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 uses their Resource and Referral contractor to share information with eligible parents and the general public. Our contractor provides materials to child care providers by visiting child care programs on a monthly basis with the most update date marketing materials. These materials are for sharing with families and also the child care provider. This information shows the most update policies and eligibility changes. The contractor also has a Monthly Minute's newsletter that is sent by email to all child care providers. The newsletter has up to date information regarding eligibility. Part of the contractors scope of work is to have the resource and referral agency present at all NH District Offices on a monthly basis. This allows the contractor to speak one on one with families who are interested in CCDF. The materials are also available for families at the district offices. 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. The Lead Agency makes information available to families on our Consumer Education website and also from our Resource and Referral contractor. The consumer website link https://www.nh-connections.org/families/helping- children-grow/. The Lead Agency provides many different resources available to families such as the developmental milestones for children which a tracker app is provided. Also, we have resources through Watch Me Grow, the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. This is key to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, and developmental, and specialty services. The Parent Information Center (PIC), a New Hampshire statewide family organization, strives to achieve positive outcomes for children and youth, with a focus on those with disabilities and special healthcare needs. This is achieved through its partnerships with families, educators, youth, professionals and organizations. The Early Learning Standards are provided to families, child care programs and on our consumer education website. The New Hampshire Early Learning Standards are a statewide resource for everyone who loves, cares for, and educates young children. The Standards provide essential information to support and enhance children’s development and learning 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 contracts with Preschool Technical Assistance Network (PTAN) to provide consultation to providers regarding developmental disabilities and challenging behaviors of young children. Their consultation and coaching services are heavily steeped in the Pyramid Model, a framework of evidence-based practices promoting young children’s healthy social and emotional development. In this plan year, our vendor contracted for school-age supports will be engaged in helping the agency to develop social-emotional quality indicators for school-age programs based on a framework that addresses older age groups. Information and resources for the general public can be found on our consumer education website https://www.nh-connections.org/families/helping-children-grow/ 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: In He-C 4002.16 Requirements for Written Policies and Procedures and Job Descriptions. (a) Licensees shall have and implement written policies regarding: (1) A retention plan to prevent expulsion of children, which outlines how the program will address children’s behaviors that pose a serious safety risk, which includes at a minimum: a. Parent notification and ongoing communicating regarding their child’s behavior; b. The steps the program will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment; c. Parent notification when the child’s enrollment cannot be maintained; and d. The responsibilities of the program if the child’s behavior results in a serious safety risk to the child or others within the program In He-C 6917.12 Child development for LE providers (o) Providers shall develop and implement a written policy to address the limitations of expelling children from child care for challenging behaviors (p) The policy in (o) above should address at a minimum: 1. The steps the provider will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment prior to expelling the child for challenging behaviors; 2. Parental notification requirements regarding their child's challenging behavior; and 3. The responsibilities of the provider if the challenging behavior results in a serious safety risk to the child or others within child care. (q) The written policy in (o) above shall be provided to parents at enrollment. 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: In He-C 4002.16 Requirements for Written Policies and Procedures and Job Descriptions. (a) Licensees shall have and implement written policies regarding: (1) A retention plan to prevent expulsion of children, which outlines how the program will address children’s behaviors that pose a serious safety risk, which includes at a minimum: a. Parent notification and ongoing communicating regarding their child’s behavior; b. The steps the program will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment; c. Parent notification when the child’s enrollment cannot be maintained; and d. The responsibilities of the program if the child’s behavior results in a serious safety risk to the child or others within the program In He-C 6917.12 Child development for LE providers (o) Providers shall develop and implement a written policy to address the limitations of expelling children from child care for challenging behaviors (p) The policy in (o) above should address at a minimum: 1. The steps the provider will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment prior to expelling the child for challenging behaviors; 2. Parental notification requirements regarding their child's challenging behavior; and 3. The responsibilities of the provider if the challenging behavior results in a serious safety risk to the child or others within child care. (q) The written policy in (o) above shall be provided to parents at enrollment.