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. Both CCR&R agencies and DWSS/CCDP maintain separate e-mail listservs to communicate and share information about program changes and other child care topics with registered providers and enrolled households receiving child care scholarship(s). The consumer education website and DWSS/CCDP webpage offer information, including written materials and resource links, that can be viewed by any ECE stakeholder, the general public, eligible parents, and child care providers. 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 Children's Cabinet and the Las Vegas Urban League provide parents with the Ages and Stages questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social Emotional questionnaire in order to allow parents to screen for developmental delays. Additionally, parents will be given Nevada's Milestone Moments booklet, developed by Nevada's Learn the Signs, Act Early program. These materials are available in English and Spanish. Nevada Department of Education, licensed, non-licensed, and licensed exempt child care providers, Nevada Early Intervention Services, Nevada Home Visitation program, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies partner to provide written materials, direct communication with families, and website based resources. Parents, providers and the general public have access to best practices regarding child development via the consumer education website: https://www.nevadachildcare.org/child-development-screening/. This information is also provided during license-exempt FFN registration appointments. 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 Children's Cabinet and the Las Vegas Urban League provide parents with the Ages and Stages questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social Emotional questionnaire in order to allow parents to screen for developmental delays. Additionally, parents will be given Nevada's Milestone Moments booklet, developed by Nevada's Learn the Signs, Act Early program. The Ages and Stages Social Emotional questionnaire is provided to parents upon request, and a consumer education "bundle" that includes this information is provided to all CCRR and subsidy clients. Nevada PEP provides TACSEI information, training and materials to families from birth to early childhood programs to encourage families to partner with professionals that provide services to their children. Using the Backpack series and Positive Solutions for Families, we are helping parents and professionals recognize the value of teaching children social emotional skills. Helping parents form relationships with private and public schools provides a basis for stronger parent engagement practices that can sustain families involvement in their children's education. These materials are available in English and Spanish. Nevada Department of Education, licensed, non-licensed, and licensed exempt child care providers, Nevada Early Intervention Services, Nevada Home Visitation program, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies partner to provide written materials, direct communication with families, and website based resources. 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: The CCR&Rs provide training and TA to child care providers to promote social-emotional development, including building positive relationships and creative environments that can help staff in their child care center and prevent the suspension and expulsion of children from ECE settings. The Technical Assistance Center for Social- Emotional Intervention (TACSEI) offers trainings and support to licensed providers who accept child care scholarship payments through either The Children’s Cabinet or The Las Vegas Urban League, with the exception of Head Start programs. Listed below are the trainings and supports being implemented: - Required Training: At least one designated staff member with a leadership role (e.g. director or assistant director) at any child care site that is funded with CCDF dollars must complete either the TACSEI ePyramid training or the TACSEI in-person training covering modules 1-3. - Implementation of Training Content: The designated staff member mentioned above will facilitate implementation of methods that promote social-emotional development, including building positive relationships, creating supportive environments, and facilitating social-emotional teaching strategies amongst the staff in their child care center. - Scheduled Support: Childcare Information and Resource Phone Support (CHIRPS) community of practice phone conferences with a Pyramid Model Specialist will be regularly scheduled to provide a platform for group discussions and support with implementation of the training content. - Real-Time Support: A support hotline will be available for immediate assistance from a Pyramid Model Specialist. - In-Person Training: A designated staff member must attend an in-person TACSEI training on Pyramid. 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: N/A