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? [x] 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: EEC contracts with center-based child care programs, including school age programs, and with family child care systems for family child care services at affiliated licensed family child care homes to ensure that families have a variety of choices for care providers. When families are offered a contracted seat with one of the contracted providers they are informed of their choices within that contracted providers network of programs if applicable. Many of the contracted center based programs and family child care systems have multiple programs, locations and types of care. The contracted provider's Family Access Administrators review documents and counsels the family during intake about parent choice and their right to change providers at any time, the family signs all documents to ensure they were counseled on their rights. Additionally, families are informed of the option to move from their contracted seat to a voucher if the contracted seat no longer meets the needs of their family. [ ] 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: [ ] 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: EEC uses contracts as a mechanism for serving children with the highest needs which is inclusive of children with disabilities. Children with disabilities are considered a priority and are identified through the screening and enrollment for contracts. EEC serves approximately 110 children with disabilities through contracts. [x] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: EEC has allocated approximately 5,235 contracted slots for infant and toddler populations including our family child care ￿under 2’ and ￿over 2’ contracts. [x] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: EEC established seat allocation targets to prioritize access underserved geographic areas which EEC defined as child care deserts and areas with high child poverty. This prioritization was used in determining the target seat allocation for approximately 12,000 seats. Though EEC did not designate a specific number of seats, this prioritization was a focus of the overall seat allocation analysis and formula for contracts. Additionally, EEC provided a list of the child care deserts and high child care poverty areas and contracted providers were asked to identify if their program serves these areas. Programs in these areas received additional points in their bid score EEC is actively in the procurement process for its contracts and will be collecting the number of seats/slots as a part of the new contracts starting 10/1/24. [x] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Though EEC does not specifically allocate seats for non-traditional care , it is a prioritization with the contracts and contracted providers were asked to identify programs that offer non- traditional hours of care through the contract RFR. EEC will be collecting this information as a part of the new contracts starting 10/1/24. [x] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: EEC has allocated approximately 3,873 contracted school age slots. [x] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: EEC has allocated over 1000 contracted slots specifically allocated to homeless populations. [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [x] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: EEC established seat allocation targets to prioritize access in child care deserts and areas with high child poverty which was inclusive of rural areas. This prioritization was used in determining the target seat allocation for approximately 12,000 seats. Though EEC did not designate a specific number of seats, this prioritization was a focus of the overall seat allocation analysis and formula for contracts. Additionally, EEC provided a list of the child care deserts including rural areas and high child care poverty areas and contracted providers were asked to identify if their program serves these areas. Programs in these areas received additional points in their bid scores. EEC is actively in the procurement process for its contracts and will be collecting the number of seats/slots as a part of the new contracts starting 10/1/24. [x] Other populations. If checked, describe: EEC has allocated over 300 contracted slots specifically to children of parents under 24 years of age and 4,500 contracted slots for families involved with the Department of Children and Families. ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? Rates for vouchers and contracted slots are determined by EEC’s rate chart which is updated regularly as funding is granted by the legislature for rate increases. In addition, Contracted Center based programs and Family Child Care systems receive an administrative rate contract for managing the contracts that is based on a 5% of the seats awarded for CBC and a regional rate for FCC systems. 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. [ ] 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: ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: In-home care providers 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: In-home care providers may not be reimbursed for more than 50 hours of child care services per week. iv. [ ] 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: 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. [x] Other. Describe: Care by relatives can occur in the child's home or in the relatives' home. Care by non-relatives must occur in the child's home. If the Informal Provider is a relative, the total number of the children under the age of 13 (or under age 16 if the child has a disability) present when care is being given cannot exceed six. If the Informal Provider is a non-relative, the total number of children present when care is being given cannot exceed five with no more than three children under the age of two (so long as one child is fifteen months of age and walking independently). Also, for non-relatives, all children in care must be related to each other, and living in the residence where care is occurring, or be the non-relative's own children. In-home care cannot be used if the family is receiving a full time authorization due to a combination of the child's disability and the parent's part time service need, unless approved by EEC. The Informal Child Care Provider cannot be a member of the parent's TAFDC assistance unit (unless the parent is under the age of 18). Caregiver cannot be the child's parent, stepparent, foster parent, or guardian. 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: EEC uses Child Universal Success Platform (CUSP), which combines US Census, EEC agency licensing data and child-level financial assistance data, and public preschool data to model the supply and demand of early education and care. ii. Method of tracking progress: Dashboards and maps, built off of the CUSP data, display child care deserts, supply and demand by age group and geography. EEC also actively tracks the proportion of CCFA eligible infants and toddlers who are currently enrolled in CCFA statewide and by region. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes EEC used data on infant and toddler access deserts to support the allocation of slots through the statewide contracts for child care financial assistance, allowing for a concentration of funding in deserts to ensure sufficient supply and incentivize growth. Family child care (FCC) systems serving children in child care deserts received additional points in the 2024 re-procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots. This will lead to an increase of over 350 FCC contracted slots for infants/toddlers. EEC is also working in partnership with FCC systems to support apprenticeships for individuals interested in becoming FCC providers. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? EEC used data on infant and toddler access deserts to support the allocation of slots through the statewide contracts for child care financial assistance, allowing for a concentration of funding in deserts to ensure sufficient supply and incentivize growth. Center-based child care (CBC) providers serving children in child care deserts received additional points in the 2024 re-procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots. This will lead to an increase of over 600 center- based contracted slots for infants/toddlers. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: EEC uses Child Universal Success Platform (CUSP), which combines US Census, EEC agency licensing data and child-level financial assistance data, and public preschool data to model the supply and demand of early education and care. This data was used to inform seat allocation and priorities for distribution of contracted seats through EEC's contracted provider re-procurement for contract seats in early education care center based and family child care system programs which identified underserved, rural and high poverty geographic areas in need as it relates to the eligible children in need. ii. Method of tracking progress: Dashboards and maps, built off of the CUSP data, display child care deserts, supply and demand by age group and geography. EEC also actively tracks the proportion of CCFA eligible children who are currently enrolled in CCFA statewide and by region. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? EEC used this data to support the allocation of slots through the statewide contracts for child care financial assistance, allowing for a concentration of funding in deserts to ensure sufficient supply and incentivize growth. Center- based and FCC systems serving children in towns with child care deserts, rural areas, high poverty received additional points in the 2024 re-procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? EEC used this data to support the allocation of slots through the statewide contracts for child care financial assistance, allowing for a concentration of funding in deserts to ensure sufficient supply and incentivize growth. Center-based child care (CBC) providers serving children in towns with child care deserts received additional points in the 2024 procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots. This data is also use to inform potential expansion of FCC apprenticeship programs by geographic area. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: As part of the 2024 re-procurement of over 6,000 contracted child care financial assistance slots, EEC examined data on the current DCF caseload overall and by region, as well as current statewide data on the family shelter system to identify where EEC should adjust the number of contracted slots for children involved with the Department of Children and Families and children from families experiencing homelessness. EEC is also collecting information on the needs of all preschool children enrolled through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), grants to 21 districts (with 9 more in the planning stage) that support district-wide efforts to expand access to high quality preschool across the local mixed delivery system in Massachusetts. Each community is responsible for identifying children's needs and providing appropriate services at all participating programs of all types, including family child care, families experiencing homelessness, special education needs, etc., and sharing child level data with EEC that includes this information. ii. Method of tracking progress: Once the new child care financial assistance contracts are awarded, EEC will continue to use the DCF caseload and shelter data to monitor progress, as well as data on contract utilization. For CPPI communities, we intend to grow the number of children appropriately identified and served through CPPI programs while limiting, or eliminating altogether, the differences in success across program types. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? As a result of the 2024 re-procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots, the number of slots for FCC priority populations (defined as families involved in DCF, experiencing homeless, and parents under 24 years of age) will increase to over 2,000 slots. Additionally, many of the contracted FCC systems are expanding across regions which will increase the number of FCC homes. CPPI communities have the option of including family child care homes in the program, although there are only a few communities doing this right now. EEC is looking to share the successes that these communities have had and encouraging other grantees to participate. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? As a result of the 2024 re-procurement of contracted child care financial assistance slots, the number of slots for CBC priority populations (defined as families involved in DCF, experiencing homeless, and parents under 24 years of age) will increase to over 2,500 slots. CPPI communities work with a robust network of licensed, center based early education programs and are working to build access and support for children with special needs in these settings. 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: The agency has worked with outside contractors to develop a database to model the supply and demand for early education and care statewide, with disaggregation by geography, age group, and family income. This database combines data from the US Census, the agency’s licensing database, and child-level financial assistance data to help the agency better understand where existing supply meets demand and where gaps exist. The agency has also worked with external contractors to identify child care deserts￿both overall deserts, financial assistance deserts, and deserts by age group. This data is allowing the agency to ensure investments are focused in areas identified, including the distribution of funding through contracts for child care financial assistance and equity adjustments to Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants. Additionally, EEC manages a set of grants to school districts, the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), that support local efforts to coordinate and expand access to high quality preschool across all local program types serving preschoolers. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: EEC has worked with outside contractors to develop a database to model the supply and demand for early education and care statewide, with disaggregation by geography, age group, and family income. This database combines data from the US Census, the agency’s licensing database, and child-level financial assistance data to help the agency better understand where existing supply meets demand and where gaps exist. We have also worked with external contractors to identify child care deserts￿both overall deserts, financial assistance deserts, and deserts by age group. This data allow us to ensure investments are focused in areas identified, including the distribution of funding through contracts for child care financial assistance and equity adjustments to Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants. The supply and demand modeling, as well as the child care desert identification includes specific breakdowns for infants and toddlers. Selection of contracted child care financial assistance slots will be partly guided by this information. C3 is also designed to provide greater funding for programs serving infants and toddlers through a staffing adjustment responsive to the lower child teacher ratios necessary. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: EEC is in the process of implementing a data sharing agreement with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education which will help EEC better understand the supply and demand for early education and care among children with disabilities. Although this data is not yet available, EEC provides Commonwealth Preschool Partnership (CPPI) grants to 28 districts across the state (largely focused on high need and Gateway communities) to support coordination and expansion of preschool access. A significant expectation of these grants is that districts understand where children with disabilities are and are not being served and support families in accessing services across all program type, often through the provision of itinerant services. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: Through the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Operational Grant process, EEC has collected information around whether providers offer care during non-traditional hours and is in the process of analyzing this information. Additionally, through the 2024 Contracted provider re-procurement EEC required that bidders provide non traditional hours of care and identify which Center based care programs and FCC providers offer these hours. EEC anticipates being able to track this information through this plan period. Additionally, EEC contracts with Department of Children and Families to provide emergency child care providers for children that may have been removed from their homes and need care which may include non traditional hours of care. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: Through EEC’s efforts to enhance and build infrastructure to support pipelines for recruitment and retention, there is an increased focus on building the supply and quality of family child care, resulting in more support to become a licensed family child care provider in targeted geographies, additional professional development in the initial year after licensure, and increased supply for children receiving child care financial assistance. 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. C3 funding is driven by a formula that adjusts grant awards upwards for programs serving children in communities with a high social vulnerability index or high percentages of children receiving child care financial assistance. CPPI grants also prioritize districts in high needs and Gateway Cities to provide a mechanism for focused local efforts to increase preschool access across all programs in the mixed delivery system, align and improve quality and ensure children with disabilities are served equitably across the system. The current procurement for state child care financial assistance contracts is also prioritizing programs in these areas using the data discussed above. For example, potential providers for our updated contract program must demonstrate high levels of support and expectations around quality improvement as a mechanism for targeted capacity building and quality improvement. 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.