9.3 Increasing Engagement and Access to Information

Lead Agencies must collect and disseminate information about the full range of child care services to promote parental choice to parents of children eligible for CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. 9.3.1 Information about CCDF availability and eligibility Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with eligible parents, the general public, and child care providers about the availability of child care services provided through CCDF and other programs for which the family may be eligible. The description should include, at a minimum, what is provided (e.g., written materials, the website, and direct communications) and what approaches are used to tailor information to parents, the general public, and child care providers. The Lead Agency shares information through its website and the Lead Agency’s eligibility workers in the Child Care Payment program office. These outlets utilize a combination of the following methods: written materials, electronic communication, and face-to-face meetings. The Lead Agency's website is designed to provide information for specific audiences. The section located at, https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/eccd/ includes information that has been divided into headings, ￿Parent Information", ￿Provider Information", and "Child Care Resource & Referral Centers￿. The information under these headings was identified as being specific to parents, i.e. IDEA Part B and C and WIC; or to providers, i.e. Child and Adult Care Food Program. The information located in the "Resources for Child Development Information "applies across groups and is varied in topic to ensure anyone who is interested can locate information they need on a variety of topics. 9.3.2 Information about child care and other services available for parents Does the Lead Agency certify that it provides information described in 9.3.1 for the following required programs? • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. • Head Start and Early Head Start programs. • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). • Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) program. • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). • Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). • Programs carried out under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.3 Consumer statement for parents receiving CCDF services Lead Agencies must provide parents receiving CCDF services with a consumer statement in hard copy or electronically that contains general information about the CCDF program and specific information about the child care provider they select. Please certify if the Lead Agency provides parents receiving CCDF services a consumer statement that contains the following 8 requirements: 1. Health and safety requirements met by the provider 2. Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider 3. Date the provider was last inspected 4. Any history of violations of these requirements 5. Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider 6. How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access 7. How to submit a complaint through the hotline 8. How to contact a local resource and referral agency or other community-based organization to receive assistance in finding and enrolling in quality child care Does the Lead Agency provide to families, either in hard copy or electronically, a consumer statement that contains the required information about the provider they have selected, including the eight required elements above? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.4 Informing families about best practices on child development Describe how the Lead Agency makes information available to parents, providers, and the general public on research and best practices concerning children’s development, including physical health and development, and information about successful parent and family engagement. At a minimum, the description should include what information is provided; how the information is provided; any distinct activities for sharing this information with parents, providers, the general public; and any partners in providing this information. The consumer education website provides information to a variety of audiences including parents, providers and the general public, Consumer Education information is grouped under audience headings. Information is provided through agencies and organizations including the Mississippi Department of Education, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. The information posted to the website includes the following topics: -Curriculum Standards, and Instructional Practices in Early Education Classrooms: The links include relevant resources about Developmentally Appropriate Practices, the Mississippi Early Learning Standards and the Mississippi Early Learning Guidelines - Child Development: The links give information about general child development, developmental, health, or other physical disabilities, -Executive Function and Other Foundations of Learning: The links include resources about learning and promotion of cognitive skills, such as writing, reading, and calculating. -Nutrition and Physical Activity: The links provide information about appropriate nourishment and exercise habits for young children. -Routines and Transitions: The links offer information about daily routines that ensure predictability and safety for young children. -School Readiness and Kindergarten Transition: The links include resources about what it means for a child to be ￿ready for school￿ and the ways to make the transition to school easier for children, families, and teachers. -Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills: The links provide information on supporting healthy development in young children. -Trauma and Grief: The links provide information about the effects of trauma and other hardships and ways to mitigate the impact of past negative experiences on children. 9.3.5 Unlimited parental access to their children Does the Lead Agency have procedures to ensure that parents have unlimited access to their children whenever their children are in the care of a provider who receives CCDF funds: [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.6 Informing families about best practices in social and emotional health Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with families, providers, and the general public regarding the social-emotional and behavioral and mental health of young children, including positive behavioral intervention and support models based on research and best practices for those from birth to school age: During the subsidy application process child care providers are assigned a primary coach/liaison who provided information on how to access the technical assistance (TA)and resources provided by MDHS through TA partners and the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC) to assist the provider in maintaining therapeutic inclusion of the child if at all possible. The provider should document evidence of appropriate behavioral interventions. Should a situation arise where there is documented evidence that all possible interventions and supports recommended by a qualified professional have been exhausted and it has been determined that transitioning a child to another program is necessary for the well- being of the child or his or her peers, providers are encouraged to take a series of documented steps to ensure a smooth transition into another setting that offers a rich social context and opportunities for interactions with socially competent peers so that the child’s learning and social skills practice are optimized in a natural environment. If the child has a disability and is receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the provider and MDHS shall ensure that additional applicable procedural safeguards and requirements are met. The consumer education website provides a link to Research and Best Practices in Early Childhood Development including Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills. Resources, specific to parents and providers, are available at resource and referral sites across the state. Professional development through the Mississippi Department of Health and the University of Southern Mississippi is offered to provide education regarding the social/emotional/behavioral development of children. Social-emotional/behavioral curricula are built into several courses offered to providers including the director’s credential. 9.3.7 Policies on the prevention of the suspension and expulsion of children a. The Lead Agency must have policies to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children from birth to age 5 in child care and other early childhood programs receiving CCDF funds. Describe those policies and how those policies are shared with families, providers, and the general public: The Lead Agency has developed a position statement regarding the social/emotional/behavioral development and mental health of young children and limiting the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary discipline practices found on consumer education website. This statement reads, MDHS strongly discourages the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary discipline practices; these practices should only be used as a last resort. b. Describe what policies, if any, the Lead Agency has to prevent the suspension and expulsion of school-age children from child or youth care settings receiving CCDF funds: The Lead Agency has developed a position statement regarding the social/emotional/behavioral development and mental health of young children and limiting the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary discipline practices found on consumer education website. This statement reads, MDHS strongly discourages the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary discipline practices; these practices should only be used as a last resort.