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: The Department has an agreement with ECIC to implement specific aspects of the state’s quality set aside activities. These activities include the ongoing development and facilitation of access to a coordinated, easy-to-navigate early childhood system for licensed early learning and development programs, as well as license exempt providers and families, to address the needs of the whole child. MiLEAP facilitates cross-sector collaboration throughout the state for maximum utilization of federal, state, and local resources to promote quality child care provision and equitable access to early childhood support and services. As a partner, ECIC provides systems development, professional learning, and technical assistance for the Great Start Network, which includes the Great Start to Quality Resource Centers, Regional Child Care Coalitions, Family Child Care Networks, Great Start Collaboratives and Family Coalitions. ECIC implements the state's quality improvement system, Great Start to Quality, and oversees the federally required health and safety visits for license exempt subsidized (formerly referred to as unlicensed, subsidized) providers. GSQ launched in the fall of 2011 and encompasses a 24/7 searchable database for families, a network of regional network or resource centers, and the quality improvement system. Great Start to Quality (GSQ) is a continuum of quality improvement supports and services for license exempt subsidized providers and licensed early learning and development programs. GSQ is designed to support early childhood educators and license exempt subsidized providers with supports and services and provide intensive consultation to those early learning and development programs serving children with high needs. A key component of Great Start to Quality is the GSQ Resource Centers. The GSQ Resource Centers provide a comprehensive system of supports and services designed to improve quality across all early learning and development settings. These include professional development opportunities, quality improvement consultations, coaching, supports, resources for licensed early learning and development programs and license exempt providers. GSQ Resource Centers provide consumer education to families concerning a full range of child care options and work directly with families to support their informed decision-making about a child care setting that best suits their needs. GSQ Resource Centers also provide consultation to early learning and development programs serving infants and toddlers through a cadre of Infant Toddler Specialists. Overall, quality improvement consultant offer consultation to identify areas for improvement, develop quality improvement plans, and help prepare programs for quality assessments. The GSQ Resource Centers participate in local system building activities, which include conversations and identification of strategies to address the supply of child care. In this role they provide data to support the conversations (number of providers, capacity, participation in GSQ). In addition, they partner with child care licensing to help new providers become licensed within their service area and FCCNs to help support home- based providers. An annual report is created and submitted to the Department that outlines the activities conducted to help Michigan address our child care supply.