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: The CCDF Administrator is an official, Governor-appointed member of the Nevada Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). The ECAC meets quarterly. Information about DWSS/CCDP activities is shared during partner updates. DWSS/CCDP key staff participate as voting members on various ECAC subcommittees and share information and collaborate on special projects through those bodies. As a result of this participation and coordination, DWSS/CCDP actively participates in developing policy and funding recommendations to improve the early childhood care and education system in Nevada that are considered by the Governor and policymakers. Additionally, a variety of ECE stakeholders, including parent and provider representatives, are made aware of DWSS/CCDP initiatives and progress on a regular basis. This coordination ensures DWSS/CCDP is maintaining clear and open communication regarding subsidy and quality program activities. 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: DWSS/CCDP recently created and hired a Social Services Program Specialist position within the program to focus on improving coordination with Tribal organizations. The following tribes were contacted regarding State Plan development: Ely Shoshone Tribe, Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa River Indian Reservation Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and the Shoshone Paiute Tribe. The program specialist continues to outreach to the noted tribes to improve collaboration and coordination of services; however, we are still in the development phase of creating stronger relationships with our Tribal partners. At this time there are no results to report. DWSS/CCDP is also making efforts to collaborate with Tribal partners, Child Care Licensing, and the Nevada Department of Public Safety to assist Tribes in using our comprehensive background check process. This collaboration/coordination is also in the beginning stages and the program is hopeful we can assist the Tribes in streamlining/improving their ability to conduct the required background checks. [ ] 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: DWSS/CCDP staff sit on the Nevada Early Intervention Interagency Coordinating Council. The Council brings policymakers, service providers, and parents together to support and assist with the ongoing development and implementation of quality statewide early intervention services for young children with disabilities and their families. The members work to ensure that the supports and services offered to families are in line with their needs and maximize outcomes. As a result, CCDP staff stay informed and engaged with stakeholders who impact early intervention services statewide. This engagement allows for cross collaboration when making policy and programmatic decisions which impact children with disabilities. d. State/Territory office/director for Head Start State collaboration. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP and the Head Start State Collaboration Office engage in frequent communication and strategic planning sessions to synchronize initiatives. By sharing insights, data, and expertise, leverage is provided to strengthen and maximize the impact of the programs and services. Quality improvement efforts are aligned with the goals of enhancing child care quality and accessibility for families across the state. The direct services provided allow for a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the early childhood education landscape. This enables efforts to be tailored for maximum efficacy. The partnership fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Through regular evaluation and feedback mechanisms, areas for enhancement are identified and interventions are implemented as appropriate. The partnership between DWSS/CCDP and the Head Start State Collaboration Office shows the state's commitment to excellence in early childhood education and strives for a holistic support system. e. State/Territory agency responsible for public health, including the agency responsible for immunizations. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP collaborates with the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) to ensure immunization records are updated and verified using the Nevada WebIZ immunization information system. The results of this coordination make it easier for families to obtain the required immunization documents needed for child care providers. Further, DWSS/CCDP is establishing better coordination and collaboration with the DPBH Bureau of Child, Family and Community Wellness which includes the Immunization Program (coordination mentioned previously), Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program (child nutrition and food security initiatives), the Title V Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program (includes the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program), and the Nevada Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. f. State/Territory agency responsible for employment services/workforce development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Nevada Strong Start Child Care Services Center (CCSC) serves as a one-stop shop that connects child care providers to public and private sectors which offer employment support and services. The goal of the CCSC is to create systems which are aligned to meet the needs of Nevada providers and families. All child care providers have access to workforce support to operate their business and provide the highest quality care to the children and families they serve. The CCSC has physical locations in both Northern and Southern Nevada in addition to a virtual hub which provides access to Early Childhood Education resources. DWSS/CCDP oversees the administration for the CCSC with a total of 7 staff positions statewide. Creation of the CCSC has streamlined workforce supports for both the child care providers and ECE partners who administer supports and training. Partners have reported better comprehension of other ECE system supports by having everything accessible in one place. This change has also allowed DWSS to better understand provider workforce development needs hearing and seeing firsthand what is or is not working between collaborations. The virtual hub has also created a platform where we can have clear and consistent messaging between program supports, thus creating a more aligned ECE system. g. State/Territory agency responsible for public education, including pre-Kindergarten. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: NDE-OELD is the agency responsible for public education, including State Pre-Kindergarten; additionally, this agency is responsible for Head Start collaboration and initiatives to improve the quality of early childhood education. DWSS/CCDP works closely with NDE-OELD to improve the quality of early childhood programs, increase access for families, and provide support to child care providers. NDE-OELD initiatives include an aligned screening tool across child care programs, pre-k and kindergarten entry; student unique identifiers for children receiving a child care scholarship, PDGB5 seats in child care facilities for four-year-olds whose families are below 200% FPL, Birth to 3rd Grade (B-3) initiatives that include a pilot project and professional learning specific to smoothing transitions both across grades (horizontally) and within grades (vertically); and aligned educational standards across child care and pre-k programs. h. State/Territory agency responsible for child care licensing. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Lead Agency is responsible for statewide child care licensing activities. The Nevada Child Care Licensing Program was administratively moved under DWSS from DPBH during the 82nd legislative session in 2023. On July 1, 2024, the statewide Child Care Licensing Program absorbed licensing responsibilities in Washoe County making DWSS/CCL the only child care licensing body statewide. This coordination has resulted in a more streamlined licensure process and consistent application of policy throughout the state. 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: The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is the responsible agency for CACFP and will communicate updates on CACFP with DWSS including training and participation by child care providers. NDA will coordinate with SNAP-Ed, DPBH, and Children’s Cabinet on updates for number of CACFP participants in business and/or CACFP training conducted through QRIS trainers. Additionally, NDA will share with DWSS the participation of the number of new CACFP sponsors and providers on an ongoing basis. DWSS/CCDP was able to fund an expansion project using pandemic relief funds but will not be able to sustain the funding after September 30, 2024. DWSS/CCDP intends to maintain a relationship with the CACFP team at NDA to ensure coordination in recruiting providers into and educating them on how participation in CACFP can help their business and the children they serve. The results of the CACFP Program included an increase in the number of licensed child care facilities/providers participating in CACFP by 10% from the baseline at 10/01/2022, resulting in an increased number of nutritious meals served in ECE settings. Eligible facilities and providers were identified and encouraged to participate in outreach and education sessions provided by NDA. Continued virtual and onsite technical assistance and follow up to ECE provides, newly participating In CACFP. Additional Quality Improvement Grants were utilized to partner and provide the needed resources to facilities/providers to be able to participate in CACFP. 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: DWSS/CCDP has coordinated policy and processes with the Nevada McKinney-Vento Homeless Outreach Program to facilitate and streamline the referral and application process for families experiencing homelessness. The results of the coordination reduce transportation barriers for families and improve access to child care services. k. State/Territory agency responsible for the TANF program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP and the TANF program are both under the DWSS umbrella. Efforts are coordinated with the program chiefs and specialists to facilitate and streamline the referral and application process for families receiving TANF and to support training and employment efforts. The results of this collaboration include a more holistic approach for families needing assistance, a more seamless application process, and better coordination of services for TANF recipients seeking child care. l. State/Territory agency responsible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP partners with the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP or Nevada Medicaid) to coordinate services through the Pediatrics Supporting Parents initiative as well as the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. The results of this coordination expand access to high quality services for young children by ensuring they are healthy and have access to care. Additionally, families are supported through utilization of community-based early childhood assessments, screenings, and referrals. m. State/Territory agency responsible for mental health services. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP coordinates with Nevada’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) to facilitate mental health referrals through the Technical Assistance Center for Social Emotional Intervention Services (TACSEI). The results of this coordination create a sustainable statewide system that promotes social emotional development in young children. Additionally, young children develop healthy relationships, are ready to learn, and can navigate their social environments. 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: DWSS/CCDP works closely with our subrecipient CCR&R agencies to collectively pursue our program goals and provide excellent consumer education and information. DWSS/CCDP also works with The Nevada Registry to be able to efficiently connect families and providers to resources for training and development. The results of these efforts foster a high-quality workforce, a more effective early learning environment, and increase positive outcomes for children and families. o. Statewide afterschool network or other coordinating entity for out-of-school time care (if applicable). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP works closely with Out of School (OST) providers in Nevada to coordinate efforts to allow parents to work and to adapt to the need for different types of services including before and after school programming and emergency child care for a wider range of ages. The result of this coordination is expanded child care services which allow parents more provider options and support increased work opportunities. The Nevada Afterschool Network (NAN) is the state’s leading statewide organization for providers serving the state’s school-age youth with high quality, accessible afterschool and summer programs. NAN’s work supports outreach to the field and coordination across programs within different settings and working across various funding streams, including CCDF and PDGB5. DWSS/CCDP works closely with NAN in planning and implementation to ensure that school-age providers voices are represented and incorporated in state child care policies referenced in this planning document including cost studies, workforce supports, and quality systems. NAN is also a key partner in helping DWSS/CCDP with the dissemination of resources and materials. p. Agency responsible for emergency management and response. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: DWSS/CCDP works with the Nevada Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to consult and coordinate efforts to streamline our Disaster Plan and develop policy and processes related to emergency responses in Nevada. The result of this collaboration is a higher level of continuity of care and supportive services when emergencies occur. Additionally, due to this coordination, there is a minimal disruption of service coordination and a timely response can be facilitated between agencies. 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: DWSS/CCDP coordinates services with the State Head Start Collaborator to extend services to full day for those Head Start and Early Head Start programs that receive CCDF. DWSS/CCDP partners with Early Head Start by providing wraparound so parents can work while they helping to enhance developmental services for children. The EHS-CCP brings together the strengths of Child Care and Early Head Start programs. Early Head Start provides comprehensive family centered services within high-quality early learning environments that adhere to the research-based Head Start Program Standards. Integrating Early Head Start comprehensive services and resources into the array of traditional child care and family child care settings creates new opportunities to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families. Child care centers and family child care providers respond to the needs of working families by offering flexible and convenient full-day and full-year services. In addition, child care providers have experience providing care that is strongly grounded in the cultural, linguistic, and social needs of the families and their local communities. ii. [x] State/Territory institutions for higher education, including community colleges. Describe: DWSS/CCDP, in a partnership with SNAPET, Western Nevada College, and Truckee Meadows Community College maintains a program to allow access to child care scholarships for individuals participating in education and training through the SNAPET program. iii. [x] Other federal, State, local, and/or private agencies providing early childhood and school-age/youth-serving developmental services. Describe: NDE-OELD partners with Early Childhood Mental Health Services (ECMHS) which provides intensive outpatient individual and family psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based practices that are trauma-informed as well as targeted case management for infants and very young children and their families. Our focus is on engaging and honoring the role of caring adults in infant’s and very young child’s life by providing services either in-home, in the community or in our offices as per the unique needs of each family and child. Consultations and observations may be provided at QRIS approved center-based or home-based day care sites, Early Head Start/Head Start programs, or school district classrooms. ECMHS works closely with local Head Start, Early Head Start, and Inter-Tribal Council-Nevada Head Start agencies to provide classroom observation assessments once a year, participate on health advisory committees, and conduct training when requested. ECMHS engages in ongoing efforts to promote awareness of infant and early childhood mental health needs in the community at large through partnership with many family and child serving programs in Clark County. iv. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for implementing the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs grant. Describe: DWSS/CCDP participates in the state's Pritzker P3 Initiative which includes developing and implementing maternal health and child home visitation programs and collaboration with grantees. Further, DWSS/CCDP is establishing better coordination and collaboration with the DPBH Bureau of Child, Family and Community Wellness which includes the Title V Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program (includes the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program). v. [x] Agency responsible for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program. Describe: DWSS/CCDP partners with DPBH and Nevada Medicaid to ensure families have access to and can receive necessary screenings to identify and address developmental needs and that providers understand how to bill under EPSDT policies. vi. [x] State/Territory agency responsible for child welfare. Describe: DWSS/CCDP has coordinated statewide services with the Division of Child and Family Services statewide and county Child Protective Service (CPS) agencies to expand services to meet specific needs including voluntary and reunification plans for families involved with foster care and CPS systems. vii. [x] Child care provider groups or associations. Describe: DWSS/CCDP sends a staff representative to the Child Care Provider Advisory Committee to participate in coordination of child care services and provide information. DWSS/CCDP also partners with NevAEYC to promote quality improvement, professional development, and share information regarding child care services. viii. [x] Parent groups or organizations. Describe: DWSS/CCDP partners with The Children’s Cabinet to support the Nevada Early Childhood Family Leadership Council to ensure parents and families of young children have both leadership and decision-making roles in the early childhood system. ix. [ ] Title IV B 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators. Describe: x. [ ] Other. Describe: