8.3 Coordination with Child Care Resource and Referral Systems

Lead Agencies may use CCDF funds to establish or support a system or network of local or regional child care resource and referral (CCR&R) organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined by the Lead Agency, by a statewide public or private non-profit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization (such as a statewide CCR&R network). If Lead Agencies use CCDF funds for local CCR&R organizations, the local or regional CCR&R organizations supported by those funds must, at the direction of the Lead Agency: • Provide parents in the State with consumer education information concerning the full range of child care options (including faith-based and community-based child care providers), analyzed by provider, including child care provided during non-traditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their area. • To the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance to offer the families support and assistance to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in the most appropriate child care setting that suits their needs and one that is of high quality (as determined by the Lead Agency). • Collect data and provide information on the coordination of services and supports, including services under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. • Collect data and provide information on the supply of and demand for child care services in areas of the State and submit the information to the Lead Agency. • Work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities, including faith- based and community-based child care providers, to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State and, as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the Lead Agency and local agencies that administer funds made available through CCDF. 8.3.1 Funding a system or network of CCR&R organization(s) Does the Lead Agency fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s)? [ ] No. The Lead Agency does not fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) and has no plans to establish one. [ ] No, but the Lead Agency has plans to develop a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s). [x] Yes. The Lead Agency funds a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) with all the responsibilities outlined above. If yes, describe the activities outlined above carried out by the CCR&R organization(s), as directed by the Lead Agency: Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) awarded a contract to Maryland Family Network (MFN) to oversee the operations of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network (MCCRN). This network consists of twelve sites located throughout Maryland, providing statewide information and referral services to help families find licensed child care that meets their needs. MFN provides leadership and management for the MCCRN, which includes grant management, training, technical assistance, support, program and fiscal monitoring, evaluation, and development of training modules and technical assistance strategies. The primary goal of the MCCRN is to support parents seeking quality early care and education programs and to enhance the capacity of licensed child care providers. This involves strategic management support and leadership development for providers participating in Maryland EXCELS. MFN also manages centralized LOCATE: Child Care services for the state, offering telephone counseling and web-based programs. LOCATE: Child Care maintains a database of all regulated child care providers across Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions, including: registered family child care providers, licensed full-day child care centers, Head Start programs, private nursery schools, kindergartens, Pre-K programs, school-age programs. Services are provided statewide and reflect the needs of all children, including those from low-income families, children with disabilities and special health care needs, English Language Learners, and children with developmental or mental health concerns.