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 Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) the following webpages, "Information for Families" which includes an explanation of what child care is, eligibility for publicly funded child care (PFCC), types of child care explanations, apply for assistance (PFCC), resources, each for child care programs, file a compliant and direct link to the "Help Desk" (Family and Customer Support line.) The Resource Guide for families which lists services available in Ohio including mental health services, medical services, Early Childhood Education, preschool special education, nutrition, early intervention, and Help Me Grow. The link to the family web page is also listed on the application to apply for PFCC benefits. Additionally, the application for child care benefits includes information on ￿How to Choose Child Care￿ which includes the URL for the child care search. This application is also available online. In addition the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) website (all programs from ODJFS are in transition to DCY for child care including licensing, PFCC, and SUTQ), provides families, providers and partners with resources. Newsletters are shared with the public to keep all informed and allowing DCY to remain transparent during the transition of programs. Families may also find resources how to apply for assistances, search for child care providers, childhood mental health resources and learn about child growth and development along with many more resources On both ODJFS and DCY webpages customers can locate written materials that can be printed and kept on hand. The Tuesday Time and Kids' Corner communications are shared via email with early care and education programs; programs are encouraged to post in their locations and share with their families. Both agencies have a multitude of technical assistance documents and communications in PDF format to assist with sharing program knowledge. Finally, the Self-Service Portal is accessible from the ￿Families￿ web page enabling families to apply for Medicaid, Cash, Food and Child Care assistance. The link is titled ￿Early Childhood Services Screening Tool￿. 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. A number of child development and behavior health resource links are available on the Information for Providers Resource sections of the child care webpage https://jfs.ohio.gov/child-care/information-for-providers/resources. Ohio Early Intervention RedTreeHouse.Org The Ohio Department of Health - Help Me Grow Program Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards Ohio's Early Childhood Core Knowledge & Competencies Center for Disease Control Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services CHIP Children’s Health Insurance Program Early Childhood Mental Health (including expulsion prevention) Reducing Suspension and Expulsion Practices in Early Childhood Settings The Providers Resources webpage also has a 'resource card' for ￿Health and Safety’ with the links to information on shaken baby; SIDS; lead poisoning, hazards and a lead toolkit; obesity; bullying; trauma; handwashing; and links to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Information for Families Resource (https://jfs.ohio.gov/child-care/information-for- families/resources) page includes links to early childhood resources as well as basic needs and medical resources including information on: childhood lead poisoning; The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood; RedTreeHouse.org; CDC; and Ohio’s Early and Periodic Screening. Early Childhood Resources include: Head Start, Imagination Library for families, Annual Licensing Reports, Ohio Early Intervention, Help Me Grow The Resources for Families shares educational information on the background check process for child care employees. Diagnosis and Treatment Program. Also available in the Resource pages is the Child Care Resource Guide for Eligible Services (JFS 01224) which offers Early Intervention, Help Me Grow, Early Childhood Education, medical services, mental health, SNAP, WIC and CACFP program and contact information. Updates to resource documents are share with our partners, providers, and the public using many different avenues. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) uses two different "newsletter" formats to inform our partners, providers and the public; Kids' Corner and Tuesday Times, located on the DCY webpage (https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-partners/kids-corner- newsletter and https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-partners/tuesday-times). These "newsletters" are also emailed out using govDelivery a subscriber service to contact our audience. 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 Child Care Resources Guide for Eligible Services (JFS 01224) offers information on programs that assist families and providers in locating community resources specific to early childhood mental health and social-emotional and behavioral issues. On the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) webpage under Child Care Resources, a Resource Card is shared with links for Child Development and Behavioral Health Resources, (https://jfs.ohio.gov/child-care/resources/child-development-and-behavioral-health-resources.) These resources are also shared on the Information for Families Resources left hand navigational tools as well as the Information for Provider Resources left hand navigational tools. A link to this document is also included on the application for publicly funded child care. On the DCY home page under the ￿For Families￿ heading there is a tile, Childhood Mental Health, that links to Department of Mental Health and Addiction web page. This page includes resources and information on Early Childhood Mental health Consultants, screening and assessments, best practices videos, programs and services offered, provider support and community partners. 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 State invests in the Ohio Preschool Expulsion program designed specifically to assist licensed child care providers with children that may otherwise be expelled. The goal of the program is to provide additional supports such as Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation within 24 hours to the program which can be done by phone or onsite. The Consultant will work with the early care and education professional to determine if there may be a trigger, if the room environment may need changed, and when necessary if a referral may be required to Triple P to support the parents or the teacher in the classroom, a referral to Telehealth for the entire family for free 24/7 counseling to help stabilize and de-escalate. On the ODJFS website under Resources for Providers there is a ￿Reducing Suspension and Expulsion Practices￿ link that links to the Office of Early Childhood Development webpage. This web page offers the following resources: • Read the Guidance Document on Expulsion and Suspension Policies in Early Childhood Settings (PDF) • See Office of Child Care Information Memorandum on suspension and expulsion policy • See Office of Head Start Informational Memorandum on suspension and expulsion policy • STATE AND LOCAL ACTION TO PREVENT EXPULSION AND SUSPENSION IN EARLY LEARNING SETTINGS (PDF) • Full Expulsion and Suspension Webinar Series • Expulsion Webinar 1 - Basic Research (PDF) • Expulsion Webinar 2 - Policies (PDF) • Expulsion Webinar 3 - Program Quality and Professional Development (PDF) • Expulsion Webinar 4 - Using Data Systems (PDF) • Resources for States • Resources for Early Childhood Programs • Resources for Families and Caregivers • Resources for Community Partners • Resources on Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation • Resources on Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 5101:2-12-19 states (C)What are the child guidance techniques to be used in the licensed child care center? (2)The center shall communicate and consult with the parent prior to implementing a specific behavior management plan. This plan shall be in writing and signed by the parent and shall be consistent with the requirements of this rule. (3)When a child is expelled from the center for a behavioral reason, the expulsion is to be reported in the Ohio child licensing and quality system (OCLQS) (C)What are the child guidance techniques to be used in the licensed child care center?(2)The center shall communicate and consult with the parent prior to implementing a specific behavior management plan. This plan shall be in writing and signed by the parent and shall be consistent with the requirements of this rule. (3)When a child is expelled from the center for a behavioral reason, the expulsion is to be reported in the Ohio child licensing and quality system (OCLQS) 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: NA