2.4 Lead Agency Outreach to Families Experiencing Homelessness, Families with Limited English Proficiency, and Persons with Disabilities

The Lead Agency must conduct outreach and provide services to families with limited English proficiency, families experiencing homelessness, and persons with disabilities. 2.4.1 Families with limited English proficiency and persons with disabilities: outreach and services a. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with limited English proficiency. Check all that apply. i. [x] Application in languages other than English (application and related documents, brochures, provider notices). ii. [x] Informational materials in languages other than English. iii. [x] Website in languages other than English. iv. [x] Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. v. [x] Bilingual caseworkers or translators available. vi. [ ] Bilingual outreach workers. vii. [ ] Partnerships with community-based organizations. viii. [x] Collaboration with Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. ix. [x] Home visiting programs. x. [x] Other. Describe: DCDEE child care consultants have a translator application on their cell phones which they can use on program visits. NC DHHS Title VI Coordinator secures translation services upon request. DHHS has a translation service to respond to calls in a wide variety of languages. The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center provides a quarterly Health and Safety Newsletter in English and Spanish and written below an 8th grade reading level, that includes information for child care providers to share with families about health and safety for children ages 0-5. As a part of the Preschool Development Grant, the NC DCDEE has partnered with the Early Intervention Branch of the Division of Child & Family Well-Being to expand access to early intervention services offered via teletherapy, to include interpreter services, to ensure access to services for non-English-speaking children/families in North Carolina. Through September 2022, 152 Spanish-speaking families received interpreter services. Interpreter services have and will continue to be provided by the Early Intervention Branch leveraging other funds. The Early Intervention Branch also partnered with the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center to produce a series of educational fact sheets and info graphics in English and in Spanish on a variety topics supporting children with special needs in their development across the early childhood continuum including: Bringing Home Baby, What is the NC Infant-Toddler Program, Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool in NC, Transition to Kindergarten, Questions to Ask Your Medical Provider, and Questions to Ask Your Therapy and Related Service Providers. The Early Intervention Branch will continue to partner with the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center to disseminate information to families of children with special needs, including Spanish speaking families. Citation: Exceptional Children's Assistance Center. Accessed June 19, 2024. https://www.ecac-parentcenter.org/all-resource-materials/ b. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with a person(s) with a disability. Check all that apply. i. [ ] Applications and public informational materials available in braille and other communication formats for access by individuals with disabilities. ii. [x] Websites that are accessible (e.g., Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). iii. [ ] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [x] Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. v. [x] Partnerships with State and local programs and associations focused on disability- related topics and issues. vi. [x] Partnerships with parent associations, support groups, and parent-to-parent support groups, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers. vii. [x] Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. viii. [x] Availability and/or access to specialized services (e.g., mental health, behavioral specialists, therapists) to address the needs of all children. ix. [x] Other. Describe: The NC Child Care Rules authorize a Developmental Day license designation for programs meeting additional standards related to including children with disabilities and/or developmental delays. As a part of the Preschool Development Grant, DCDEE is an active member of the Pyramid State Leadership team. This cross-sector team works to ensure the social emotional well-being for families with young children, birth to 8, particularly those with or at risk for disabilities. They work to intentionally address systemic inequities in early childhood intervention and education. They also work to assure children and families have access to anti-biased, inclusive, and natural learning environments. The Pyramid State Leadership team was influential in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the NC Pre-K Pyramid Model Pilot Study which was funded by the Preschool Development Grant. The results of the study outline strategies to support teacher coaching and technical assistance to manage challenging behaviors in the classroom. In addition, the study shares best practices in reducing expulsion/suspension and best practices to identify children requiring additional supports and connecting them with those services. Child Care Health Consultants work with early educators who provide care to children with special health care and medication needs and coordinate with families to create an inclusive environment for both the children, early educators, and their families. The NC DCDEE is a collaborative stakeholder member of the EarlyWell Coalition (formerly the NC Initiative for Young Children’s Social-Emotional Health), which consists of over 100 early childhood service providers, clinicians, and advocates for children’s social, emotional, and mental health. NC Child, in collaboration with early childhood leaders, including the NC Early Childhood Foundation, originally launched this initiative in 2019 with the aim of building a robust, evidence-based and accessible early childhood mental health system. Utilizing an equity lens and building upon family voices, the EarlyWell Coalition has identified and is focused on six policy priorities that strengthen mental health support for infants, toddlers, and young children and families in NC: 1-Family Support Services for Children with Mental Health Challenges, 2-Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce with Professional Development on Mental Health, 3-Supports for Foster Care Caregivers and the Child Welfare Workforce, 4-Doula Care, 5-Group Prenatal Care, and 6-Reach Out and Read. The NC DCDEE also serves as a member of the EarlyWell Coordinating Team, which is prioritizing and leading implementation of policy and practice recommendations in three waves; implementation for the first wave in 2025 and implementation of wave two between 2025-2027. 2.4.2 Families experiencing homelessness: Outreach and technical assistance efforts a. Check, where applicable, the procedures used to conduct outreach for children experiencing homelessness and their families. i. [ ] Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. ii. [x] Partnerships with community-based organizations. iii. [x] Partnering with homeless service providers, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and others who work with families experiencing homelessness to provide referrals to child care. iv. [x] Other. Describe: Beginning November 1, 2024 DCDEE has contracted with Child Care Services Association, now called Early Years, to complete outreach efforts to families experiencing homelessness. Leveraging the CCR&R network, Early Years plans to conduct outreach to families in four regions working in collaboration with local Department of Social Services, Head Start, NC Homeless Education Liaisons, homeless services providers and businesses. An enhanced referral program will also be offered to selected families which will provide consumer education (detailed information on child care options, NC star rated license system and what to look for when selecting a child care program); financial assistance guidance (eligibility and application process for child care subsidy, NC Pre-K, Head Start); vacancy confirmation; warm handoffs (help families connect with child care programs); and language support (families receive services in their preferred language). Early Years plans to create consumer education materials related to supporting families experiencing homelessness and create and disseminate newsletters to early childhood organizations, homeless service providers and other entities as applicable. b. The Lead Agency must provide training and technical assistance (TA) to providers and appropriate Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff on identifying and serving children and families experiencing homelessness. i. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for providers in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. NC DCDEE plans to incorporate training and technical assistance activities in CCR&R core services contracts since the CCR&R network already provides technical assistance on a variety of topics statewide to regulated child care programs. Programs will be encouraged to complete the Self-Assessment Tool for Early Childhood Programs Serving Families Experiencing Homelessness and eight of the nine module series from the National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement titled, "Supporting Families Experiencing Homelessness." Once programs have successfully completed all components of technical assistance, including completing an action plan from the Tool, programs may be given a needs-based incentive, such as money to pay parents’ rent, transportation passes or socio- emotional materials for the classroom. ii. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. DCDEE contracts with Child Care Resource and Referral lead agencies to implement training and technical assistance related to supporting families experiencing homelessness in early childhood programs. DCDEE staff can participate in these trainings. DCDEE staff have participated in opportunities to hear presentations related to serving young children experiencing homelessness and are sent current publications from researchers who participate on the Yay Babies Advocacy team. In 2023 as a result of a Preschool Development Grant output, DCDEE has received the Action Plan for an Early Childhood Homelessness Support System prepared by Dr. Mary Haskett of North Carolina State University and Marsha Basloe former Senior Advisor with the Office of Early Childhood Development, Administration of Children and Families. This Action Plan will guide DCDEE strategies to support young children experiencing homelessness in early childhood programs going forward.