7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Care-Community.aspx b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Grants to fund the Early Learning Connection Training Partnerships across the state will be continued. Grants to support the Early Learning Connection Coach Consultant system will be continued. Training curricula and resources will be revised on a rotating schedule and Training of Trainers will be held to build and maintain an effective trainer pool. Additionally, CCDF will support a grant to an Educational Service Unit (ESU) to continue and build on the work of the CDA Navigator. ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Training on the Early Learning Guidelines will be held regularly throughout the state. iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Step Up to Quality will continue to implement the revised system. The Nebraska Coaching infrastructure will be maintained and improved. Research-informed program quality assessment tools will continue to be used, and a system of reliable observers and state anchors will be maintained. iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Start-up and expansion grants are available for child care programs through the Lead Agency and other statewide entities. Nebraska’s Sixpence Child Care Partnerships focus on improving the quality of child care for infants and toddlers. v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Child Care Referral Network (CCRN) will be maintained. CCRN and NECPRS will be studied for ways to streamline and maintain the greatest functionality with the least amount of duplication for providers, parents, and state agency implementation. The Resource and Referral services will continue to be maintained while looking for areas of increased parent engagement at the ECTC and through the Early Learning Connection Training partnerships. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. CCDF quality dollars fund Child Care Licensing Specialists who inspect and monitor all licensed child care providers. The specialists ensure all health and safety standards are met in every facility by annual and semi-annual inspections. vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. viii. Accreditation support. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. Nebraska has a state level team that is actively participating in the U.S. Department of Education’s Kindergarten as a Sturdy Bridge initiative. The Nebraska Department of Education is working with partners to improve early childhood experiences, build kindergarten readiness of children, and ensure that schools are ready to serve kindergarteners. 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.