9.2 Consumer Education Website

Lead Agencies must provide information to parents, the general public, and child care providers through a State or Territory website, which is consumer-friendly and easily accessible for families who speak languages other than English and persons with disabilities. The website must: • Include information to assist families in understanding the Lead Agency’s policies and procedures, including licensing child care providers; • Include monitoring and inspection reports for each provider and, if available, the quality of each provider; • Provide the aggregate number of deaths, serious injuries, and the number of cases of substantiated child abuse that have occurred in child care settings; • Include contact information for local CCR&R organizations to help families access additional information on finding child care; and • Include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency and other organizations to better understand the information on the website. 9.2.1 Consumer-friendly website Does the Lead Agency ensure that its consumer education website is consumer-friendly and easily accessible? i. Provide the URL for the Lead Agency’s consumer education website homepage: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/default.aspx. ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for families who speak languages other than English? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for persons with disabilities? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.2.2 Additional consumer education website links Provide the direct URL/website link for the following: i. Provide the direct URL/website link to how the Lead Agency licenses child care providers: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/childcareproviderinfo.aspx ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the processes for conducting monitoring and inspections of child care providers:: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/abuseinjurydataandinspection .aspx Regulation: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/922/002/090.pdf. The standard of practice (https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Documents/soplicensed.pdf) created in partnership between DRCC and DCC, identifies the details of required visits, monitorings, and/or inspections. DRCC is in process of updating our website to define matters of concerns that should be reported by the general public. The update to our website has led to a significant increase in rec eived and investigated complaints for 2024. iii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the policies and procedures related to criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/nationalbackgroundcheck.asp x iv. Provide the direct URL/website link to the offenses that prevent individuals from being employed by a child care provider: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/nationalbackgroundcheck.asp x and https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/find-care.aspx 9.2.3 Searchable list of providers a. The consumer education website must include a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code. i. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website includes a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the list of child care providers searchable by ZIP code: https://kynect.ky.gov/benefits/s/child-care-provider?origin=program- page&language=en_US iii. In addition to the licensed child care providers that must be included in the searchable list, are there additional providers included in the Lead Agency’s searchable list of child care providers? Check all that apply: [ ] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. [ ] License-exempt family child care CCDF providers. [ ] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. [ ] Relative CCDF child care providers. [ ] Other (e.g., summer camps, public pre-Kindergarten). Describe: b. Identify what additional (optional) information, if any, is available in the searchable results by ZIP code. Check the box when information is provided. Provider Information Available in Searchable Results -- All licensed providers License- exempt CCDF center- based provide rs License- exempt CCDF family child care home provide rs License- exempt non- CCDF provider s Relative CCDF providers Contact information [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Enrollment capacity [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Hours, days, and months of operation [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Provider education and training [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Languages spoken by the caregiver [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Quality information [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Monitoring reports [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Willingness to accept CCDF certificates [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Ages of children served [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Specialization or training for certain populations [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Care provided during nontraditional hours [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] c. Identify any other information searchable on the consumer education website for the child care provider type listed below and then, if checked, describe the searchable information included on the website. i. [x] All licensed providers. Describe: Cost, Full-time or Part-time, if transportation is available, any accreditation, and food permit. ii. [ ] License-exempt CCDF center-based providers. Describe: iii. [ ] License-exempt CCDF family child care providers. Describe: iv. [ ] License-exempt, non-CCDF providers. Describe: v. [ ] Relative CCDF providers. Describe: vi. [ ] Other. Describe: 9.2.4 Provider-specific quality information Lead Agencies must identify specific quality information on each child care provider for whom they have this information. Provider-specific quality information must only be posted on the consumer education website if it is available for the individual child care provider. a. What specific quality information does the Lead Agency provide on the website? i. [x] Quality improvement system. ii. [x] National accreditation. iii. [ ] Enhanced licensing system. iv. [ ] Meeting Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards. v. [ ] Meeting pre-Kindergarten quality requirements. vi. [ ] School-age standards. vii. [ ] Quality framework or quality improvement system. viii. [ ] Other. Describe: b. For what types of child care providers is quality information available? i. [x] Licensed CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: The Kentucky All STARS tiered quality rating and improvement system consists of 5 stars, with 3 to 5 stars considered high quality. Quality ratings are reflected in the Child Care Provider Search. Participation in All STARS is mandatory for providers receiving public funds. ii. [x] Licensed non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: Providers not receiving public funds may opt-out of Kentucky All STARS. Providers who have opted-out are listed in the Child Care Provider Search as "Not Participating." In Kentucky we do not have licensed non-CCDF providers. All providers who receive CCDF must be licensed. iii. [ ] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: iv. [ ] License-exempt FCC CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: v. [ ] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: vi. [ ] Relative child care providers. Describe the quality information: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 9.2.5 Aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated abuse Lead Agencies must post aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of child abuse that have occurred in child care settings each year on the consumer education website. This aggregate data must include information about any child in the care of a provider eligible to receive CCDF, not just children receiving subsidies. This aggregate information on serious injuries and deaths must be separated by category of care (e.g., centers, family child care homes, and in-home care) and licensing status (i.e., licensed or license-exempt) for all eligible CCDF child care providers in the State/Territory. The information on instances of substantiated child abuse does not have to be organized by category of care or licensing status. Information must also include the total number of children in care by provider type and licensing status, so that families can better understand the data presented on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of abuse. a. Certify by checking below that the required elements are included in the Aggregate Data Report on serious incident data that have occurred in child care settings each year. i. [x] The total number of serious injuries of children in care by provider category and licensing status. ii. [x] The total number of deaths of children in care by provider category and licensing status. iii. [x] The total number of substantiated instances of child abuse in child care settings. iv. [x] The total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status. v. If any of the above elements are not included, describe: b. Certify by providing: i. The designated entity to which child care providers must submit reports of any serious injuries or deaths of children occurring in child care and describe how the Lead Agency obtains the aggregate data from the entity: Regulation requires a provider to report accident or injury requiring medical care within 24 hours from time of incident to the DCBS-Division of Protection and Permanency, DCBS- Division of Child Care, and OIG-Division of Regulated Child Care. A child fatality must be reported within one hour. 922 KAR 2:090 Child Care Licensure, Section 12. 922 KAR 2:100 Certification of Family Child Care Homes, Section 19. The Child Protection Branch maintains records and prepares the Child Fatality/Near Fatality Annual Report which is available to inter-departmental agencies and the public. Data is received by DCC contacting the Division of Protection and Permanency and they provide the data. ii. The definition of “substantiated child abuse” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: KRS 600.020 defines an "abused or neglected child." Citation: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=51019 As used in KRS Chapters 600 to 645, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Abused or neglected child" means a child whose health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm when: (a) His or her parent, guardian, person in a position of authority or special trust, as defined in KRS 532.045, or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child: 1. Inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the child physical or emotional injury as defined in this section by other than accidental means; 2. Creates or allows to be created a risk of physical or emotional injury as defined in this section to the child by other than accidental means; 3. Engages in a pattern of conduct that renders the parent incapable of caring for the immediate and ongoing needs of the child, including but not limited to parental incapacity due to a substance use disorder as defined in KRS 222.005; 4. Continuously or repeatedly fails or refuses to provide essential parental care and protection for the child, considering the age of the child; 5. Commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or prostitution upon the child; 6. Creates or allows to be created a risk that an act of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or prostitution will be committed upon the child; 7. Abandons or exploits the child; 8. Does not provide the child with adequate care, supervision, food, clothing, shelter, and education or medical care necessary for the child's well-being when financially able to do so or offered financial or other means to do so. A parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of the child legitimately practicing the person's religious beliefs shall not be considered a negligent parent solely because of failure to provide specified medical treatment for a child for that reason alone. This exception shall not preclude a court from ordering necessary medical services for a child; 9. Fails to make sufficient progress toward identified goals as set forth in the court-approved case plan to allow for the safe return of the child to the parent that results in the child remaining committed to the cabinet and remaining in foster care for fifteen (15) cumulative months out of forty-eight (48) months; or 10. Commits or allows female genital mutilation as defined in KRS 508.125 to be committed; or (b) A person twenty-one (21) years of age or older commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or prostitution upon a child less than sixteen (16) years of age; Citation: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55111 iii. The definition of “serious injury” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: 922 KRS 2:090 defines an injury as an accident or injury to a child that requires medical care initiated by the child-care center or the child's parent. KRS 600.020.(60) "Serious physical injury" means physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious and prolonged disfigurement, prolonged impairment of health, or prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ; c. Provide the direct URL/website link to the page where the aggregate number of serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated child abuse, and the total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status are posted: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Documents/incidentanddeathdata.pdf 9.2.6 Contact information on referrals to local child care resource and referral organizations The Lead Agency consumer education website must include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations. a. Does the consumer education website include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations? [x] Yes. [ ] No. [ ] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not have local CCR&R organizations. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: Information on our child care resource and referral partners can be found on our DCC consumer education pages, and on the public child care search website page. https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/find-care.aspx Information is also available on the Child Care Aware of Kentucky (CCR&R) website. https://www.childcareawareky.org/support/families/ 9.2.7 Lead Agency contact information for parents The Lead Agency consumer and provider education website must include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs that can help the parent understand information included on the website. a. Does the website provide directions on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs to help them understand information included on the website? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: All CHFS websites are uniformally set up the same way and can not be changed. All websites have the Director's information listed on the site. However, the phone number listed is for the main office. If someone calls for help or information they are routed to the correct staff person. Link to the Home Page: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/default.aspx 9.2.8 Posting sliding fee scale, co-payment amount, and policies for waiving co-payments The consumer education website must include the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co- payments. a. Does the Lead Agency certify that their consumer education website includes the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co-payments? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to the sliding fee scale. https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/kiccsportal.aspx An amendment has been filed to update the regulation containing the Lead Agency's copayment chart (922 KAR 2:160 Section 11). https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/922/002/160/REG/ The Lead Agency has been paying the entire copayment since CRRSA funds were made available for this purpose and then transitioned to using state dollars. The Lead Agency will stop paying copayments and the proposed changes will go into effect on October 1, 2024. This new copayment chart caps family copays at 7% of the family's monthly income.