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 consumer website offers information to eligible parents, the general public, and other interested parties about the availability of child care programs accepting child care subsidy, as well as other child care programs. Eligible parents are also offered a printed copy of the child care roster if requested when they become eligible. Social Service Workers assisting eligible parents are also able to identify providers in the family’s area while completing the eligibility process via phone or in person. The general public and child care providers can learn more about Child Care Subsidy at 1-800-383-4278 or visit a local DHHS office to get more information. 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. Nebraska Department of Education’s (NDE) Office of Early Childhood, the Lead Agency, and other partners provide resources on child development to families through various means, such as ACCESSNebraska, the CCR&R Specialist located at the Early Childhood Training Center, the Office of Early Childhood website, public events, and trainings held across the state and online. Written materials are provided through the NDE and Lead Agency’s website, in person at community events, and by mail following a written or phone request. Examples of materials include: ·Early Learning Foundations, a parent companion piece to the Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines. ·The Early Development and the Behavior has Meaning wheels. ·Ready for Success-What Families Want to Know about Starting School in Nebraska (available in Arabic, English, Karen, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese). ·Learning Begins at Birth, a resource given to parents of each child born in Nebraska to provide information on child development, child care, how children learn, children’s health, and other relevant information. ·Copies of the parent brochure for Step Up to Quality that is disseminated widely to families across the state. Materials are often given free of charge at community events. Quantities of some of the materials can be purchased at a price that covers shipping. Information is also given to families through direct communication using the CCR&R line for parents and the child care information line for providers and the general public. Families are given brochures about Step Up to Quality and directed to the geo-coded map on the Step Up to Quality website that can be clicked on to show child care providers who participate in Step Up to Quality, as well as the program rating and other information. Nebraska Education Television’s 'Ready to Learn' project reaches families across the state and the Head Start State Collaboration Office provides resources to families of young children in poverty. Nebraska’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAP SACC) assists child care providers in providing education to support children’s healthy eating and physical activities. Go NAP SACC offers in-service hours, nutrition and physical activity resources to use for their program and parent education, one-on-one mentoring from trainers, and continuing education opportunities. The materials given to providers who receive training in Go NAP SACC are as follows: ·Early Care Matters: Obesity Prevention; ·Supporting Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding in Child Care; ·Nutrition for Young Children; ·Personal Health & Wellness; ·Infant & Child Physical Activity; and ·Growing Healthy Children Together: Promoting Family Engagement. 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: Providers are required to complete Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines (ELG) trainings, which provides general information about social and emotional development. ELG can be accessed through the NDE Office of Early Childhood website. Multiple divisions within the Lead Agency are part of planning and implementation. Nebraska has implemented Circle of Security training for families throughout the state through Early Learning Connection (ELC) networks, as well as Planning Region Teams funded through IDEA Part C. Circle of Security™ Parenting is a parenting program based on years of research about how to build a strong relationship with children. It is designed to help parents learn how to respond to their child’s needs in a way that enhances their connection with them, which often leads to changes in the child’s behavior. Circle of Security™ Parenting helps parents give their children a feeling of security and confidence so they can explore, learn, grow, and build positive relationships: all essential skills for life-long success. Nebraska uses the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infant and Young Children with child care providers, school district early childhood programs, and Head Start classrooms. The Pyramid Model training for child care providers is offered through initiatives such as Rooted in Relationships and Nurturing Healthy Behaviors. The Pyramid Model implements coaching and mental consultation with involved programs as necessary. These and other mental health trainings are embedded into Step Up to Quality, Nebraska’s QRIS, and other statewide initiatives. The Pyramid Model is a conceptual framework of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s healthy social and emotional development. Its structure is rooted and built upon an effective workforce that is able to adopt and sustain the evidence-based practices of the overall model. The remaining pieces of the pyramid promote an individualized, three-tiered approach to early care and education systems. The first tier is universal supports for all children, so they are cared for in high-quality environments and engaged in nurturing and responsive relationships. The second tier focuses on prevention with practices that are aimed to prevent challenging behavior. Its targeted approach gives children explicit instruction and support as well as mechanisms for understanding emotions, developing social relationships, and problem-solving. The final tier is comprised of practices for intensive intervention. The approach is individualized and is family-centered, comprehensive, assessment-based and focused on skill building. The Pyramid Model is a science based, data- driven strategy that has proven to be effective in the social and emotional development of children. 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: All child care programs are required to have written policies regarding the suspension and expulsion of children from their program. It is required that these policies describe the conditions for suspending and terminating care are written and available to parents and the Lead Agency. Children’s Services Licensing enforces if the provider has a policy. If Children’s Services Licensing receives a complaint about a child being suspended or terminated, the program may be evaluated if they followed their stated policy. This does not apply for License Exempt providers, as in Nebraska it only consists of the family/friend/neighbor population. Providers are offered training through the Pyramid Model, Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines, and local Planning Regional Teams for social/emotional training. These trainings help providers understand the importance of early childhood environments and supporting challenging behaviors of children. Outcomes of these trainings should reflect a reduction in suspension and expulsions and greater understating in the classroom. The Nebraska Department of Education has a committee collecting data regarding how many children between the ages of 3-5 are being expelled or suspended from child care and school-age programs to meet the federal reporting requirements for IDEA Part B. This committee is developing an infographic detailing the impact of expulsion and suspension on 3-to-5-year-olds, which will be shared with child care providers once completed. There continue to be opportunities with various vested entities across Nebraska to continue to strengthen, educate, create and implement trainings. 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: Child Care Licensing requires Child Care Centers, Preschools, and School Age-Only Centers to have written policies that detail their conditions for suspending and terminating care. CCDF-eligible licensed providers are required to meet all licensing requirements and follow all licensing regulations.