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: OCDEL contracts with 19 regional entities known as Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) to administer enhanced resource and referral services, conduct subsidized child care eligibility and to support child care providers’ participation in the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). ELRCs facilitate Regional Leadership Councils and bring together key stakeholders within each region. ELRCs are overseen by the OCDEL Bureau of Early Learning Resource Operations, who provide support, technical assistance, and program monitoring to the ELRCs. The bureau routinely convenes ELRC directors and their key staff to coordinate implementation of policies and initiatives. Day-to-day activity examples of services include, responding to a family's need for information on how to locate and choose child care, maintaining consumer education materials, educating families on the importance of choosing a quality ECE program, informing of and referring clients to other DHS and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) programs including PA Pre-K Counts, Early Intervention (EI), HS, EHS-CCP, WIC, CHIP, and evidence-based home visiting. Based on education, experience, and training, staff understand child development, quality child care characteristics, types of care, and how ECE programs works together to support families and children. Examples also include encouraging clients to become familiar with the requirements of a regulated child care program and encouraging clients to visit regulated child care programs, observe child care activities, and use of steps and checklists before choosing a setting for their child(ren); collecting data and providing information on the supply of and demand for child care services in local areas, or regions of the state, and submitting such information to the state; ensuring staff is knowledgeable of local community and state services that may benefit families served; understanding the importance of cross-referring families to programs to support the blending and braiding of funding streams; and maintaining information on how to file a complaint online or with OCDEL's Regional Child Care Certification Office regarding a certified child care provider. ELRC staff understand the process of directing clients to contact the regional office if they have a complaint about or regarding a program's violation of the regulations or if the client would like to request a complaint history for a particular provider. Clients can view complaints at www.findchildcare.pa.gov. Provision of resource and referral services also includes referring clients to COMPASS, a web-based resource and referral site, to gather information about other benefits for which they may apply, such as TANF, SNAP, LIHEAP, CHIP, WIC, etc. The ELRC supplies clients with information on how to obtain copies of relevant DHS regulations for child care providers, upon request. Provision of resource and referral services also includes maintaining information on how to file a suspected child abuse complaint through ChildLine, the statewide Child Abuse Hotline. Information regarding ChildLine can be found at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. ELRCs coordinate services with other state programs in the child care system, such as OCDEL Regional Child Care Certification Offices, while ensuring coordinated efforts to support families’ needs through County Assistance Offices (CAO), Employment, Advancement and Retention Network (EARN) Centers, PA Career Link offices and other local Employment and Training services within each ELRC region. It also works with local groups concerned with improving the quality and capacity of child care services such as early learning advocate groups, shared services networks, community engagement groups, Association of Education for Young Children (AEYC) partners/chapters and other community- based organizations and businesses.