8.3 Coordination with Child Care Resource and Referral Systems

Lead Agencies may use CCDF funds to establish or support a system or network of local or regional child care resource and referral (CCR&R) organizations that is coordinated, to the extent determined by the Lead Agency, by a statewide public or private non-profit, community-based or regionally based, lead child care resource and referral organization (such as a statewide CCR&R network). If Lead Agencies use CCDF funds for local CCR&R organizations, the local or regional CCR&R organizations supported by those funds must, at the direction of the Lead Agency: • Provide parents in the State with consumer education information concerning the full range of child care options (including faith-based and community-based child care providers), analyzed by provider, including child care provided during non-traditional hours and through emergency child care centers, in their area. • To the extent practicable, work directly with families who receive assistance to offer the families support and assistance to make an informed decision about which child care providers they will use to ensure that the families are enrolling their children in the most appropriate child care setting that suits their needs and one that is of high quality (as determined by the Lead Agency). • Collect data and provide information on the coordination of services and supports, including services under Part B, Section 619 and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. • Collect data and provide information on the supply of and demand for child care services in areas of the State and submit the information to the Lead Agency. • Work to establish partnerships with public agencies and private entities, including faith- based and community-based child care providers, to increase the supply and quality of child care services in the State and, as appropriate, coordinate their activities with the activities of the Lead Agency and local agencies that administer funds made available through CCDF. 8.3.1 Funding a system or network of CCR&R organization(s) Does the Lead Agency fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s)? [ ] No. The Lead Agency does not fund a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) and has no plans to establish one. [ ] No, but the Lead Agency has plans to develop a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s). [x] Yes. The Lead Agency funds a system or network of local or regional CCR&R organization(s) with all the responsibilities outlined above. If yes, describe the activities outlined above carried out by the CCR&R organization(s), as directed by the Lead Agency: The CCR&Rs will provide a variety of services for the State. They will provide services in recruitment, support and retention, and resources. Under recruitment, the CCR&Rs perform outreach activities at events, work on outreach strategies, and provide information. CCR&R will partner with public and private partners on recruitment and outreach activities/events, to ensure that all efforts are collaborative. Outreach efforts include informational sharing events intended to educate the community on the needs and resources for state-supported early childhood programs and resource and adoptive families. They will provide information to communities regarding the importance of quality, the impact of early childhood education (ECE), and supporting community efforts and involvement in improving the ECE system. CCR&R will provide the following assistance to prospective families, child care programs, and resource and adoptive home agencies: General education on early childhood care and education options (JFS 01224 or its replacement should be included) and resource and adoptive families; Assistance to apply for early childhood care and education options; How to utilize the Ohio Child Care Search to inform families about available child care or resources and additional information if available. CCR&Rs will Identify specific needs within the service delivery area (SDA) to determine the number of new early childhood and education programs and resource care providers who will need to be licensed each state fiscal year (SFY) and specific populations or needs that should be addressed. They will support these individuals in becoming licensed by providing technical assistance, materials, training, and other items determined appropriate by the department. Under support and retention, the CCR&Rs provide technical assistance for items such as re-certifications, licensing compliance and process, quality rating improvement system compliance, curriculum and assessment implementation, etc. CCR&R will partner with child care programs and resource and adoptive home agencies on retention efforts for foster families and child care programs. They should offer the following types of support, with at least one group for resource families and one group for providers in each county. These series of trainings and/or support groups must be offered on average at least once per month. a. Resource family parent cafés. May submit evidence-based model to JFS/DCY for approval. Model needs to be listed and explain in application response. The model should be operated to fidelity. b. Resource family Support Groups c. Establishment of local resource family parent connections/networks d. Establishment of local provider connections/networks e. Family Child Care Networking f. Child Care Center Networking CCR&R will engage in the following specific needs areas: English Language Learners; Special Needs; Homelessness; Infants/Toddlers Under resource, the CCR&Rs will serve as a resource hub for families with children, including resource families, and child care programs by completing the following: Each SDA will establish a list of supports for each county within their SDA, which must include but is not limited to housing, food, employment, and child care for families that can be distributed to families and other supporting agencies; Create a resource library where families and child care programs can obtain things like reading and electronic materials based on the various families and programs being served; Each SDA will partner with families and community organizations/leaders to offer Parent Café's/parent support groups; Each SDA must hold community listening sessions centered around topics specified by the Department of Children and Youth; Each SDA will provide phone and in- person support to families in need of assistance who come to the attention of the Department of Children and Youth or contact the CCR&R directly. CCR&R will serve as a shared services hub for child care programs. CCR&R will assist, and coordinate training based upon needs of families, child care programs, resource and adoptive home agencies, and the needs of the Department of Children and Youth. They will provide professional development, health and safety trainings, and technical assistance based upon needs of child care programs in each SDA. In addition, the State Support Teams are also regional and provide technical assistance to school-based programs.