4.5 Supply Building

Building a supply of high-quality child care that meets the needs and preferences of parents participating in CCDF is necessary to meet CCDF’s core purposes. Lead Agencies must support parent choice by providing some portion of direct services via grants or contracts, including at a minimum for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 4.5.1 Child care services available through grants or contracts Does the Lead Agency provide direct child care services through grants or contracts for child care slots? [ ] Yes, statewide. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [ ] Yes, in some jurisdictions, but not statewide. Describe how many jurisdictions use grants or contracts for child care slots and how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [x] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: NH plans to submit a waiver and will work with state leadership team and state advisory council(s) to determine how we will become compliant with the federal rule change. If no, skip to question 4.5.2. i. If yes, identify the populations of children served through grants or contracts for child care slots (check all that apply). For each population selected, identify the number of slots allocated through grants or contracts for direct service of children receiving CCDF. [ ] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Other populations. If checked, describe: ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? 4.5.2 Care in the child’s home (in-home care) The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care (i.e., care provided in the child’s own home) but may limit its use. Will the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way? [ ] Yes. [x] No. If yes, what limits will the Lead Agency set on the use of in-home care? Check all that apply. i. [ ] Restricted based on the minimum number of children in the care of the in- home provider to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) requirements. Describe: ii. [ ] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: iii. [ ] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: iv. [ ] Restricted to care by relatives. (A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age based on the definition of eligible child care provider.) Describe: v. [ ] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: vi. [ ] Restricted to in-home providers that meet additional health and safety requirements beyond those required by CCDF. Describe: vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 4.5.3 Shortages in the supply of child care Lead Agencies must identify shortages in the supply of child care providers that meet parents’ needs and preferences. What child care shortages has the Lead Agency identified in the State or Territory, and what is the plan to address the child care shortages? a. In infant and toddler programs: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: Family survey from resource and referral, and data from the National Workforce Registry Alliance and Child Care Aware of America. ii. Method of tracking progress: Continuous feedback monitoring, receipt of updated data reports from the organizations listed above, from families and CCR&R. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes Work with statewide coalitions to assist providers in getting the resources they need to open or expand their programs. Utilize the knowledge of family child care specialists (CCAoNH) to assist refugees and other communities in starting Family Child Care Centers in their homes. This also includes collaboration with interpreters, licensing, local town zoning boards, and the fire marshal's office. NH will offer grants and contracts to family child care homes to increase supply for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and underserved areas. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? Continue to fund TEACH and ECAP to assist in building the workforce. Continue to update the field on grant opportunities, wage scale information, and programs that offer discounts for early childhood educators (SELA). Following and informing the field on bills being proposed around child care providers automatically being able to utilize the scholarship fund for their own children regardless of their income. NH will offer grants and contracts to child care centers to increase supply of child care for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and underserved areas. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: NH utilizes a survey from the Child Care Aware of New Hampshire (CCAoA NH) and follow up with families after child care referrals. We use data from family and center-based child care programs located in NH Connections Information System (NHCIS). We also leverage data from the National Workforce Registry Alliance and Child Care Aware of America. ii. Method of tracking progress: NH uses work plans to track and monitor progress in achieving goals to address child care shortages in the state. We will utilize data housed in NH connections and engage in quarterly and annual reporting on the investment for start-ups and slots as well as number of program slots available. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? Family child care homes have start up grants and coaching opportunities to increase and sustain family child care options for families. NH also works with statewide coalitions to assist providers in getting the resources they need to open or expand their programs. Utilize the knowledge of family child care specialists (CCAoNH) to assist new americans and other communities in starting Family Child Care Centers in their homes. This also includes collaboration with interpreters, licensing, local town zoning boards, and the fire marshal's office. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? NH uses NHCIS and census data to inform the child care need. The BCDHSC works closely with the Child Care Advisory Council to inform the need of child care programs throughout the state. We contract with Child Care Aware of New Hampshire to recruit, train and support with the renewal process for child care licensing and enrollment in the Child Care Scholarship Program. BCDHS provides funding for TEACH and ECAP to assist in building the child care workforce. We will continue to update the field on grant opportunities, wage scale information, and programs that offer discounts for early childhood educators. (SELA) Following and informing the field on bills being proposed around child care providers automatically being able to utilize the scholarship fund for their own children regardless of their income. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: NH Communications Information System (NHCIS), surveys to families and child care programs. ii. Method of tracking progress: NHCIS data system reports and survey results from families will inform the BCDHSC on the child care shortages. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? NH will be conducting a needs assessment to understand how ARPA strategies have impacted the field and are working on a strategic plan to identify target areas to recruit and support new programs. Grant dollars and training and technical assistance activities will be utilized to build the supply of family child care homes in identified underserved areas. The BCDHC will contract with local agencies to provide the training technical assistance and financial support programs need to establish new programs. Coaching, technical assistance and quality incentives will be leveraged for existing family child care programs in attempts to sustain our current programs. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? NH will be conducting a needs assessment to understand how ARPA strategies have impacted the field and are working on a strategic plan to identify target areas to recruit and support new programs. Grant dollars and training and technical assistance activities will be utilized to build the supply of center based programs in identified underserved areas. The BCDHC will contract with local agencies to provide the training technical assistance and financial support programs need to establish new programs. Coaching, technical assistance and quality incentives will be leveraged for existing center based programs in attempts to sustain our current programs. 4.5.4 Strategies to increase the supply of and improve quality of child care Lead Agencies must develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of and improve the quality of child care services. These strategies must address child care in underserved geographic areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities, as defined by the Lead Agency; and children who receive care during non-traditional hours. How does the Lead Agency identify any gaps in the supply and quality of child care services and what strategies are used to address those gaps for: a. Underserved geographic areas. Describe: We will conduct a needs assessment to understand the underserved geographic areas and target strategies for the specific needs of the communities. Start up grants and coaching and technical assistance will be leveraged to increase the number and types of programs identified as part of the assessment. NH utilizes data from child care providers and maps child care programs compared to census data to identify child care deserts. Survey and collaborate with families through Family Resource Centers to gather input on underserved areas and needs. We encourage partnerships between public entities and prove business to establish new child care facilities in underserved areas. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: Myriad strategies are currently in place to increase the supply and quality of care offered to our infant and toddler populations. Targeted training and technical assistance is offered specific to infant and toddler care, as well as practice-based coaching for infant/toddler teachers, and assessments including the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS) and the Teaching Pyramid Infant Toddler Observation Scale (TPITOS). In addition to conducting the assessments, trainings are offered at no cost to the provider on how to conduct those tools themselves as well as how to use the results of the tools to develop continuous quality improvement plans that meet the unique needs of their individual programs. Infant and toddler courses offered at Community Colleges in New Hampshire have been offered 100% free to students in order to bolster the workforce and provide potential infant/toddler teachers with the specific developmental knowledge required for them to be lead teacher qualified and engage in developmentally appropriate practices. The New Hampshire Professional Development System offers an Infant Toddler Specialist Endorsement to our credentials, which both requires and recognizes increased professional development specific to infant and toddler care. Each month, an Infant Toddler Collaborative is offered, where providers who serve infants and toddlers can come together with others in order to ask questions, share challenges, and discuss the unique needs of their families and teachers. Child Care Aware and the Bureau work together to identify tools, resources, and training opportunities that address the needs that are identified based on the conversations that occur during those meetings. NH plans to conduct a needs assessment and utilize grants and contracts to support both the supply and quality of programs serving infants and toddlers. We will target family childcare programs and Granite Steps for Quality enrolled programs in attempts to meet this need. We will target areas based on the availability of infant care slots, analyze enrollment and waiting list data from existing child care providers and develop specialized training programs for caregivers focused on the developmental needs of infants and toddlers to implement higher quality standards and support providers in meeting these standards through training and resources. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: NH plans to conduct a needs assessment and utilize grants and contracts to support both the supply and quality of programs serving infants and toddlers. We will target family childcare programs and Granite Steps for Quality enrolled programs in attempts to meet this need. We plan to work with our Joint Early Childhood Integration Teams between NH Education Department and Department of Health and Human Services to partner and ensure transitions and services support the child care needs of children with disabilities enrolled in partner organization services. We plan to pilot a health consultant team to support with special health care needs, emotional and behavioral needs, developmental and nutritional needs of the child care community. We plan to evaluate current child care providers' ability to accommodate children with disabilities. Educate programs on the disability differential available to them and increased support for children from 13-17 years of age. We will provide specialized training for child care providers on inclusive practices and the specific needs of children with disabilities. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: There are a few known family child care providers who will accommodate non-traditional hours when asked. Child Care Aware has a relationship with these providers and contacts them when a family needs referral for a program during non-traditional care hours. NH plans to conduct a needs assessment and utilize grants and contracts to support both the supply and quality of programs serving families who need care during non-traditional hours. We will target family childcare programs and local businesses who employ workers with non-traditional hours to pilot grants and contracts to meet the needs of families who need child care. We will analyze workforce data to identify parents who work non- traditional hours and their child care needs. NH will survey existing providers to determine their hours of operation and willingness to extend hours, and provide financial incentives for child care centers and family child care homes to extend their hours of operation in targeted areas in attempts to develop programs that offer flexible scheduling options for parents working non-traditional hours. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: NH has had significant leadership change in the BCDHSC. We are beginning to gather information, convene a state leadership team to write a new strategic plan to address the needs of the families, child care program and communities in New Hampshire. We will also be identifying New American populations and having plans for supporting the child care needs of that community . 4.5.5 Prioritization of investments in areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment Lead Agencies must prioritize investments for increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and do not currently have sufficient numbers of such programs. Describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have access to high-quality programs. Through our needs assessment we plan to identify where we lack services and supports that allow access to quality care. We plan to offer start up grants and contract for slots to support families experiencing poverty and unemployment. Once we have identified areas of need we will work with CCoA of NH and other contracted vendors to provide training, technical assistance and coaching as well as funding needed to address this need. BCDHSC engages in the following activities in prioritizing increasing access to high quality child care and developmental services for children families living in these areas: Provide training and technical assistance to retain and increase the number of child care slots and to improve provider business practices; Make investments that improve quality; Partner to provide access to developmental screening and referral; Support the use of shared services; and New Hampshire Provide quality incentive payments to providers that achieve Licensed Plus or national accreditation. NH has taken a data-driven approach through the application of various research projects and opportunities to gather information on issues such as cost, access, poverty, and quality that is needed to make investments regarding supply building strategies. NH has engaged in multiple, targeted research projects to identify issues of access and affordability. Issues of affordability can directly impact a parent's choice of child care. In addition, the Bureau Chief and staff meet with advocates, advisory groups, other community stakeholders, and convenes task forces to gain input on how to prioritize investments. NH has a history of making investments to increase access to programs providing high quality child care and development services, particularly to children in families that experience significant poverty. 5 Health and Safety of Child Care Settings Child care health and safety standards and enforcement practices are essential to protect the health and safety of children while out of their parents’ care. CCDF provides a minimum threshold for child care health and safety policies and practices but leaves authority to Lead Agencies to design standards that appropriately protect children’s safety and promote nurturing environments that support their healthy growth and development. Lead Agencies should set standards for ratios, group size limits, and provider qualifications that help ensure that the child care environment is conducive to safety and learning and enable caregivers to promote all domains of children’s development. CCDF health and safety standards help set clear expectations for CCDF providers, form the foundation for health and safety training for child care workers, and establish the baseline for monitoring to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. These health and safety requirements apply to all providers serving children receiving CCDF services – whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt, must be appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served, must include specific topics and training on those topics, and are subject to monitoring and enforcement procedures by the Lead Agency. CCDF-required annual monitoring and enforcement actions help ensure that CCDF providers are adopting and implementing health and safety requirements. Through child care licensing, Lead Agencies set minimum requirements, including health and safety requirements, that child care providers must meet to legally operate in that State or Territory. In some cases, CCDF health and safety requirements may be integrated within the licensing system for licensed providers and may be separate for CCDF providers who are license- exempt. This section addresses CCDF health and safety requirements, Lead Agency licensing requirements and exemptions, and comprehensive background checks. When responding to questions in this section, OCC recognizes that each Lead Agency identifies and defines its own categories of care. OCC does not expect Lead Agencies to change their definitions to fit the CCDF-defined categories of care. For these questions, provide responses that best match the CCDF categories of care.