9.3 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. Kansas Department for Children and Families provides information to the public in a variety of ways. Kansas Department for Children and Families has a public website with services offered through the state, agency information and contact information. A wide range of early education programs are listed under the child care service page. The child care subsidy page provides information about the program, basic eligibility guidelines, types of providers available for the program, and contact information. A self-assessment is available in both English and Spanish to help families determine if they are eligible for services. The phone number for the local resource and referral agency is shared with eligible families when they need assistance selecting a provider. Applications for services are made available through the 38 Kansas Department for Children and Families office locations across the state and through an online self-service portal. Kansas Department for Children and Families also has a Facebook page, Twitter page, and shares videos on Vimeo. The Child Care in Kansas website also provides links to this information. It is the main tool Kansas Department for Children and Families uses to provide child care related consumer and provider education information to parents, providers, and the public. Child Care in Kansas is designed to be user friendly and easy to follow. There are separate sections designed for families where they can find child care and support, for providers with resources to enhance care, and for the community in general. In addition, there is a page on Child Care in Kansas dedicated to child care subsidy. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Child Care Licensing Parent Page provides a consumer-friendly approach to answering parent’s questions regarding child care. This includes a spot to search for child care that takes them to the child care resource and referral website. Consumers can search by zip code or connect to child care. Child Care in Kansas links directly to the child care resource and referral search tool. Further assistance to parents looking for resources to assist with child care is offered through the local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Early Head Start programs across the state. The lead agency contracts with Child Care Aware of Kansas to promote informed child care choices by providing consumer education materials that describe the full range of child care providers, including child care centers, day care homes, group day care homes, preschools, school-age programs, and drop-in programs for school age children and youth. As of October 1, 2018, the consumer education web address is shared with eligible parents on their approval notices. The Parent Provider Partnership Handbook is shared with all parents applying for Child Care Assistance. The handbook is available in both English and Spanish. The Kansas Department for Children and Families enrolled provider handbook is available on Child Care in Kansas in both English and Spanish for current or potential child care subsidy providers. 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. [x] 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: 1. Health and safety requirements met by the provider 2. Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider 3. Date the provider was last inspected 4. Any history of violations of these requirements 5. Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider 6. How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access 7. How to submit a complaint through the hotline 8. 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? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 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. Child Care in Kansas, the consumer education website, has a page dedicated to information for families on child development, including physical health and development. Information and resources are designed to promote family education and engagement. The page is found at: https://childcareinkansas.com/resource/child-development/. Resources on the page include, but are not limited to, CDC milestones, Help Me Grow￿which contains many developmental resources and activities, information on Kansas’ home visiting programs, Zero to Three, among others. The Kansas Early Learning Standards https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Early%20Childhood/Kansas_Early_Learning_Standards.pdf contain information on the developmental sequence of learning for children from birth through Kindergarten in areas of approaches to learning, physical development, social and emotional development, communication and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and creative arts. Physical development does include healthy eating and physical activities. The lead agency contracts with Child Care Aware of Kansas (CCAK) to administer the statewide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network in Kansas. CCAK provides resources for parents/families, child care / education staff, as well as businesses and communities. Additionally, the Kansas Family Engagement and Partnership Standards for Early Childhood has developed standards for early childhood family engagement which can be found here: https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Early%20Childhood/2019%20Kansas_FE_Partnership_Standards_ for_EC.pdf 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: [x] 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: Parents, providers and the community can access this information and resources on these topics through the Child Care in Kansas website at www.childcareinkansas.com and through the state resource and referral network Child Care Aware of Kansas, website at https://www.ks.childcareaware.org. Parents applying for CCDF benefits are also given a copy of or referred to the website for The Parent-Provider Partnership Handbook. Within these handbooks, there is information around positive behavior management and reducing suspension and expulsion due to behavior. This information is also in the Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care Provider Handbook which all providers acknowledge they have received and reviewed when applying to be a CCDF Child Care Provider. Both handbooks are available on Child Care in Kansas. Child Care in Kansas has a wealth of resources for families and providers at www.childcareinkansas.com. Resources include, yet are not limited to, the Kansas Enrichment Network, a collaboration of agencies and organizations in Kansas that help build and expand school-based programs to enhance learning opportunities for students, https://kansasenrichment.net/map-of-programs-in-kansas/, and share enrichment activities https://kansasenrichment.net/pinterest/, Vroom! - Provides parents and educators with free online tools and activities that are designed to boost early learning in children 0-5, https://www.vroom.org/, and the Kansas Early Learning Standards(KELS) provides a framework for understanding and communicating a common set of developmentally appropriate guidelines for young children within a context of shared responsibility and accountability for helping children meet these guidelines, the KELS https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Early%20Childhood/Kansas_Early_Learning_Standards.pdf. These resources include developmentally appropriate ways to support the social-emotional development of children of different ages. The Kansas Early Learning Standards is available to all parents on Child Care in Kansas. The Kansas Early Learning Standards contain information on the developmental sequence of learning for children from birth through kindergarten in areas of approaches to learning, physical development, social and emotional development, communication and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and creative arts. Social and emotional development includes positive interactions to help children gain competence in social skills and self- regulation. The lead agency contracts with Child Care Aware of Kansas (CCAK) to administer the statewide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network in Kansas. CCAK provides resources for parents/families, childcare/education staff, as well as businesses and the community. CCAK has social and emotional development staff to provide technical assistance and professional development to child care providers seeking support around this domain. Additionally, the Kansas Family Engagement and Partnership Standards for Early Childhood has developed standards for early childhood family engagement which can be found here: https://www.ksde.org/Portals/0/Early%20Childhood/2019%20Kansas_FE_Partnership_Standards_ for_EC.pdf. The Lead Agency helps fund workforce development opportunities for child care providers and others through Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) in the area of social emotional development and KCCTO-Kansas In Training Service Infant Toddler Specialist Network which provides in-person community-based training or live- synchronous virtual training. KCCTO-KITS ITSN program also develops individual intensive technical assistance plans with centers, individual teachers, and home providers to address their individual needs that include social emotional development. Some related areas of support through this work include challenging behaviors, trauma informed practices, child mental health and wellness, staff mental health and wellness, and attachment. 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: Child Care Providers who have an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families to accept child care subsidy are required to have a policy to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children in their care. Kansas Department for Children and Families’ requirement for provider policy and resource information on Behavior Guidance Policies can be found in the Kansas Department for Children and Families Provider Handbook and in The Parent-Provider Partnership Handbook. Both Handbooks can be found on the Child Care in Kansas website. http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Child_Care/ChildCareProviders.aspx This policy states: "In a child care setting, expulsion may refer to removing a child from of a program for challenging behaviors, such as aggression, tantrums and non-compliance. Research shows that children expelled from an early learning setting are more likely to have issues later in life. Providers are expected to establish preventive, disciplinary, suspension and expulsion policies and administer those policies free of bias and discrimination. Providers should focus on positive interventions that will prevent expulsion, suspension, and other negative discipline policies. Trainings are available on this topic. Contact your local CCR&R or KCCTO (see page 15) for further information." 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: Child Care Providers who have an agreement with Kansas Department for Children and Families to accept child care subsidy are required to have a policy to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children in their care. Kansas Department for Children and Families’ requirement for provider policy and resource information on Behavior Guidance Policies can be found in the Kansas Department for Children and Families Provider Handbook and in The Parent-Provider Partnership Handbook. Both Handbooks can be found on the Child Care in Kansas website. http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Child_Care/ChildCareProviders.aspx This policy states: "In a child care setting, expulsion may refer to removing a child from of a program for challenging behaviors, such as aggression, tantrums and non-compliance. Research shows that children expelled from an early learning setting are more likely to have issues later in life. Providers are expected to establish preventive, disciplinary, suspension and expulsion policies and administer those policies free of bias and discrimination. Providers should focus on positive interventions that will prevent expulsion, suspension, and other negative discipline policies. Trainings are available on this topic. Contact your local CCR&R or KCCTO (see page 15) for further information."