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. [x] 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. [x] 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. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. [ ] Applications and public informational materials available in braille and other communication formats for access by individuals with disabilities. ii. [x] Websites that are accessible (e.g., Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act). iii. [x] 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. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. [ ] Other. Describe: 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. Pennsylvania released an update to policy guidance for interagency collaboration at state and local levels to identify young children experiencing homelessness and ensure access to quality early learning programs. An informational document titled "A State Level Brief Update A Call to Action: Participation of Young Children Experiencing Homelessness and Young Children in Foster Care in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania" is posted on the PA Key website at State-Level Brief Update, A Call to Action: Participation of Young Children Experiencing Homelessness and Young Children in Foster Care in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania Key (pakeys.org) Children who are experiencing homelessness are considered at-risk for delays in development and are eligible for Early Intervention’s screening and tracking program. Families that participate in the at-risk screening and tracking program regularly receive a developmental screening tool, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). If developmental concerns are identified on an ASQ, the local Early Intervention (EI) program will offer to complete an evaluation to determine if the child is eligible for EI services. The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) interactive learning series Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness has been embedded into the Pennsylvania PD Registry and is available to all early learning providers across the Commonwealth in both English and Spanish. This interactive learning series is intended for professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care, including early childhood and school-age child care providers, CCDF Lead Agency staff, and other key stakeholders. Participants learn how to identify families experiencing homelessness, conduct community outreach, and much more. All early learning providers have been made aware of the training modules and encouraged to complete them. In partnership with the PA Head Start Collaborative Office (HSCO), regional training opportunities will be provided for OCDEL, ELRC staff and other stakeholders. These trainings will be provided at no cost and will occur annually. Additional individual supports will also be made available should they be requested. 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. OCDEL, in partnership with the PA Key and EITA, developed professional development resources on identifying and working with children and their families experiencing homelessness, and connecting them with EI. The topics include resources for administrators, staff, and families, accessing programs through OCDEL, overview/discussion on child developmental milestones, basics of Early Intervention, the impact of homelessness on child development, and an overview of the ASQ. ELRC resource and referral staff, in addition to OCDEL staff were provided a series of interactive trainings. These trainings provided clarification on the McKinney Vento definition of homelessness, the impact of homelessness on young children and families and the importance of forming local partnerships with housing and homeless providers. For ELRC staff, OCDEL has developed and distributed policy and associated training on presumptive eligibility, immunization grace period, and waiver for certain verification and forms requirements. Resources and training are available on demand for ELRC administrators to access for new staff hires.