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: [x] 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: Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships provides intensive, comprehensive program designed services to individualize to the unique strengths and needs of each child and family. KEHS programs are required to involve parents and community representatives in all areas of the program, including policy, program design, curriculum, and management decisions. All KEHS programs follow Head Start Performance Standards that require at least 10 percent of total enrollment slots be made available to children with disabilities. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships also offer comprehensive services to childcare partner programs that exhibit needs, desires to participate, and has willingness to follow enhanced program regulations. KEHS grantees also offer their own center- based classes. Three hundred and fifty-nine slots are available in 38 Counties in Kansas. Counties included are Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Ford, Clay, Washington, Republic, Cloud, Ottawa, Shawnee, Douglas, Franklin, Lyon, Ellis, Rush, Russell, Rooks, Saline, Dickinson, McPherson, Finney, Grant, Geary ,Gray, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Morton, Neosho, Scott, Seward, Stanton, Stevens, Wichita, Wyandotte, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Montgomery. Services are provided by these entities: Bright Beginnings (KEHS CCP), Clay County Child Care (KEHS CCP), Community Action, Inc. (KEHS CCP), East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKAN) (KEHS CCP), Early Childhood Connections (KEHS CCP), Heartland Early Education (KEHS CCP), Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL) (KEHS CCP), Project Eagle (KEHS CCP), and Southeast Kansas- Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) (KEHS CCP). [ ] 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: 36, all Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership programs follow Head Start Performance Standards that require at least 10 percent of total enrollment slots be made available to children with disabilities. [x] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: 359, all Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership slots are for infants and toddlers. [x] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: 359, all Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grantees have completed community needs assessments to determine the need for their services in their community and help them determine the numbers that they serve, so all areas have been determined as underserved. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. [ ] 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? Families that participate in Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, must be eligible for child care assistance, which serves as the base payment for the services. These rates are the same as used to determine benefits for other subsidy eligible families. A referral process is used where the Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grantee determines income, citizenship, and collect verification as needed for those that they have screened for their program. They send the referral to the lead agency and the application is processed within 7 calendar days from receiving it. The lead Agency eligibility staff makes sure they are in cooperation with Child Support Services, a state statute, and completes the determination in our eligibility system. The lead agency also uses a request for procurement process with programs that participate in the federal early head start program to determine the extra that we pay on top of the subsidy payment to the grantees so that they can cover the quality cost for their operation and for their partners. This amount is agreed upon between these grantees and the lead agency. The lead agency does complete an analysis with the Narrow Cost Analysis to determine what amount may be reasonable for the cost of operating under the requirements in this agreement, which include most Head Start Program Performance Standards. 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: Care is for six or fewer related children under 16 years of age, including their own. The In-Home Relative Provider is considered an employee of the client. Clients must contact IRS regarding their responsibilities as an employer and to receive a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: Must be at least 18 years of age. iii. [x] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: Plans are not approved for more than 215 hours per month. iv. [x] 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: An In-Home Relative child care provider must be a relative of the child. Relative for child care purposes is defined as a grandchild, great-grandchild, sibling (if the provider lives in a separate residence), or niece/nephew of the provider. Relationship can be through marriage, blood relationship, or court decree to the child. 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 main source used is the annual Child Care Supply and Demand Report completed by Child Care Aware of Kansas. This report typically uses the following data sources; Kansas Department for Children and Families reports, Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for American Progress, Child Care Aware of Kansas WorkLife Systems, Center for Disease Control and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Child Care Aware of America. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency uses the information obtained and reported through the annual Child Care Supply and Demand report to track progress. Analysis is completed for all 105 counties with a specific focus on capacity for infants and toddlers comparing information from the current data to the previous years’ data. Each year the extent that the desired capacity meets the potential demand is determined and compared to the previous year. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes The Lead Agency uses the information obtained through the annual Child Care Supply and Demand Report to track progress. Analysis is completed for all 105 counties with a specific focus on capacity for infants and toddlers comparing information from the current data to the previous years’ data. Each year the extent that the desired capacity meets the potential demand is determined and compared to the previous year. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities, and administering community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. In determining the unique needs of the community, the community coalitions may determine a shortage of infant and toddler care and choose to focus on addressing this need. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. If funding is available and after system changes have been made to allow for more differential payment types, the lead agency is considering expanding differential Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, payments with an aim to increase infant/toddler child care slots. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency uses the information obtained through the annual Child Care Supply and Demand Report to track progress. Analysis is completed for all 105 counties with a specific focus on capacity for infants and toddlers comparing information from the current data to the previous years’ data. Each year the extent that the desired capacity meets the potential demand is determined and compared to the previous year. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities, and administering community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. In determining the unique needs of the community, the community coalitions may determine a shortage of infant and toddler care and choose to focus on addressing this need. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. If funding is available and after system changes have been made to allow for more differential payment types, the lead agency is considering expanding differential Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, payments with an aim to increase infant/toddler child care slots. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The main source used is the annual Child Care Supply and Demand Report completed by Child Care Aware of Kansas. This report typically uses the following data sources; Kansas Department for Children and Families reports, Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for American Progress, Child Care Aware of Kansas WorkLife Systems, Center for Disease Control and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Child Care Aware of America. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency uses the information obtained and reported through the annual Child Care Supply and Demand report to track progress. Analysis is completed for all 105 counties to determine the extent that desired capacity meets the demand. Progress can be tracked through a comparison from year to year. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? One method the Lead Agency utilizes is the use of CCDF funds to support new child care businesses through technical assistance, professional development, and resources through our Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral, Child Care Workforce Professional Development, Infant- Toddler Specialist Network, and Child Care Quality Improvement and Support agreements. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities and administer community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? One method the Lead Agency utilizes is the use of CCDF funds to support new child care businesses through technical assistance, professional development, and resources through our Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral, Child Care Workforce Professional Development, Infant-Toddler Specialist Network, and Child Care Quality Improvement and Support agreements. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities and administer community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The main source used is the annual Child Care Supply and Demand Report completed by Child Care Aware of Kansas. This report typically uses the following data sources; Kansas Department for Children and Families reports, Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for American Progress, Child Care Aware of Kansas WorkLife Systems, Center for Disease Control and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Child Care Aware of America. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency uses the information obtained and reported through the annual Child Care Supply and Demand report to track progress. Analysis is completed for all 105 counties to determine the extent that desired capacity meets the demand. Progress can be tracked through a comparison from year to year. The Child Care Supply and Demand report shall determine needs at both the state and county level, including the quality of child care services for children in underserved areas, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children who receive care during nontraditional hours for parents who work evening, overnight, weekend, rotating or irregular shifts. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? One method the Lead Agency utilizes is the use of CCDF funds to support new child care businesses through technical assistance, professional development, and resources through our Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral, Child Care Workforce Professional Development, Infant- Toddler Specialist Network, and Child Care Quality Improvement and Support agreements. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities and administer community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. The Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grantees must ensure that the Additional Services for Children with Disabilities requirements in the Head Start Program Performance Standards in 1302.60-1302.63 are met. If funding is available and after system changes have been made to allow for more differential payment types, the lead agency is considering expanding differential Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, payments with an aim to increase the number of professionals providing child care services for children with special health care needs and those needing care during non-traditional hours. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? One method the Lead Agency utilizes is the use of CCDF funds to support new child care businesses through technical assistance, professional development, and resources through our Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral, Child Care Workforce Professional Development, Infant-Toddler Specialist Network, and Child Care Quality Improvement and Support agreements. The Child Care Consumer Education Resource and Referral agreement requires the delivery of supportive community engagement to increase early childhood and child care capacity in local communities and to provide consumer education on the importance of child care. These services include equipping and supporting community coalitions in their efforts and engagement activities and administer community level grants to meet individual community goals and needs. The Lead Agency also uses grant agreements in combination with Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, to fund Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, a program open to federally recognized Early Head Start Programs in Kansas to provide early care and education services for infants and toddlers. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. The Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grantees must ensure that the Additional Services for Children with Disabilities requirements in the Head Start Program Performance Standards in 1302.60- 1302.63 are met. If funding is available and after system changes have been made to allow for more differential payment types, the lead agency is considering expanding differential Child Care Assistance, or subsidy, payments with an aim to increase the number of professionals providing child care services for children with special health care needs and those needing care during non-traditional hours. 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: Kansas Early Head Start Child Care partnership grants are used to help build support for various populations including children in underserved areas. These funds are awarded only to existing federally funded early head start programs that are meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards through a procurement process. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Links to Quality, Kansas’ Quality Improvement System, was initially piloted in 18 county locations that had high poverty rates, high unemployment and high out of home placements, but is now available statewide. The program helps ensure access to programs that are in underserved areas by their focus on improving business practices and quality through individualized pathways, financial supports, resources, tools and supports. Links to quality also includes coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, reviewing and assessing, to assist programs as they continuously improve and meet Links to Quality indicators, therefore building quality. Another support that has been made available is a Shared Service Networks, which include substitute pools, translation services, human resource services, legal services, and health consultation, all of which can be accessed through the Share Services Hub program. The business practice supports, and shared services share the idea that quality can’t be increased unless providers are also able to remain open. L2Q is open to all licensed child care providers in Kansas, including those providing care in underserved areas. KCCTO has an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families using CCDF funds for the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network. It uses training, technical assistance and financial supports to help build quality and support for providers caring for underserved populations. Technical assistance is also available through the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant- Toddler Specialist Network, and it also includes topics to meet the individual needs of Early Childhood Care and Education professionals. Financial supports are available for Early Childhood Care and Education professionals to support progression towards their quality improvement goals, with priority given to goals around underserved populations and those programs that are enrolled with Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care Assistance. Scholarships are also made available to increase access to professional development opportunities, which improve the quality of care provided and allow providers more access to the trainings as mentioned previously. Financial support from CCDF has also been used to cover background checks and licensing fees for new and existing child care facilities, grants are issued to assist in the cost of minor renovations to ensure the health and safety of children, the cost of operating a new child care program prior to serving children and improving the licensing fingerprinting process. Communities- in-Action, a community coalition support model developed by Child Care Aware of Kansas, has supported several Kansas communities in building local child care solutions along with grant funding to support coalition efforts. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: Kansas Early Head Start Child Care partnership grants are also used to build the supply of quality child care for infants and toddlers. They only serve children from birth to three. These agreements do include additional quality funding, in addition to subsidy funds, to allow the grantees and their community partners to meet the higher quality standards and lower ratios associated with the program. Links to Quality, Kansas’ Quality Improvement System, helps ensure access to programs that are for infants and toddlers by their focus on improving business practices and quality through individualized pathways, financial supports, resources, tools and supports. Links to quality also includes coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, reviewing and assessing, to assist programs as they continuously improve and meet Links to Quality indicators, therefore building quality. Another support that has been made available is a Shared Service Networks, which include substitute pools, translation services, human resource services, legal services, and health consultation, all of which can be accessed through the Share Services Hub program. The business practice supports, and shared services share the idea that quality can’t be increased unless providers are also able to remain open. Links to Quality focuses on early care and education programs and therefore is a program designed to increase access to quality child care for infants and toddlers. KCCTO has an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families using CCDF funds for the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network. It uses training, technical assistance and financial supports to help build quality and support for providers caring for underserved populations. Technical assistance is also available through the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant- Toddler Specialist Network, and it also includes topics to meet the individual needs of Early Childhood Care and Education professionals. ITSN employes 10 Infant-toddler specialist to focus on infant-toddler care. Financial supports are available for Early Childhood Care and Education professionals to support progression towards their quality improvement goals, with priority given to goals around underserved populations and those programs that are enrolled with Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care Assistance. Scholarships are also made available to increase access to professional development opportunities, which improve the quality of care provided and allow providers more access to the trainings as mentioned previously. Financial support from CCDF has also been used to cover background checks and licensing fees for new and existing child care facilities, grants are issued to assist in the cost of minor renovations to ensure the health and safety of children, the cost of operating a new child care program prior to serving children and improving the licensing fingerprinting process. Communities- in-Action, a community coalition support model developed by Child Care Aware of Kansas, has supported several Kansas communities in building local child care solutions along with grant funding to support coalition efforts. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: The Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership program use their head start income standards when most families must be 100% or below the federal poverty level, with 10% that can have income up to 85% SMI that are for children who meet the definition for children with disabilities. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grantees must complete a community needs assessment every three years and use this to develop the most effective plan for their services. Links to Quality, Kansas’ Quality Improvement System, helps ensure access to programs that provide care for children with disabilities by their focus on improving business practices and quality through individualized pathways, financial supports, resources, tools and supports. Links to quality also includes coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, reviewing and assessing, to assist programs as they continuously improve and meet Links to Quality indicators, therefore building quality. Another support that has been made available is a Shared Service Networks, which include substitute pools, translation services, human resource services, legal services, and health consultation, all of which can be accessed through the Share Services Hub program. The business practice supports, and shared services share the idea that quality can’t be increased unless providers are also able to remain open. L2Q is open to all licensed child care providers in Kansas, including those that care for children with disabilities. KCCTO has an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families using CCDF funds for the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network. It uses training, technical assistance and financial supports to help build quality and support for providers caring for underserved populations. Training courses are developed and offered on a recurring basis by the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant- Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN). Courses may be delivered online, in-person, or live virtually to all Early Childhood Care and education professionals, including those that serve underserved populations. Underserved populations are the primary topic of many courses including 36 on caring for infants and toddlers, 18 on children with disabilities, and 34 for other areas of high needs. Technical assistance is also available through the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network, and it also includes topics to meet the individual needs of Early Childhood Care and Education professionals. ITSN employes 4 Development al inclusion specialist who focus on the inclusion of children with disabilities and 3 Mental Health Specialist focused on mental health of children and adults and topics such as trauma informed care, foster care, and homelessness. Financial supports are available for Early Childhood Care and Education professionals to support progression towards their quality improvement goals, with priority given to goals around underserved populations and those programs that are enrolled with Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care Assistance. Scholarships are also made available to increase access to professional development opportunities, which improve the quality of care provided and allow providers more access to the trainings as mentioned previously. Financial support from CCDF has also been used to cover background checks and licensing fees for new and existing child care facilities, grants are issued to assist in the cost of minor renovations to ensure the health and safety of children, the cost of operating a new child care program prior to serving children and improving the licensing fingerprinting process. Communities-in-Action, a community coalition support model developed by Child Care Aware of Kansas, has supported several Kansas communities in building local child care solutions along with grant funding to support coalition efforts. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: Links to Quality, Kansas’ Quality Improvement System, helps ensure access to programs operate during non- traditional hours by their focus on improving business practices and quality through individualized pathways, financial supports, resources, tools and supports. Links to quality also includes coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, reviewing and assessing, to assist programs as they continuously improve and meet Links to Quality indicators, therefore building quality. Another support that has been made available is a Shared Service Networks, which include substitute pools, translation services, human resource services, legal services, and health consultation, all of which can be accessed through the Share Services Hub program. The business practice supports, and shared services share the idea that quality can’t be increased unless providers are also able to remain open. L2Q is open to all licensed child care providers in Kansas, including those that operate with non- traditional hours. KCCTO has an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families using CCDF funds for the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network. It uses training, technical assistance and financial supports to help build quality and support for providers caring for underserved populations. Training courses are developed and offered on a recurring basis by the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN). Courses may be delivered online, in-person, or live virtually to all Early Childhood Care and education professionals, including those that serve underserved populations. Underserved populations are the primary topic of many courses including 36 on caring for infants and toddlers, 18 on children with disabilities, and 34 for other areas of high needs. Financial support from CCDF has also been used to cover background checks and licensing fees for new and existing child care facilities, grants are issued to assist in the cost of minor renovations to ensure the health and safety of children, the cost of operating a new child care program prior to serving children and improving the licensing fingerprinting process. Communities-in-Action, a community coalition support model developed by Child Care Aware of Kansas, has supported several Kansas communities in building local child care solutions along with grant funding to support coalition efforts. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: 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. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care partnership grants are used to help build support for various populations including children in areas with high concentrations of poverty and unemployment. These funds are awarded only to existing federally funded early head start programs that are meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards through a procurement process. Priority was given to those that served in the 5-year estimate of the top 5 counties with the highest official poverty rate and the 5 counties with the most persons in poverty according to the Census American Community Survey 2019. The high priority counties are Riley, Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Woodson, Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Kansas Early Head Start Child Care Partnership services are serving children in the high priority counties of Crawford, Stevens, Kearny, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee. Links to Quality, Kansas’ Quality Improvement System, was initially piloted in 18 county locations that had high poverty rates, high unemployment and high out of home placements, but is now available statewide. The program helps ensure access to programs that are in high need areas by their focus on improving business practices and quality through individualized pathways, financial supports, resources, tools and supports. Links to quality also includes coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, reviewing and assessing, to assist programs as they continuously improve and meet Links to Quality indicators, therefore building quality. Another support that has been made available is a Shared Service Networks, which include substitute pools, translation services, human resource services, legal services, and health consultation, all of which can be accessed through the Share Services Hub program. The business practice supports, and shared services share the idea that quality can’t be increased unless providers are also able to remain open. L2Q is open to all licensed child care providers in Kansas, including those providing care in high need areas. KCCTO has an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families using CCDF funds for the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network. It uses training, technical assistance and financial supports to help build quality and support for providers caring for all populations, including those in high need areas. Technical assistance is also available through the Workforce Professional Development program and the Infant-Toddler Specialist Network, and it also includes topics to meet the individual needs of Early Childhood Care and Education professionals. Financial supports are available for Early Childhood Care and Education professionals to support progression towards their quality improvement goals, with priority given to those programs that are enrolled with Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care Assistance. Scholarships are also made available to increase access to professional development opportunities, which improve the quality of care provided and allow providers more access to the trainings as mentioned previously. Financial support from CCDF has also been used to cover background checks and licensing fees for new and existing child care facilities, grants are issued to assist in the cost of minor renovations to ensure the health and safety of children, the cost of operating a new child care program prior to serving children and improving the licensing fingerprinting process. Communities-in-Action, a community coalition support model developed by Child Care Aware of Kansas, has supported several Kansas communities in building local child care solutions along with grant funding to support coalition efforts. 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.