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: Michigan funds and oversees a variety of locally led structures that bring together members of general-purpose local government and other stakeholders interested in childhood issues. These groups are the 54 Great Start Collaboratives (GSCs) focused on early childhood systems building and the Regional Child Care Coalitions, led by local Economic Development Organizations (including leadership from local municipalities) focused on creating early childhood action plans to address locally identified child care barriers. Both of these locally led structures include general purpose government bodies as part of their membership and each engages in data collection and strategic planning to guide their local work which are reviewed and approved by the Department. A Regional Child Care Coalition gathering was held where they shared their local needs assessments and identified priorities to help address child care supply (access for families and workforce) and provide suggestions to MILEAP for ongoing policy improvements. Ongoing meetings are held throughout the year with each of these groups helps to inform the Department of local challenges, barriers and best practice strategies that can be used to help set policy and inform future efforts. These groups were invited to the structured state plan consultation sessions and participated in three sessions to provide additional insight. Each Regional Child Care Coalition created a local action plan for implementation and will be collectively providing policy recommendations to MILEAP to suggest potential strategies to address barriers. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: The Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) department (created by Executive Order in 2023) has been charged with adding capacity to the early learning team so that every child is ready for kindergarten; accelerating progress toward the state’s Sixty by 30 goal, so that everyone can earn a skill certificate or degree after high school, tuition-free; and to prioritize community, regional and state partnerships that help students succeed. MiLEAP consists of three focus areas: Early Childhood Education, Higher Education and Educational Partnerships. The CCDF-funded work falls under the Early Childhood Education section, focused on child care licensing, early learning and care, family engagement and Michigan’s Tri Share initiatives. The State Advisory Council’s (SAC) 29 members represent the required agencies and partners in the mixed delivery system. They convened three times over three months, to support the consultation process of the State Plan. The SAC was first presented with an overview of the State Plan purpose, sections, process, and the proposed engagement plan. The second meeting held focused on reviewing the draft market rate survey report, and the third meeting was held at the conclusion of the consultation and official hearing events to review the summary reports that included the identification of themes and recommended priorities. Feedback and recommendations were gathered from the SAC members at each meeting and their ideas were incorporated at each stage of the process. All SAC members were also invited to participate in the other consultation, Market Rate and State Plan Hearings and to provide comments on the final draft of the plan. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: The Department coordinated a consultation session with tribal members during the drafting of this plan, including a review of the Market Rate Survey draft. All tribal partners also received an invitation to participate in the Market Rate and State Plan Hearings and to provide comments on the final draft of the plan. Ongoing meetings will be scheduled with tribal partners for continued coordination and collaboration. 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: Seven different consultation sessions were convened to review the developing State Plan. Each session began with an overview of the purpose of the plan, the sections included in the plan and some key data. The groups were then invited into breakout sessions where they were engaged in deeper discussions about specific plan sections. Participants were encouraged to provide input about what is currently happening, ideas that should be explored, and challenges and barriers that need to be addressed. The entities that were engaged in these events included: MiLEAP staff, Regional Child Care Planning Coalitions, Tri Share Hubs, Kellogg Community of Practice members (philanthropic leaders), Think Babies (early childhood advocates), Apprenticeship Hubs, Caring for MI Future project leads, Early Childhood Support Network staff, Early Childhood Advisory Network members, Great Start Collaborative Directors and Family Liaisons, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services staff, Child Care Resource Center Directors, MiAEYC, Early Childhood Investment Corporation staff, Family Child Care Network Hub leads and members, Child Care Providers (licensed and license-exempt) and parents. 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: 5/14/2024; 5/15/2024; 5/16/2024 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: 4/21/2024 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 noticeNotification of the three public hearing opportunities (including a link to the report and instructions on how to submit comments) were posted on the CDC website and met Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. In addition, state-wide partners and state departments were sent language to share with their list-servs and networks with the request that they distribute it. These channels included Child Care Licensing, Great Start to Quality, Head Start State Collaboration Office, Early Childhood Support Networks, GSQ Resource Centers, GSCs, GSFCs, the MDHHS, Early Childhood Administrators Network (ECAN), Tribal partners, Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, ECIC, Think Babies, Hope Starts Here, Flint Early Childhood Partnership, Michigan's Children, Michigan League for Public Policy, and the Women's Commission, Regional Coalitions, Apprenticeship Hubs, Kellogg Community of Practice, Family Child Care Network Hubs, Child And Adult Care Food Program, license exempt providers, and MiRegistry. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: In order to ensure that the public hearing was inclusive of representatives throughout the state, the sessions were held virtually, removing the barrier of participants needing to travel to participate. 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.): The draft plan was posted (by section) at the CDC website at www.michigan.gov/childcare. Partners, including the following received information to share on behalf of the CDC Office: Child Care Licensing, Great Start to Quality, Head Start State Collaboration Office, Early Childhood Support Networks, GSQ Resource Centers, GSCs, GSPCs, the MDHHS, Early Childhood Administrators Network (ECAN), Tribal partners, Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, ECIC, Think Babies, Hope Starts Here, Flint Early Childhood Partnership, Michigan's Children, Michigan League for Public Policy, and the Women's Commission, Regional Coalitions, Apprenticeship Hubs, Kellogg Community of Practice, Family Child Care Network Hubs, Child And Adult Care Food Program, license exempt providers, and MiRegistry received an email with information about the plan and all opportunities for providing public comment. They were each asked to distribute notice of the opportunity through their listservs and networks. All MRS and public hearing dates were posted on the CDC website and meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: Comments received by the public were reviewed and evaluated to determine whether any updates or edits needed to be made for the plan to ensure up to date information regarding Michigan’s implementation of the regulations. The State Advisory Council will review comments and help identify priorities for the Department to consider. In addition, any suggestions for implementation changes or policy changes will be reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis by MiLEAP for future implementation. 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.michigan.gov/mileap/early-childhood­ education/early-learners-and-care/cdc/partners 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. [ ] Working with advisory committees. Describe: ii. [x] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: Updates are shared monthly during director meetings or through electronic messages as applicable. iii. [x] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: The Department works with other partners or a state vendor for translations. iv. [x] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: Use partners individual social media accounts and email list servs for a variety of stakeholders. v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: Updates provided via partner emails and list servs and applicable. vi. [x] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: Partnership with the Michigan After School Partnership (MASP) to share information. vii. [x] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: Monthly Naptime Nugget meetings. 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.