect and report data on children transitioning out of the program.