7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. The QPR is available on the department's webpage for the Child Care and Development Fund Plan: https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/FFY%202023%20QPR%20final%20version_tcm1053- 614991.pdf Expenditure reporting is posted here: https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/publications- forms-resources/reports/financial-reports-and-forecasts.jsp. Under the heading: ￿Minnesota Family Self-Sufficiency and Health Program Statistics.￿ Click on ￿Statewide statistics (PDF)￿ The Minnesota Family Self-Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics￿ report is updated and posted monthly; the direct link changes with each version. This report provides child care historical monthly children and case counts for the past several years and most recent 13 months. It also shows projected state fiscal year expenditures for the next three years based on upon Minnesota’s most current forecast. The page with the following heading provides expenditure information for the child care subsidy program: Child Care Assistance Program/Total of MFIP/Transition Year/Extension and Basic Sliding Fee. b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Training curriculum development and revisions • Training delivery • Trainer, course writer and course approval • Relationship based professional development on a range of topics, including for Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating & Improvement System; Mental Health Consultation, infant-toddler best practices, health and safety practices, inclusion best practices and business practices. • Minnesota’s professional development registry housed in the Develop data system • Support for Minnesota’s career lattice • REETAIN wage bonuses • TEACH and CDA scholarships for higher education • Professional development advising through the Child Care Aware system • Trainer and Relationship-based Professional Development Support ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Training delivery • Relationship based professional development on a range of topics, including for Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating & Improvement System; Mental Health Consultation, infant-toddler best practices, health and safety practices, inclusion best practices • Professional development advising through the Child Care Aware system • Trainer and Relationship-based Professional Development Support iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Child Care Aware state and local agencies for recruitment, coaching, professional development advising and quality improvement grants Parent Aware's rating process • CLASS Observations and Training • Parent Aware Quality Coach field observations • The Develop data system and Develop Help Desk iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Relationship based professional development on Mental Health Consultation, infant-toddler best practices, health and safety practices, inclusion best practices • Family, Friend and Neighbor caregiver supports • Whole Family Systems grants v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as described in Section 8.3.1. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through support for one (1) FTE for a Family Child Care Ombudsperson and 10 licensor FTEs, including salary and non-salary expenses, including travel, and through a through contracts statewide organization providing health and safety consultation to child care providers vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Child Care Aware state and local agencies for recruitment, coaching, professional development advising and quality improvement grants Parent Aware's rating process • CLASS Observations and Training • Parent Aware Quality Coach field observations • The Develop data system and Develop Help Desk viii. Accreditation support. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through direct support and a contracts with a state organizations as follows: • Provide reimbursement of 50% of accreditation costs for programs using CCDF funds. • Afterschool Quality Initiative ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for this activity through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • Child Care Aware state and local agencies for recruitment, coaching, professional development advising and quality improvement grants Parent Aware's rating process • CLASS Observations and Training • Parent Aware Quality Coach field observations • The Develop data system and Develop Help Desk x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The department plans to use CCDF funds for these through contracts with state and local organizations as follows: • The Develop data system and Develop Help Desk • Child Care Aware of Minnesota’s National Data System 2 The department’s Provider Hub • Rural community planning for supply-building • Training on business practices • Grants and loans for child care business start-up and access to technology • Child Care Wayfinder • Family Child Care shared services alliances • Child Care Access grants for families experiencing homelessness 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.