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’s free online provider search tool allows users to search for a child care provider that fits their needs. Results can be customized by adjusting search criteria by provider type, location, hours of operation, and ages served. Personalized one-on-one help is available by either phone or email through the Lead Agency’s contracted child care resource and referral vendor. The Human Service Zones stock Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Brochures for customers visiting the office. These brochures provide an overview of the CCAP program, how to find a provider, and the eligibility process. The Human Service Zones also stock brochures for all other economic assistance programs which families may be eligible for; SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP and more. This information is also available on the Economic Assistance Website. 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. Families are a child’s first teacher. The Information for Families Section of Lead Agency’s website includes an accordion with links to resources for families. This accordion provides links to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developmental checklists, information about early childhood developmental screenings, early learning standards birth to kindergarten, Head Start and Early Head Start, and Waterford Upstart, and access to the VROOM app and website for daily family engagement tips to turn everyday activities into brain building moments. 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: The Lead Agency’s website provides a wide range of information and resources for families, providers, and the general public, including, but not limited to the following: The Lead Agency’s North Dakota Mental Health Program Directory provides a single place for North Dakota citizens to search for mental health services that meet their needs. This registry allows users to search by either child or adult service programs, location and other details, and view program information, including program name, address, and phone number. The Lead Agency, in collaboration with partners, also developed Parents Lead, an evidence-based prevention program that provides parents and caregivers with a wide variety of tools and resources to support them in creating a safe environment for their children that promotes behavioral health through young adulthood. Behavior health is a state of mental/emotional being and/or choices and actions that affect wellness. The Lead Agency contracts an Inclusive Child Care Support vendor to provide individualized support, information, resources, and coaching for child care providers caring for children, birth through school-age, with unique needs; strengthening providers’ abilities to work with all children including those with different needs or concerns. In addition to the public webpages, the Lead Agency and contracted vendors use social media and referrals to share information and resources with families, providers, and the general public. 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 contracts an Inclusive Child Care Support vendor with specialists available to provide site visits in programs and observe classroom environments, work with staff and provide hands on training to assist with behavior management and special needs. The Lead Agency provides inclusive care support grants with state general funds to assist providers with staffing needs and resources to assist with behavior management and special needs. These grants can also be used for environmental modification and specialized equipment and materials. The focus of the support is to strengthen providers’ abilities to work with all children including those with different needs or concerns, thus providing all children the best possible care. In addition to sharing information on public webpages, the Lead Agency and the contracted vendor use social media and referrals to share information and resources with families, providers, and the general public. 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 contracts an Inclusive Child Care Support vendor with specialists available to provide site visits in programs and observe classroom environments, work with staff and provide hands on training to assist with behavior management and special needs. The Lead Agency provides inclusive care support grants with state general funds to assist providers with staffing needs and resources to assist with behavior management and special needs. These grants can also be used for environmental modification and specialized equipment and materials. The focus of the support is to strengthen providers’ abilities to work with all children including those with different needs or concerns, thus providing all children the best possible care. In addition to sharing information on public webpages, the Lead Agency and the contracted vendor use social media and referrals to share information and resources with families, providers, and the general public.