2.4 Lead Agency Outreach to Families Experiencing Homelessness, Families with Limited English Proficiency, and Persons with Disabilities

The Lead Agency must conduct outreach and provide services to families with limited English proficiency, families experiencing homelessness, and persons with disabilities. 2.4.1 Families with limited English proficiency and persons with disabilities: outreach and services a. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with limited English proficiency. Check all that apply. i. [ ] Application in languages other than English (application and related documents, brochures, provider notices). ii. [x] Informational materials in languages other than English. iii. [x] Website in languages other than English. iv. [ ] Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. v. [x] Bilingual caseworkers or translators available. vi. [x] Bilingual outreach workers. vii. [x] Partnerships with community-based organizations. viii. [x] Collaboration with Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. ix. [x] Home visiting programs. x. [x] Other. Describe: All written materials are translated into Spanish and simultaneous interpretation services are provided for webinars, meetings, and presentations. b. Check the strategies the Lead Agency or partners utilize to conduct outreach and provide services to eligible families with a person(s) with a disability. Check all that apply. i. [x] Applications and public informational materials available in braille and other communication formats for access by individuals with disabilities. ii. [ ] Websites that are accessible (e.g., Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). iii. [ ] Caseworkers with specialized training/experience in working with individuals with disabilities. iv. [x] Ensuring accessibility of environments and activities for all children. v. [x] Partnerships with State and local programs and associations focused on disability- related topics and issues. vi. [x] Partnerships with parent associations, support groups, and parent-to-parent support groups, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers. vii. [x] Partnerships with State and local IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C providers and agencies. viii. [x] Availability and/or access to specialized services (e.g., mental health, behavioral specialists, therapists) to address the needs of all children. ix. [x] Other. Describe: If a person with a disability requires information in an alternative format or special accommodations to participate in the child care program, they may contact the ECECD at 1-800-832-1321. ECECD will work internally and with community partners to assist with resources and outreach to help meet the needs of the individual or family. 2.4.2 Families experiencing homelessness: Outreach and technical assistance efforts a. Check, where applicable, the procedures used to conduct outreach for children experiencing homelessness and their families. i. [x] Lead Agency accepts applications at local community-based locations. ii. [x] Partnerships with community-based organizations. iii. [x] Partnering with homeless service providers, McKinney-Vento liaisons, and others who work with families experiencing homelessness to provide referrals to child care. iv. [x] Other. Describe: ECECD meets regularly with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH), a statewide association of agencies and individuals responsible for the system of housing and services. NMCEH is the Collaborative Applicant for New Mexico Balance of State Region for the federal Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program. The purpose of the meetings are twofold: to provide input in each other's implementation plans and include processes for ongoing collaboration and communication. In addition, the ECECD works with the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) McKinney-Vento representative to collaborate on providing outreach to families experiencing homelessness. This includes posters, flyers, referrals, brochures, posting on the ECECD and PED websites, and mutual webinars. There are two child care centers in New Mexico that serve the homeless population (Albuquerque and Las Cruces). b. The Lead Agency must provide training and technical assistance (TA) to providers and appropriate Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff on identifying and serving children and families experiencing homelessness. i. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for providers in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. When needs for support are identified, the child care provider may contact the ECECD to be connected with a consultant. ECECD staff coordinate with the McKinney Vento liaisons within the public schools. ECECD partners with PED’s State Coordinator for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth to develop a training program. The partnership includes a focus on planning more intentional supports and technical assistance for child care providers who serve children and families experiencing homelessness. ii. Describe the Lead Agency’s training and TA efforts for Lead Agency (or designated entity) staff in identifying and serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. Many families experiencing homelessness qualify for child care assistance through at-risk child care. ECECD partners with the state McKinney- Vento liaisons within the Public Education Department to improve access to child care services for homeless children. These collaborative efforts entail working jointly to improve access to services and addressing the unique needs that arise for homeless children and their families. Referral processes are in place for staff liaisons to coordinate services. ECECD has designated staff to process such referrals and provide outreach as needed. These staff receive trauma-informed training, and attend training and conferences geared toward working with families experiencing homelessness and other topics that may support at-risk families.