1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: ECECD consulted and worked closely with representatives of local governments throughout the planning process for the CCDF State Plan amendment. ECECD held a meeting on May 16, 2024, with local governments, local education agencies, councils of government, and regional education cooperatives to discuss the importance of CCDF and this draft CCDF State Plan. The meeting provided updates on the new CCDF rule changes and a draft of the 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan was shared in advance of the public hearing that was held on June 4, 2024. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: ECECD consulted on the plan with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council (ECECAC) during their meetings on March 13, 2024 and May 22, 2024. The council members provided valuable insights and suggestions, which helped shape and refine the CCDF Plan. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: ECECD consulted with Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations through its Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Education and Care who organized Tribal consultations on May 24 and May 29, 2024. Tribal leaders were invited to participate and provide feedback during designated comment periods. Representatives from all of New Mexico’s 23 Tribes, Pueblos, and Nation received invitations to the meetings. ECECD was seeking input from tribal leaders on how to improve coordination around all aspects of the CCDF plan. c. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: ECECD also consulted on the development of the plan with the Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council’s Program Quality and Accountability and Early Childhood Professionals Subcommittees, the Early Childhood Higher Education Task Force, Local Early Childhood System Building Coalitions, the Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition, and the New Mexico Head Start Association to help shape the CCDF Plan. Participants included child care providers, educational institutions, professional development providers, coaches, consultants, local government, and community representatives. 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: 6/4/2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: 5/2/2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide noticeECECD made several efforts to ensure the public was informed about the public hearing on June 4, 2024. ECECD posted a notice of the public hearing, in both English and Spanish, on its website https://www.nmececd.org/. The notice was also published in three publications in both languages: the Albuquerque Journal www.abqjournal.com, Santa Fe New Mexican www.thenewmexican.com, and the Las Cruces Sun-News www.lcsun-news.com. The notice in both languages was also sent to child care providers and families who participate in the child care assistance program via email, and a copy was posted in the regional offices. Moreover, ECECD utilized various channels to inform child care providers about the CCDF Public hearing, including during the monthly community Zoom calls, monthly newsletters, and social media posts on ECECD's Facebook, Instagram and X. In addition, ECECD held multiple stakeholder meetings with the early childhood care community to share information about the CCDF Plan and the CCDF public hearing. The ECECD included American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish interpretation at the public hearing. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: The public hearing was conducted both via the Zoom platform and in person and will also be recorded. ECECD will ensure that American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish interpretation are available at the public hearing. ECECD will also provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the Plan through an online CCDF State Plan comment portal. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): ECECD posted the Plan on its website on May 16, 2024. The department made several efforts to ensure the public was informed about the public hearing on June 4, 2024. ECECD posted a notice of the public hearing, in both English and Spanish, on its website https://www.nmececd.org/. The notice was also published in both languages in New Mexico’s three largest news print publications: the Albuquerque Journal www.abqjournal.com, Santa Fe New Mexican www.thenewmexican.com, and the Las Cruces Sun-News www.lcsun-news.com. The notice in both languages was also sent to all the child care providers and families who participate in the ECECD child care assistance program via email, and a copy was posted in the regional offices. Moreover, ECECD used various channels to inform child care providers about the CCDF Public Hearing, including during the monthly ECECD-led community Zoom calls, monthly newsletters, and social media posts on ECECD's Facebook, Instagram and X. In addition, ECECD will hold multiple stakeholder meetings with the early childhood care community to share information about the CCDF Plan and the CCDF public hearing. ECECD will also provide American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish interpretation at the public hearing and the stakeholder meetings. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: Input and feedback from community meetings will help inform the final CCDF State Plan. The ECECD staff will listen to, and document suggestions and ideas shared during consultations and incorporate them into the CCDF State Plan as appropriate. By involving and collaborating with the stakeholders, ECECD will make sure the Plan addresses the needs of the diverse communities across New Mexico. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. https://www.nmececd.org/ccdfsessions/ b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. [x] Working with advisory committees. Describe: ECECD shares the final CCDF Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary waivers with advisory councils. Additionally, the State Plan, approved Plan Amendments, and temporary waivers are published on the ECECD website. ii. [x] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: ECECD shares the final CCDF Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary Waivers with the child care resource and referral agency and requires them to post it on their website and share with the providers on their listserv. iii. [ ] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: iv. [x] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: ECECD posts the proposed CCDF State Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary waivers to child care providers through various social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as through monthly email communications to providers and partners. v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: ECECD shares its final CCDF State Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary Waivers on its website and through press releases. In addition, ECECD will directly communicate the State Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary waivers with parent and family groups, provider associations like the New Mexico Child Care and Education Association and the New Mexico Head Start Association, as well as advocacy groups such as Growing Up New Mexico, New Mexico Voices for Children, and the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children. This outreach is conducted through various channels including monthly Zoom calls, newsletters, and social media posts on X, Facebook and Instagram. vi. [ ] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: vii. [x] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: ECECD posts its proposed and final CCDF State Plan, approved Plan amendments, and temporary waivers on its website. Moreover, this information is disseminated to the child care workforce through various social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as through monthly email communications to providers and other partners. viii. [ ] Other. Describe: 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.