4.5 Supply Building

Building a supply of high-quality child care that meets the needs and preferences of parents participating in CCDF is necessary to meet CCDF’s core purposes. Lead Agencies must support parent choice by providing some portion of direct services via grants or contracts, including at a minimum for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 4.5.1 Child care services available through grants or contracts Does the Lead Agency provide direct child care services through grants or contracts for child care slots? [x] Yes, statewide. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: The Lead Agency offers competitive bids for Early Head Start contracts in eight areas of the state for slots for young children. These contracted slots are offered in addition to the availability of other contracted programs in the community. [ ] Yes, in some jurisdictions, but not statewide. Describe how many jurisdictions use grants or contracts for child care slots and how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [ ] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: If no, skip to question 4.5.2. i. If yes, identify the populations of children served through grants or contracts for child care slots (check all that apply). For each population selected, identify the number of slots allocated through grants or contracts for direct service of children receiving CCDF. [ ] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [x] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: Subsidy eligible children qualify for slots for children participating in Early Head Start. Not all available slots are filled with subsidy eligible children (i.e., prenatal, incarcerated parent, and child abuse/neglect). [ ] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Other populations. If checked, describe: ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? Contracts for Early Head Start slots are awarded by the Lead Agency based on a competitive bid. The cost for the slots is determined based on the awarded program’s proposal. 4.5.2 Care in the child’s home (in-home care) The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care (i.e., care provided in the child’s own home) but may limit its use. Will the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If yes, what limits will the Lead Agency set on the use of in-home care? Check all that apply. i. [ ] Restricted based on the minimum number of children in the care of the in- home provider to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) requirements. Describe: ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: Per Missouri statute 210.027, a provider must be a least 18 years of age. iii. [ ] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: iv. [ ] Restricted to care by relatives. (A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age based on the definition of eligible child care provider.) Describe: v. [ ] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: vi. [ ] Restricted to in-home providers that meet additional health and safety requirements beyond those required by CCDF. Describe: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 4.5.3 Shortages in the supply of child care Lead Agencies must identify shortages in the supply of child care providers that meet parents’ needs and preferences. What child care shortages has the Lead Agency identified in the State or Territory, and what is the plan to address the child care shortages? a. In infant and toddler programs: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Missouri Resource and Referral (MCRR) contractor is the primary data source used to identify child care supply and demand. The contractor collects supply data including the number of total active programs by type. The contractor collects and reports out demand data that includes number of families searching for child care by county, the total number of children for whom care was requested including foster children and children with special needs, the number of children eligible for child care subsidy, and families referred to agency for child care subsidy eligibility screening. This information also includes the age of children needing care, hours of care requested, and types of facility requested. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency uses MCRR data to identify areas in the state that need more child care programs and to inform the increase in access to child care, which is Goal 1 of the childhood strategic plan. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes As part of the Lead Agency’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the Governor has recommended an increase in the infant toddler rate to the full market rate (100th percentile). Also, the Lead Agency contracted with Wonderschool to create a new supply of family child care providers and to stabilize the businesses of existing family child care providers in Missouri. This vendor is helping family home providers develop their business to ensure sustainability. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? As part of the Lead Agency’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the Governor has recommended an increase in the infant toddler rate to the full market rate (100th percentile). Also, the Lead Agency contracted with a public university to support various workforce development, leadership, and business strategies that support early childhood administrators. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: In 2022, the Lead Agency performed a targeted needs assessment to examine child care deserts in Missouri. The needs assessment is updated on a three-year cycle and will be completed again in 2025- 2026. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency used the targeted needs assessment information and American Rescue Plan Act funds to offer start up and expansion grants in child care desert areas across the state. A total of 69 programs were awarded and are either operating or will be operating later this year. In the three-year cycle of needs assessments, the Lead Agency uses licensed, license- exempt, and contracted provider data to inform the need for additional contracts and grants to build the supply of child care in desert areas. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency contracted with Wonderschool to create a new supply of family child care providers and to stabilize the businesses of existing family child care providers in Missouri. This vendor is helping family home providers develop their business to ensure sustainability. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? Due to the various workforce issues faced by child care programs, the Lead Agency amended licensing rules to include 16- and 17-year-olds in ratios to increase the workforce pool. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency collects key data points about child care as part of the MCRR activities, including the number and location of parents who request care for children with special needs. The data are collected from the parent via a follow up phone call or survey response after the parent sought assistance with finding child care. ii. Method of tracking progress: The MCRR compiles a report of the number and location of parents who successfully place their child(ren) with child care programs that support children with special needs. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency offers scholarship and apprenticeship programs to support the training and education of child care staff who want to further their education. In addition, the Lead Agency offers an enhanced rate for children who meet the definition of special needs. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency offers scholarship and apprenticeship programs to support the training and education of child care staff who want to further their education. In addition, the Lead Agency offers an enhanced rate for children who meet the definition of special needs. 4.5.4 Strategies to increase the supply of and improve quality of child care Lead Agencies must develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of and improve the quality of child care services. These strategies must address child care in underserved geographic areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities, as defined by the Lead Agency; and children who receive care during non-traditional hours. How does the Lead Agency identify any gaps in the supply and quality of child care services and what strategies are used to address those gaps for: a. Underserved geographic areas. Describe: The Lead Agency has implemented a strategic planning cycle that includes a needs assessment every three years. The data collected in the needs assessment is used to inform the strategic plan goals and activities. The first goal in the current strategic plan, in place through 2026, is to expand access to high- quality childhood programs. Missouri will accomplish this goal using three objectives; identify gaps; increase awareness and coordination; and increase capacity. • In 2022, Missouri conducted a targeted needs assessment that identified child care capacity in the state. The Missouri Resource and Referral (MCRR) collects supply and demand data by county and provides it to the Lead Agency quarterly. • To improve quality, the Lead Agency supports several initiatives that work directly with programs with the goal of increasing the availability of quality programming for children. The quality supports include training and onsite technical assistance delivered through an Infant/Toddler Network, Home Based Care Network, a Preschool Network, and the Missouri AfterSchool Network. These initiatives are offered statewide with a service delivery model that is customized to identified unique needs of each program. The Lead Agency has also provided Child Development Associate (CDA) scholarships for child care providers and access to apprenticeship programs in desert areas to help support the workforce. • The Lead Agency is also increasing quality across all provider types with the Quality Assurance Report. Through this work, programs are assessed using validated tools to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The results are used to inform programs and to guide them through a quality improvement journey using intensive onsite coaching. After two years of intensive coaching, a second assessment is conducted to identify improvements and to determine what level of interventions is still needed. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Infant/Toddler Network and Home Based Care Network are statewide quality initiatives available across seven regions in Missouri. These initiatives provide free onsite consultation and training to increase the knowledge and skills of the child care workforce when working with infants up to 12 months of age and toddlers up to 3 years of age. The Lead Agency plans to include a component in the next needs assessment in order to determine where in the state is the greatest need for child care for infants and toddlers. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: The Lead Agency developed an informational flyer for child care assistance for children with special needs, which is posted on the consumer education website. The Lead Agency regularly disseminates this flyer and other informational flyers related to the child care assistance in order to encourage families who have children with disabilities to participate in child care in their communities. The Lead Agency plans to include a component in the next needs assessment in order to determine where in the state is the greatest need for child care for children with disabilities. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: The prior needs assessment did not include enough information to determine the need, utilization, and location of non-traditional hours in child care programs across the state. The Lead Agency plans to include a component in the next needs assessment in order to determine the need for non-traditional care. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: 4.5.5 Prioritization of investments in areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment Lead Agencies must prioritize investments for increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and do not currently have sufficient numbers of such programs. Describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have access to high-quality programs. Counties in which 20% or more of the population is living below 100% of the poverty level and unemployment is 7% or higher, are defined by the Lead Agency as areas with significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment. Based on this definition, the following counties in Missouri are considered priority areas: Dallas, Texas, Oregon, Shannon, Carter, Wayne, Butler, Ripley, Dunklin, Ozark, Pemiscot, and St. Louis City. The Lead Agency is promoting scholarships, offering early childhood apprenticeships, and facilitating training on developmental screening and social emotional development in these areas of the state to help increase access. 5 Health and Safety of Child Care Settings Child care health and safety standards and enforcement practices are essential to protect the health and safety of children while out of their parents’ care. CCDF provides a minimum threshold for child care health and safety policies and practices but leaves authority to Lead Agencies to design standards that appropriately protect children’s safety and promote nurturing environments that support their healthy growth and development. Lead Agencies should set standards for ratios, group size limits, and provider qualifications that help ensure that the child care environment is conducive to safety and learning and enable caregivers to promote all domains of children’s development. CCDF health and safety standards help set clear expectations for CCDF providers, form the foundation for health and safety training for child care workers, and establish the baseline for monitoring to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. These health and safety requirements apply to all providers serving children receiving CCDF services – whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt, must be appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served, must include specific topics and training on those topics, and are subject to monitoring and enforcement procedures by the Lead Agency. CCDF-required annual monitoring and enforcement actions help ensure that CCDF providers are adopting and implementing health and safety requirements. Through child care licensing, Lead Agencies set minimum requirements, including health and safety requirements, that child care providers must meet to legally operate in that State or Territory. In some cases, CCDF health and safety requirements may be integrated within the licensing system for licensed providers and may be separate for CCDF providers who are license- exempt. This section addresses CCDF health and safety requirements, Lead Agency licensing requirements and exemptions, and comprehensive background checks. When responding to questions in this section, OCC recognizes that each Lead Agency identifies and defines its own categories of care. OCC does not expect Lead Agencies to change their definitions to fit the CCDF-defined categories of care. For these questions, provide responses that best match the CCDF categories of care.