8.1 Coordination with Partners to Expand Accessibility and Continuity of Care

Lead Agencies must coordinate child care services supported by CCDF with other federal, State/Territory, and local level programs. This includes programs for the benefit of Indian children, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care. 8.1.1 Coordination with required and optional partners Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates and the results of this coordination of the provision of child care services with the organizations and agencies to expand accessibility and continuity of care and to assist children enrolled in early childhood programs in receiving full-day services that meet the needs of working families. The Lead Agency must coordinate with the following agencies: a. State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The State's Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) Advisory Council contains a broad range of state and local stakeholders, comprised of members of the early care and education communities as well as local government, including Maryland Head Start Association (MHSA), Maryland State Family Child Care Association (MSFCCA), Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Department of Human Services (DHS), Maryland Department of Health (MDH), State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) representatives and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. A member of the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) at MSDE, who helps set the agenda, coordinate logistics, and facilitate discussion, staffs the ECAC. Items discussed affect early care and education from prenatal to age eight and are aligned to the purpose of the State ECAC, which are to (a) coordinate efforts among early childhood care and education programs, (b) Conduct needs assessment concerning early childhood education and development programs, and (c) develop a strategic report regarding early childhood education and care. Coordination with the above agencies increases avenues for providers and families to gain meaningful updates and information and improves the Lead Agencies ability to gather important insight from the field through the coordinating bodies. This includes ensuring opportunities for families and providers to have their voices heard such as surveys, and listening sessions are shared more broadly and in a format that is most applicable and accessible such as during times of day and in languages that are most applicable. Coordination between Maryland's E arly Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) has yielded significant progress in expanding accessibility and continuity of child care services, particularly for working families. One key result of this collaboration has been the enhancement of the mixed-delivery Pre- K system, which includes family child care providers, community-based organizations, and public schools, under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. By aligning efforts across these sectors, the State ECAC and OCC have been able to ensure that more children, especially those from low-income and underserved communities, have access to full-day services that support their developmental needs while accommodating the schedules of working parents. Additionally, this coordination has led to streamlined processes for families to transition between different types of care, such as from part-time to full-day programs or from Pre-K to before- and after-school care, which is often where Child Care Scholarship funds are used. These efforts have been supported by the integration of various funding sources, including state and federal grants, to subsidize the cost of care and make it more affordable for families. As a result, the state has seen an increase in the continuity of care, reducing disruptions in children's learning and development. Through ongoing collaboration, the ECAC and OCC continue to work towards a more seamless early childhood education system that meets the diverse needs of Maryland's families, ensuring all children can succeed. b. Indian Tribe(s) and/or Tribal organization(s), at the option of the Tribe or Tribal organization. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination, including which Tribe(s) was (were) involved: [x] Not applicable. Check here if there are no Indian Tribes and/or Tribal organizations in the State/Territory. c. State/Territory agency(ies) responsible for programs for children with disabilities, including early intervention programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Division of Early Childhood and the Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services are both located at MSDE and collaborate and establish policies and practices for all child care related services for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children with disabilities. Coordination through the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) enables provision of joint professional development to enhance providers' abilities to understand and support children’s development in core concepts, skills and behaviors necessary for kindergarten entry and school success. Joint professional development also enhances the ability of providers for seamless transitions into new early childhood settings and increases the quality of care for vulnerable populations. There is a provision in the Child Care Scholarship program for providers serving children with disabilities to receive additional funds to better support the needs of children. This collaboration center’s family's needs as they transition from one system (Early Intervention) to the next preschool and kindergarten ensuring minimal interruptions in services and relevant information to support families as they navigate the supports available to them. d. State/Territory office/director for Head Start State collaboration. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Head Start Collaboration Office is in the Division of Early Childhood, allowing coordination across Head Start and other early childhood programs. Working closely with federal partners, the Maryland Head Start Association, local Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and other workgroups that serve families and their children the Collaboration Director supports the ongoing collaboration and alignment of services for family and community engagement, continuity of care for children, and comprehensive services and supports for family well-being. Coordination to expand accessibility and continuity of child care services yield positive results for families and early childhood programs. Head Start and Early Head Start programs offer full-day, expanded-hour, or expanded-year programs to accommodate various family needs and work schedules by using state funding. Coordination of services with state and local agencies leads to an integrated service approach that ensures children’s developmental needs are met and seamless transition services are provided reducing disruptions in care and learning for children and stress for families. e. State/Territory agency responsible for public health, including the agency responsible for immunizations. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Maryland Department of Health serves on many of the same Councils and workgroups on which MSDE staff are members. The goal of all of the workgroups is to provide better outcomes for children as they relate to child physical and mental health, inclusion, and educational opportunities for child care professionals. The Department of Health also participated in the State-wide needs assessment and development of the state's 5-year strategic plan for prenatal to age 8, Maryland Ready - Maryland Ready - A Path to School Readiness and Success. The strategic plan can be found here: https://strategicplan.marylandpublicschools.org/. The coordination between the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Office of Child Care Advisory Council, and the State Early Childhood Advisory Council has significantly enhanced accessibility and continuity of care for children in early childhood programs. By aligning resources and initiatives, these entities have expanded the availability of full-day services, particularly benefiting low-income and underserved families. This collaboration has enabled more children to access consistent, high-quality child care and Pre-K throughout the day, reducing the need for parents to rely on multiple care arrangements. Additionally, the integration of health, early education, and child care services has ensured that children receive comprehensive support that addresses their developmental, social-emotional, and physical health needs. This coordination has been particularly impactful for children with disabilities, medically fragile children, or those from vulnerable populations, who now have access to more cohesive and tailored care. Furthermore, the collaborative efforts have facilitated smoother transitions for children between different types of care, such as moving from part-time to full-day programs or transitioning from Pre-K with Child Care Scholarship before- and after-care programs, ensuring stable learning environments essential for their development. Supporting working families has been a central focus of this collaboration. The development of more flexible child care options, including extended hours and mixed- delivery models, provides families with the flexibility to choose care arrangements that align with their work schedules and meet their children's developmental needs. Through joint funding strategies, including leveraging state and federal funds in both MSDE and MDH, these coordinated efforts have also made early childhood programs more affordable for low income families. This has been achieved through increased subsidies, low copayments, and the integration of multiple state and federal funding streams to reduce the cost burden on families. As a result, Maryland's early childhood system is better equipped to support the needs of working families, promoting greater access to continuous, high-quality care that fosters children's development and well-being. f. State/Territory agency responsible for employment services/workforce development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: A representative from the Department of Human Services serves on the Early Childhood Advisory Council and the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. Members of both Councils share information relevant to child care scholarship employment services and workforce development. The Department of Human Services also participated in the State-wide needs assessment and development of the 5-year strategic plan, Maryland Ready - Maryland Ready - A Path to School Readiness and Success. The strategic plan can be found here, Page 24 of 397: https://strategicplan.marylandpublicschools.org/ MSDE collaborates with other state agencies to support the early childhood workforce. Maryland continues to create pathways for the incumbent and prospective early childhood workforce. MSDE has worked closely with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Maryland Department of Labor. Four new early childhood registered apprenticeships were started through this partnership using American Rescue Plan Act funds. MSDE continues to look for additional funding to sustain these programs. In addition, MSDE and MHEC are working closely with early childhood stakeholders to develop a new career ladder in alignment with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Power to the Profession. Once this new career ladder is developed, clear pathways will be shared with the early childhood workforce and the staff qualification between child care and state-funded Pre-K will be aligned in order to simplify the current credentialing system. In addition, $450,000 in state funding was allocated to the Growing Opportunities for Family Child Care. This state investment is geared toward increasing the number of family child care providers. The coordination between various agencies has been essential to supporting the early childhood workforce. A well- supported and highly skilled workforce is better able to serve young children and meet the needs of working families. g. State/Territory agency responsible for public education, including pre-Kindergarten. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: MSDE is the State agency responsible for public education, including prekindergarten; however, there is coordination among the various departments within the agency to support public education. The Office of Early Learning and Instruction in the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) oversees prekindergarten, including the expansion of a mixed-delivery universal Pre-K program. This Office of Early Learning and Instruction works closely with the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Office of Child Care (OCC) to support local education agencies, Head Start programs, family child care homes, and center-based programs as well as other program types in the state prekindergarten program. The Office of Early Learning and Instruction conducts monthly ECE Content Collaborative meetings with local education agencies to share best practices, work through problems of practice and share updates in support with the mixed-delivery system. As a result of these collaborative meetings, district leaders gain insight, receive feedback and create action plans in support of moving their work forward. Licensing: The Licensing Branch frequently provides regulation and licensing updates regarding the licensed child care to the other branches/workflows in DEC. Licensing also ensures providers are made aware of the opportunities to participate and offer public PreK through email blasts, information sessions and Tuesday Tidbits. Licensing ensures that the programs are licensed to provide care beyond the 6-hour instructional day to meet the needs of families. In addition, licensing will coordinate to conduct joint inspections and investigations with the other branches as needed. h. State/Territory agency responsible for child care licensing. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Division of Early Childhood's Office of Child Care - Child Care Licensing branch is responsible for licensing/registering child care providers throughout Maryland. Both the Licensing Branch oversees thirteen regional licensing offices to provide initial and annual inspections, respond to complaints and enforce regulations. The Assistant State Superintendent and the Executive Director work closely with the Licensing Branch Chief and the thirteen regional licensing managers on policies and procedures impacting child care licensing. In addition, the Licensing branch often connects the other branches/workflows in DEC with the child care providers, as needed or/and upon request. Licensing branch serves as a liaison to provide valuable updates and initiatives to the provider and families, as well as provide feedback and recommendations to the other DEC branches/workflows, when received from the stakeholders. Licensing also aligns various regulations with the other branches/workflows to ensure continuity of child care servies, in order to meet the needs of the providers and families. i. State/Territory agency responsible for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and other relevant nutrition programs. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: MSDE's Office of School and Community Nutrition Program administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Office of Child Care (OCC) has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office of School and Community Nutrition Program (OSCNP) and coordinates to provide training, assistance and access to the CACFP. The two divisions coordinate on accountability measures and to reduce provider burden. The OCC also provides the OSCNP with a listing of all licensed/registered providers so that the OSCNP can validate licensure information for the providers who wish to participate in the Program. Licensing: The regional offices provide a monthly list of providers to the food program and opportunities for the food program to provide training to both licensing staff and providers during staff meetings and information sessions. In addition, both agencies share information regarding providers and families to ensure the child care needs of the providers and families are being met. The Licensing Branch works with MSDE Food and Nutrition Program to receive the USDA CACFP updates and update the meal and menu plan and related resource document on the website. The OCC [1214] Emergency Form has section for the Food and Nutrition program to capture children participating in the food program and their attendance, provider reimbursement and education, and training regarding the program. The free summer meal program is promoted through news letter and the DEC website. Scholarship: In addition, the CACFP can use technology made available via the Child Care Provider Portal to confirm which children determined eligible for CCDF benefits are also eligible for opportunities made available by the Food Program. Data made available via the Child Care Provider Portal expands a child’s access to the benefits provided by the Food and Nutrition Program by enabling the case manager to have access to the information needed to determine a child’s eligibility. Early Learning and Instruction: The Prekindergarten Grantees are required to serve at least one meal per day that meets the CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements. Grantees are referred to the USDA CACFP for resources and additional information on nutrition and meal planning. Maryland EXCELS: Maryland EXCELS Administrative Policies and Procedures standards at quality ratings of 3, 4, and 5 include participation in CACFP. j. McKinney-Vento State coordinators for homeless education and other agencies providing services for children experiencing homelessness and, to the extent practicable, local McKinney-Vento liaisons. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: In coordination with the McKinney-Vento State coordinators for homeless education, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provides guidance to Lead Agencies and providers as to how to support children and families experiencing homelessness. For example, guidance was provided to inform the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that families experiencing homelessness do not need to provide proof of income for Pre-K enrollment. Pre-K programs must enroll all four-year- old applicants who are experiencing homelessness (COMAR §13A.06.02.03.A). Three-year- old children experiencing homelessness also are automatically eligible for Pre-K (COMAR§13A.06.02.03.C(1)). This categorical eligibility means that families experiencing homelessness do not have to provide evidence of income for Pre-K enrollment. A completed eligibility questionnaire, a note from the McKinney-Vento liaison or designated Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW), or any other record that the family has been determined to be experiencing homelessness replaces proof of income. Notarized letters from the family cannot be requested, as such a requirement would create a barrier to the child’s enrollment in Pre-K. Currently, a McKinney-Vento Outreach Toolkit is under development, which will consist of videos, PSAs, brochures, fliers, and a social media campaign. In addition, MSDE is developing online courses for a variety of LEA and program staff, which will be released on a rolling basis starting by May 2024. As a result of coordination with the McKinney-Vento State Coordinators, we ensure that all homeless students receive prioritized enrollment as Tier I students into Pre-K. Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program: In accordance with the federal McKinney Vento Act, MSDE offers an immediate 90-day emergency CCS within 5 business days, based upon the documented activity needs of families experiencing homelessness and that submit a completed CCS Application along with the minimum requirements: proof of state residency and proof of activity (employment, - work, training, and school). Continuity of care and full services is increased by giving the parent 5 months to complete the eligibility process required to be issued 24- month scholarships. The CCS Program has a McKinney Vento Liaison that coordinates with state educational agencies and local educational agencies that help families experiencing homelessness and that need child care assistance for children ages 13 and under age 19. By way of coordinated communications efforts, meetings, conferences, phone calls and emails, the MSDE CCS Program makes a continuous effort to bring awareness about the McKinney Vento Act and the emergency 90-day scholarship to the state educational agencies, local educational agencies, and various other agencies within the state of Maryland. This coordinated effort increases equal access to quality child care by enabling children to access child care during a period of high stress for their parents while their parents gather all the documents required to meet all eligibility requirements. The development of a referral process and by embedding the McKinney Vento Act's definition of homelessness within the CCS Application increases the identification of families that might otherwise have their CCS application denied due to the inability to provide all CCDF eligibility documentation at the point of initial application submission. The provision of CCDF benefits for 24 months increases access and continuity of benefits to children enrolled in early childhood programs. Licensing: The Licensing Branch serves as a liaison between the providers, families and other branches within the Office of Child Care. This may include drafting/revising regulations to ensure alignment with other branch regulations and/or initiatives, opportunities to present to licensing staff and/or providers during monthly meetings, exchanging information, and/or coordinating inspections and investigations. Licensing also started joining Head Start Associations meeting to provide updates and answer questions from the providers. Licensing will be presenting information to providers including how to support families experiencing homelessness. k. State/Territory agency responsible for the TANF program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Child Care Scholarship (CCS): The CCS Program coordinates with the Department of Human Services, TANF division to expedite the processing of Child Care Scholarship Applications for customers that receive or have pending Temporary Cash Assistance Applications and/or are experiencing homelessness in order to expedite equal access to quality child care for children in high- risk situations. The coordination results in customers having their CCS application approved within 5 days and for the number of hours documented as the parent being engaged in an approved activity. The provision of CCDF benefits for 24-months increasing access and continuity of benefits to children enrolled in early childhood programs. l. State/Territory agency responsible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the local departments of social services under the Department of Human Services (DHS) serve as access points for these programs. MSDE staff, and representatives from the MDH and the DHS serve together on the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) Advisory Council and have mutual goals to improve outcomes for children. The agencies collaborate on initiatives that affect Maryland's families and children. As a result, ongoing guidance and support is provided to childcare programs and the families enrolled. The coordinated efforts amongst agencies also help to inform families and child care staff where to find resources regarding health insurance, immunizations, and Tuberculosis screenings. In addition, MSDEs health inventory Form [1215] links families to MDH for any questions or concerns they may have in relation immunizations and screenings. m. State/Territory agency responsible for mental health services. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and MSDE representatives serve together on numerous committees and councils, including the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Leadership Committee, to coordinate an efficient provision of services that affect mutual customer bases, such as Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Strategies and promising practices to address family and child mental health, including aligning comprehensive services, seamless transitions, and improving the workforce and availability of high-quality care, are discussed during the Office of Child Care (OCC) Advisory Council and the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) meetings. MSDE has issued targeted grants to support access to high quality child care for children and families need therapeutic child care and infant early childhood mental health consultation in child care programs across the state. Based on the need across the state a larger investment is needed to meet the current demand for these supports. n. Child care resource and referral agencies, child care consumer education organizations, and providers of early childhood education training and professional development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) coordinates efforts with the Statewide Coordinating Entity for the Maryland Child Care Resource Network (MCCRN). The Statewide Coordinating Entity and the MCCRN provide services, training and technical assistance to child care providers and early childhood educators. Many of these trainings focus on children and their transitions from child care to PreK/Kindergarten and transitions that occur naturally throughout the day in their child care program. The MCCRN also offers coaching and technical assistance to providers in developing action plans based on training they receive. The Office of Child Care's (OCC) Training Approval Coordinator ensures all training and other professional learning organizations offer meets State and federal requirements. The Training Coordinator also meets with the Statewide Coordinating Entity, the MCCRN, and other approved training organizations to discuss training needs and requirements. The Training Coordinator and staff conducts quarterly Trainers' Meetings to discuss any updates and to provide train-the-trainer sessions for topics that need to be available to the provider community. Maryland EXCELS offers consumer education to families through short online videos on how to find child care, determine what a quality program is, and understand if a program is the right fit for their child. By ensuring that the State Coordinating Entity (SCE) is well connected to MSDE branches, data systems, and other stakeholders and partners, the SCE is able to provide comprehensive family resource and referral services to those seeking early care and education opportunities in Maryland. The SCE maintains a database of all licensed child care in Maryland, including PreK programs operated within school systems, in order to identify child care programs which meet the needs of all families, including those with adults in the workplace. This database is the foundation for connecting families to quality care and includes a broad expanse of information about programs, beyond what is available through the licensing system, to support families in identifying the most appropriate care for their child. Furthermore, local education agencies (LEAs) and private providers work together to ensure that all teachers have access to professional development. There is also collaboration in support of students transitioning from pre-k to kindergarten to ensure that both parents and students are prepared and have the information needed to help them to be successful in their new educational setting. o. Statewide afterschool network or other coordinating entity for out-of-school time care (if applicable). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Office of Child Care (OCC) coordinates with the Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Network through the OCC Advisory Council on items of interest to both. This can include input from the after-school provider community concerning regulations, legislative initiatives, training and professional development and other shared goals. In fact, MSDE previously hosted a school age workgroup, which provided feedback regarding regulations that were specific to school age programs. One of the suggestions from the workgroup pertained to aligning the CPR/FA certification requirements with the staff/child ratios for school age programs. As a result, Licensing is working on amending the regulations to allow school age programs to allow 1 certified staff to each group of 30 children, as opposed to the current standard of 1:20. p. Agency responsible for emergency management and response. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) partners with Maryland's Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) on issues related to child safety, such as making the local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) aware of the child care provider community and the impact any emergency can have upon children in those settings. A Division of Early Childhood (DEC) representative serves on MSDE's Continuity of Operations Planning Committee and three of MSDE's thirteen essential functions are Office of Child Care related. Those functions are: 1. Process and investigate child care related complaints 2. Respond to Criminal Justice Information Systems indicators for arrest of child care providers; and 3. Enforcement actions against child care providers. All of these functions are deemed essential by MSDE for protecting the health and safety of Maryland's children in out-of-home child care settings. The Division of Early Childhood worked closely with the MSDE representative to MDEM. q. The following are examples of optional partners a Lead Agency might coordinate with to provide services. Check which optional partners the Lead Agency coordinates with and describe the coordination and results of the coordination. i. [x] State/Territory/local agencies with Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grants. Describe: In the future, based on available funding, MSDE will issue grants to non-profit Early Head Start- Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnership grantees, utilizing Child Care Scholarship (CCS) funding to pay for the cost of care for children enrolled in those programs. This will allow the grantees to braid different funding sources to improve quality. The grantees are located in, and serve, different geographical areas of Maryland. Based on available funds, MSDE will also award additional grants to these entities, using infant and toddler funding, to provide coaching services to the providers in the EHS-CC Partnership to improve quality ratings within the Maryland EXCELS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Funds may also be used to purchase learning materials and supplies to improve the quality of care. ii. [ ] State/Territory institutions for higher education, including community colleges. Describe: iii. [ ] Other federal, State, local, and/or private agencies providing early childhood and school-age/youth-serving developmental services. Describe: iv. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for implementing the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs grant. Describe: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) partner to provide home visiting in Maryland. MDH coordinates the Federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant and the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) administers the State-funded home visiting program. MDH representatives serve on the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) and the Office of Child Care (OCC) Advisory Council. Representatives from the DEC serves on the Home Visiting Coordinating Council. v. [ ] Agency responsible for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program. Describe: vi. [ ] State/Territory agency responsible for child welfare. Describe: vii. [ ] Child care provider groups or associations. Describe: viii. [ ] Parent groups or organizations. Describe: ix. [ ] Title IV B 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators. Describe: x. [ ] Other. Describe: