8.1 Coordination with Partners to Expand Accessibility and Continuity of Care

Lead Agencies must coordinate child care services supported by CCDF with other federal, State/Territory, and local level programs. This includes programs for the benefit of Indian children, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care. 8.1.1 Coordination with required and optional partners Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates and the results of this coordination of the provision of child care services with the organizations and agencies to expand accessibility and continuity of care and to assist children enrolled in early childhood programs in receiving full-day services that meet the needs of working families. The Lead Agency must coordinate with the following agencies: a. State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH has a legislatively enacted Advisory Council. The Bureau Chief sits on this council. The duties of the Department of Health and Human Services shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Informing and reporting to the advisory council on matters related to the provision of quality child care regarding: in a timely manner, (i) any proposed changes to administrative rules (ii) any proposed legislation at least semi-annually, (iii) federal and state child care revenues and expenditures (iv) financial reporting and statistics related to child care subsidies (v) the status of other federal and state child care grants (vi) information on consumer and provider utilization and availability. The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide administrative support to the advisory council. This council meets on the second Thursday of even months. The Bureau Chief meets with the chair and director of the council on a monthly basis and as needed to coordinate on matters related to child care. The anticipated results from this collaboration is to partner with child care programs in NH to strengthen access to child care, the child care workforce, and the overall quality of services in child care settings. b. Indian Tribe(s) and/or Tribal organization(s), at the option of the Tribe or Tribal organization. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination, including which Tribe(s) was (were) involved: [x] Not applicable. Check here if there are no Indian Tribes and/or Tribal organizations in the State/Territory. c. State/Territory agency(ies) responsible for programs for children with disabilities, including early intervention programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH has joint Early Childhood Integration Teams. One is through the Department of Education and the other is through the Department of Health and Human Services. Disability agencies are represented on both councils and meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated results from this coordination is to strengthen communication, awareness and shared goals across state systems to support the overall health and wellbeing of NH families. d. State/Territory office/director for Head Start State collaboration. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The CCDF Administrator is also .40 FTE Head Start Collaboration Director under the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration. e. State/Territory agency responsible for public health, including the agency responsible for immunizations. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH has joint Early Childhood Integration Teams (ECIT). One is through the Department of Education and the other is through the Department of Health and Human Services. The Division of Public Health Administrator leads the DHHS ECIT team and coordinates with the Department of Education ECIT team. The teams meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated results from this coordination is to strengthen communication, awareness and shared goals across state systems to support the overall health and wellbeing of NH families. f. State/Territory agency responsible for employment services/workforce development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The BCDHSC is under the Division of Economic Stability (DES) with the Bureau of Employment Supports. Monthly DES leadership meet to coordinate efforts across programs. The anticipated result is to partner and recruit more professionals into the child care workforce. g. State/Territory agency responsible for public education, including pre-Kindergarten. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: New Hampshire's Department of Education (NHED) is the agency responsible for public education. The Bureau coordinates with them in a number of ways, including through two joint Early Childhood Integration Teams (ECIT), one through the Department of Education and the other through the Department of Health and Human Services. The teams meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated result from this coordination is to strengthen communication, awareness, and shared goals across state systems to support the overall health and wellbeing of NH families. h. State/Territory agency responsible for child care licensing. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Child Care Licensing Bureau Chief sits on the Child Care Advisory Council with the Bureau Chief of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration. We coordinate on all State of NH rules and regulations and CCDF rules and regulations that relate to Child Care Licensing. i. State/Territory agency responsible for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and other relevant nutrition programs. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH CACFP program is administered by the Department of Education. NH has joint Early Childhood Integration Teams (ECIT). One is through the Department of Education and the other is through the Department of Health and Human Services. The teams meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated results is collaboration and recruitment of child care programs participating in the CACFP program. j. McKinney-Vento State coordinators for homeless education and other agencies providing services for children experiencing homelessness and, to the extent practicable, local McKinney-Vento liaisons. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH has joint Early Childhood Integration Teams (ECIT). One is through the Department of Education and the other is through the Department of Health and Human Services. The teams meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. McKinney-Vento State coordinators participate in monthly meetings to support the overall health and wellbeing of NH families. k. State/Territory agency responsible for the TANF program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The BCDHSC is under the Division of Economic Stability (DES) with the TANF program. Monthly DES leadership meet to coordinate efforts across programs. NH has joint Early Childhood Integration Teams (ECIT). One is through the Department of Education and the other is through the Department of Health and Human Services. The teams meet monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated result of this coordination is expanding access for families and improve the overall health and well-being of NH families. l. State/Territory agency responsible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH DHHS houses Medicaid and CHIP. NH has an Early Childhood Integration Team (ECIT). The team meets monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated result of this coordination is overall improvement of health and wellbeing of NH families. m. State/Territory agency responsible for mental health services. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NH DHHS is responsible for mental health services. NH DHHS has an Early Childhood Integration Team (ECIT). The team meets monthly to coordinate services across divisions and departments. NH is currently working on measurable objectives to support the Council for Thriving Children's strategic plan. The anticipated result of this coordination is overall improvement of health and wellbeing of NH families. n. Child care resource and referral agencies, child care consumer education organizations, and providers of early childhood education training and professional development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: BCDHSC contracts with Southern New Hampshire Services to provide: Free marketing for providers with child care openings through our Child Care Resource & Referral services Training and professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals including access to scholarships and apprenticeships for continued education Guidance for early childhood professionals regarding licensing, credentialing and accreditation as well as managing their education, experience and workplace information through the New Hampshire Connections Information System (NHCIS) Focused Collaborative Group Meetings and Family Child Care Networking Collaborative Meetings to provide participants with information around targeted topics of interest, Child Care Aware of NH program updates, essential local/state information and professional development opportunities Conferences, training opportunities and other full-day events Monthly e-newsletters Technical assistance and consultation to early childhood programs throughout the state on various topics that support quality early childhood programming Comprehensive access to resources and information about local, state and national child care related issues at NH Connections Social media connections and up-to-date information through our Facebook page and private Facebook groups for providers BCDHSC meets monthly to ensure coordination of services and efforts for all CCDF activities. https://www.snhs.org/services/child-care-aware o. Statewide afterschool network or other coordinating entity for out-of-school time care (if applicable). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: BCDHSC has a contract with ACROSS NH which is a project dedicated to supporting out of school time (OST) professionals in their work to create high quality, innovative programs for New Hampshire’s school age children. They provide technical assistance and professional development opportunities to out of school time providers throughout the year. https://www.acrossnh.org/ p. Agency responsible for emergency management and response. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The NH Department of Safety-Homeland Security and Emergency Management. CCA of NH created a webpage with resources and other information to assist families and providers with setting up an emergency preparedness plan. The page also details the four phases of emergency preparation. The website can be found at this link Emergency Planning - NH Connections (nh-connections.org). This coordination and collaboration between agencies give providers and families the tools and information that they need to ensure that they are prepared when an emergency happens. q. The following are examples of optional partners a Lead Agency might coordinate with to provide services. Check which optional partners the Lead Agency coordinates with and describe the coordination and results of the coordination. i. [x] State/Territory/local agencies with Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grants. Describe: The CCDF Administrator has a dual role as the Head Start Collaboration Director. This allows Head Start to be represented in all aspects of child care related initiatives. The CCDF Administrator meets monthly with the Head Start Director's to identify needs and align systems related to Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership grants. ii. [ ] State/Territory institutions for higher education, including community colleges. Describe: iii. [ ] Other federal, State, local, and/or private agencies providing early childhood and school-age/youth-serving developmental services. Describe: iv. [ ] State/Territory agency responsible for implementing the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs grant. Describe: v. [ ] Agency responsible for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program. Describe: vi. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for child welfare. Describe: Through the DHHS Early Childhood Integration team the lead agency coordinates services specifically to support child care access to children engaged in the DCYF program, understand barriers that exist and work to solve access needs across the state. vii. [x] Child care provider groups or associations. Describe: NH NAEYC sits on the Child Care Advisory Committee and the State Leadership Team we collaborate in anticipation of strengthening the child care systems specifically recruitment and retention of qualified workforce. viii. [x] Parent groups or organizations. Describe: NH BCDHSC plans to engage a state leadership team this year and engage with parent groups through this newly developed team. The anticipated results is inclusion of parent perspectives to enhance or systems in all three core functions: access, workforce and quality programs. ix. [ ] Title IV B 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators. Describe: x. [ ] Other. Describe: