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: For the federal fiscal year 25-27 CCDF Plan period, the department continues to fund Minnesota's CCR&R system through grant contracts with state and local organizations using CCDF quality set-aside and State General Fund resources. The contracts require CCR&R organizations to provide a wide array of services for parents, child care and early childhood programs and the public as described in Minnesota Statute 142E.31 and in federal law. The primary service CCR&R organizations provide for parents is assistance with searching for care for their children through the management of the state's online search tool, ParentAware.org which includes an online chat option, and phone referrals at the State's toll-free number (1-888-291-9811). The information shared includes information on quality, the types of child care options available that could meet their needs, child development, early learning screening, supports and connections for referrals for developmental concerns, financial assistance for child care, housing, energy assistance and other basic needs. CCR&R organizations document information from phone contacts and chats regarding needs, including noting if the parent is specifically looking for care to accommodate their child's special needs. Through an online Provider Business Update tool, providers are able to add information about their program regarding openings by age groups, costs, languages spoken at the program, accessibility, specialized training or experience in caring for children with special needs and other topics. This information is used to help families find needed care. Annually, Child Care Aware of America creates state fact sheets combining American Community Survey data with local information from Minnesota about licensed slots to help determine supply and demand. (As of this writing, these fact sheets are in the process of being updated and are currently unavailable but will be updated by late spring/early summer 2024). Information regarding the ￿desired slots￿ (which may be different from licensed slots), reported by child care providers through the Provider Business Update tool, is utilized in another analysis completed on a biannual basis. This analysis looks at the number of quality slots available throughout the state. CCR&R organizations also partner and collaborate with a diverse range of organizations to share information, such as early childhood and school age advocacy organizations, Tribes, counties, services delivery organizations, training organizations, institutes of higher education, home visiting organizations and organizations primarily serving low income and non-English language speaking individuals. To the extent possible, CCR&R organizations also partner with local education agencies, who are responsible for administering services under 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. In addition, the organizations comprising the Minnesota CCR&R agencies are instrumental in implementing Parent Aware, Minnesota's QRIS. Minnesota's CCR&R system, called Child Care Aware, is divided into District level services, of which there are five; Regional level services, of which there are 13; one Tribal District and a statewide coordinating office, Child Care Aware of Minnesota. Each District is comprised of multiple Regions. District offices coordinate and deliver professional development opportunities for child care and early childhood programs, distribute grants for programs to improve their quality and recruit programs for Minnesota's QRIS. Regional offices are funded to provide coaching to programs who are participating in Minnesota's QRIS, assist individuals looking to establish, sustain, or expand a licensed childcare program, and to establish meaningful partnerships with organizations in their community. The tribal District office, Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care (MNTRECC), provides technical assistance and supports to Tribal child care programs in Minnesota, and facilitates collaboration between Tribal child care programs and Minnesota's CCR&R system. The statewide coordinating office supports standardization and coordination of CCR&R system services and data collection, including for children with disabilities and supply and demand information for child care services. They also provide management of the state's online parent search tool and phone referrals for parents searching for care for their children, which includes information on quality, a full range of child care options, child development and financial assistance (including specifically, child care assistance). The statewide office also provides training and education scholarships and an online learning program. Additionally, some agencies that hold CCR&R contracts contract with county agencies to administer child care assistance. The Preschool Development Grant supports Help Me Connect, a tool that includes a resource directory of available comprehensive services based on geography and then direct referrals to those services. This is a tool for CCR&R agencies to use to assist their support to families.