9.2 Consumer Education Website

Lead Agencies must provide information to parents, the general public, and child care providers through a State or Territory website, which is consumer-friendly and easily accessible for families who speak languages other than English and persons with disabilities. The website must: • Include information to assist families in understanding the Lead Agency’s policies and procedures, including licensing child care providers; • Include monitoring and inspection reports for each provider and, if available, the quality of each provider; • Provide the aggregate number of deaths, serious injuries, and the number of cases of substantiated child abuse that have occurred in child care settings; • Include contact information for local CCR&R organizations to help families access additional information on finding child care; and • Include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency and other organizations to better understand the information on the website. 9.2.1 Consumer-friendly website Does the Lead Agency ensure that its consumer education website is consumer-friendly and easily accessible? i. Provide the URL for the Lead Agency’s consumer education website homepage: www.dhs.gov ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for families who speak languages other than English? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iii. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website ensures broad access to services for persons with disabilities? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.2.2 Additional consumer education website links Provide the direct URL/website link for the following: i. Provide the direct URL/website link to how the Lead Agency licenses child care providers: www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Child-Care/Pages/Child-Care- Regulations.aspx ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the processes for conducting monitoring and inspections of child care providers:: www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Child- Care/Pages/Child-Care-Regulations.aspx iii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the policies and procedures related to criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Clearances/Pages/default.aspx iv. Provide the direct URL/website link to the offenses that prevent individuals from being employed by a child care provider: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/dhs- search.html#q=New%202020%20Disclosure%20statement.pdf 9.2.3 Searchable list of providers a. The consumer education website must include a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code. i. Does the Lead Agency certify that the consumer education website includes a list of all licensed providers searchable by ZIP code? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the list of child care providers searchable by ZIP code: www.findchildcare.pa.gov iii. In addition to the licensed child care providers that must be included in the searchable list, are there additional providers included in the Lead Agency’s searchable list of child care providers? Check all that apply: [ ] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. [ ] License-exempt family child care CCDF providers. [x] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. [ ] Relative CCDF child care providers. [x] Other (e.g., summer camps, public pre-Kindergarten). Describe: Head Start, EHS, PA Pre-K Counts, state or federally funded home visiting programs, and private academic schools licensed by PDE. b. Identify what additional (optional) information, if any, is available in the searchable results by ZIP code. Check the box when information is provided. Provider Information Available in Searchable Results -- All licensed providers License- exempt CCDF center- based provide rs License- exempt CCDF family child care home provide rs License- exempt non- CCDF provider s Relative CCDF providers Contact information [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] Enrollment capacity [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] Hours, days, and months of operation [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] Provider education and training [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Languages spoken by the caregiver [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Quality information [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Monitoring reports [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Willingness to accept CCDF certificates [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Ages of children served [x] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] Specialization or training for certain populations [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Care provided during nontraditional hours [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] c. Identify any other information searchable on the consumer education website for the child care provider type listed below and then, if checked, describe the searchable information included on the website. i. [x] All licensed providers. Describe: Languages served, schedule, directions to facility, school district(s) served, fee schedule, discounts, financial programs accepted, meal options, accreditations, special accommodations, transportation. ii. [ ] License-exempt CCDF center-based providers. Describe: iii. [ ] License-exempt CCDF family child care providers. Describe: iv. [x] License-exempt, non-CCDF providers. Describe: Hours of operation (includes days of operation), school(s) served, number and ages of children in attendance. v. [ ] Relative CCDF providers. Describe: vi. [ ] Other. Describe: 9.2.4 Provider-specific quality information Lead Agencies must identify specific quality information on each child care provider for whom they have this information. Provider-specific quality information must only be posted on the consumer education website if it is available for the individual child care provider. a. What specific quality information does the Lead Agency provide on the website? i. [x] Quality improvement system. ii. [x] National accreditation. iii. [ ] Enhanced licensing system. iv. [x] Meeting Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards. v. [x] Meeting pre-Kindergarten quality requirements. vi. [ ] School-age standards. vii. [x] Quality framework or quality improvement system. viii. [ ] Other. Describe: b. For what types of child care providers is quality information available? i. [x] Licensed CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: Keystone STARS, national accreditations, meeting HS, EHS, or PA Pre-K Counts requirements. ii. [x] Licensed non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: Keystone STARS, national accreditations, meeting HS, EHS, or PA Pre-K Counts requirements. iii. [ ] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: iv. [ ] License-exempt FCC CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: v. [ ] License-exempt non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: vi. [ ] Relative child care providers. Describe the quality information: vii. [x] Other. Describe: HS, EHS, Pre-K Counts 9.2.5 Aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated abuse Lead Agencies must post aggregate data on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of child abuse that have occurred in child care settings each year on the consumer education website. This aggregate data must include information about any child in the care of a provider eligible to receive CCDF, not just children receiving subsidies. This aggregate information on serious injuries and deaths must be separated by category of care (e.g., centers, family child care homes, and in-home care) and licensing status (i.e., licensed or license-exempt) for all eligible CCDF child care providers in the State/Territory. The information on instances of substantiated child abuse does not have to be organized by category of care or licensing status. Information must also include the total number of children in care by provider type and licensing status, so that families can better understand the data presented on serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated cases of abuse. a. Certify by checking below that the required elements are included in the Aggregate Data Report on serious incident data that have occurred in child care settings each year. i. [x] The total number of serious injuries of children in care by provider category and licensing status. ii. [x] The total number of deaths of children in care by provider category and licensing status. iii. [x] The total number of substantiated instances of child abuse in child care settings. iv. [x] The total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status. v. If any of the above elements are not included, describe: b. Certify by providing: i. The designated entity to which child care providers must submit reports of any serious injuries or deaths of children occurring in child care and describe how the Lead Agency obtains the aggregate data from the entity: Licensed child care providers must report incidence of serious injury or fatality to their certification representative and ChildLine representatives. For purposes of creating the Child Death or Serious Injury report, certification headquarters staff reviews report and verifies the event was caused by a health and safety violation. This report is posted in aggregate for the previous two program years and monthly for the current program year. ii. The definition of “substantiated child abuse” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: In Pennsylvania, "substantiated child abuse" is referred to as an "Indicated Report" or founded report (Title 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303) of abuse which is defined in the DHS regulations at 55 Pa. Code 3490.4 as a child abuse report made under the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) and in this chapter, if an investigation by the county agency or DHS determines substantial evidence of the alleged abuse exists based on any of the following: Available medical evidence; The child protective service investigation; or An admission of the acts of abuse by the perpetrator. iii. The definition of “serious injury” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: Effective July 1, 2018, OCDEL began to utilize the definition of serious bodily injury as prescribed in the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL). Bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ. c. Provide the direct URL/website link to the page where the aggregate number of serious injuries, deaths, and substantiated child abuse, and the total number of children in care by provider category and licensing status are posted: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Children/Pages/Child-Care-Early-Learning.aspx 9.2.6 Contact information on referrals to local child care resource and referral organizations The Lead Agency consumer education website must include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations. a. Does the consumer education website include contact information on referrals to local CCR&R organizations? [x] Yes. [ ] No. [ ] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not have local CCR&R organizations. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Children/Pages/Child-Care-Early-Learning.aspx contains contact information for various resources, including links to the ELRC contact information under the headings of ￿Help with Child Care Expenses￿ and ￿Additional Resources￿. In addition, http://www.findchildcare.pa.gov/ includes a contact us page that includes information about how to find the ELRC that serves each zip code and their contact information. 9.2.7 Lead Agency contact information for parents The Lead Agency consumer and provider education website must include information on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs that can help the parent understand information included on the website. a. Does the website provide directions on how parents can contact the Lead Agency or its designee and other programs to help them understand information included on the website? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to this information: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Children/Pages/Child-Care-Early-Learning.aspx contains contact information for various resources including a general contact us link, CCW Helpline, ELRCs, OCDEL Regional Certification Offices, and the EI CONNECT helpline. In addition, http://www.findchildcare.pa.gov/includes a contact us page that provided information to contact DHS, including address, phone number and a link to submit information electronically. 9.2.8 Posting sliding fee scale, co-payment amount, and policies for waiving co-payments The consumer education website must include the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co- payments. a. Does the Lead Agency certify that their consumer education website includes the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the co-payment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co-payments? [ ] Yes. [x] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to the sliding fee scale. Currently the copayment chart is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and can be found at https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/055/chap ter3042/chap3042toc.html The consumer education website is set to be updated on September 29, 2024 with the co- payment chart.