1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: Information about the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was shared via a School System Leaders call with all Louisiana parish School Superintendents. Information was also shared via the Early Childhood newsletter, to which most liaisons for the local-level Early Childhood Care and Education Community Network Lead Agencies (many of whom are school systems), along with a link to a survey via which they could provide feedback on the Plan draft. The Lead Agency reviewed all feedback responses submitted as part of the final drafting of the proposed Plan and will continue to consider feedback received when planning for the future. Many of the Community Networks also serve as Ready Start Networks, which form coalitions of and share information with other local community leaders and stakeholders, including general-purpose local government representatives. Additionally, many components of this State Plan have been implemented based on prior year consultation with a broad range of community stakeholders. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: An overview of the 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan components was shared at the February 2024 meeting of the state’s Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council. A draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was then shared via e- mail with members of the state Advisory Council, along with a link to a survey via which they could provide feedback on the Plan draft. The Lead Agency reviewed all feedback responses submitted as part of the final drafting of the proposed Plan and will continue to consider feedback received when planning for the future. Additionally, many components of this State Plan have been proposed and implemented based on prior year consultation with a broad range of community stakeholders, including former and current state Advisory Council members. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: The Lead Agency shared the drafted State Plan with representatives from the two Tribal organizations within the state and requested both short- and long-term feedback on the Plan. c. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: In fall, winter, and early spring the Lead Agency requested that other stakeholders, such as child care workforce representatives (e.g., the state Child Care Association) and early childhood care and education advocacy groups share any initial thoughts on Louisiana's 2025-2027 State Plan during the Lead Agency’s initial drafting of the Plan. The launching of the draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was shared via meetings with representatives of those groups and via the Lead Agency website, along with a link to a survey via which they could provide feedback on the Plan draft. The Lead Agency reviewed all feedback responses submitted as part of the final drafting of the proposed Plan. Additionally, many components of this State Plan have been proposed and implemented based on prior year consultation with a broad range of community stakeholders, including representatives from the child care workforce and early childhood care and education advocacy groups. 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: 5/31/2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: 5/7/2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide noticeThe Lead Agency provided notification about the public meeting by posting notice of the meeting on the Lead Agency website along with a draft of the State Plan from May 7-31, both on the homepage banner (https://www.louisianabelieves.com/) and on the ￿Early Childhood Policy & Guidance￿ page (https://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/library/early-childhood-policy- guidance); sending both the Plan draft and information about the public meeting to the state’s Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council members in May; advertising the public hearing in the May monthly newsletter sent to statewide early childhood stakeholders; advertising the public hearing in the public meeting in May of the state Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council; and advertising the public hearing in the public meeting in May of the state Early Childhood Care and Education Commission Task Force, understanding that these groups would share the information further. Notification for the public hearing included information on how to request an ASL translator. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: Notifications were made by the Lead Agency to stakeholders statewide via a posted hearing notice and draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan which was linked on the Lead Agency website along with a link to a survey via which stakeholders statewide could provide feedback on the Plan draft, for review by the Lead Agency as part of the final drafting of the proposed Plan. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): A draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was linked on the Lead Agency website along with a link to a survey via which stakeholders statewide could provide feedback on the Plan draft, for review by the Lead Agency as part of the final drafting of the proposed Plan. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: The Lead Agency reviewed all feedback responses submitted by stakeholders for consideration in the final drafting of the proposed Plan, as well as for consideration of future amendments to the Plan. In addition, feedback will be further considered as the Lead Agency continues to plan for the future. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. https://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/library/early-childhood-policy-guidance b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. [x] Working with advisory committees. Describe: The Lead Agency shared with the state Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council members the drafted State Plan, along with information on how the public could access it and how they and the public could access a survey to provide feedback. ii. [x] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: Information about how to find the drafted Plan and provide feedback was also shared in the Lead Agency’s monthly Early Childhood newsletter, which is disseminated to a wide range of stakeholders and to which child care resource and referral agencies subscribe. iii. [ ] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: iv. [ ] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: Information on how to find the draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was shared in meetings and via e-mail with advocacy groups, along with a link to a survey via which they could provide feedback on the Plan draft. Information about how to find the drafted Plan and provide feedback was also shared in the Lead Agency’s monthly Early Childhood newsletter, which is disseminated to a wide range of stakeholders. vi. [ ] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: vii. [x] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: Information on how to find the draft of the proposed 2025-2027 State Plan was shared in a meeting with the leadership of the Child Care Association of Louisiana and For Providers By Providers, along with a link to a survey via which they could provide feedback on the Plan draft. Information about how to find the drafted Plan and provide feedback was also shared in the Lead Agency’s monthly Early Childhood newsletter, which is disseminated to a wide range of stakeholders. viii. [ ] Other. Describe: 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.