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 Lead Agency partners with Signal Centers, Inc. to manage the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), a network of child care resource and referral agencies serving Tennessee across eight (8) geographic areas and offering free services to families, the early care and education workforce, child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency, and child care providers participating in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program. Through its statement team of quality coaches, CCR&R offers and implements a scope of services to improve the overall quality of child care, strengthen the training and technical assistance system for the state, and assure quality and consistent practices through the provision of services by quality coaches who directly support families and child care providers. CCR&R quality coaches maintain a specialization in one or more of many areas, including: • Early Childhood • Early Language and Literacy • Emergency Preparedness and Response • Family Child Care • Family Engagement • Health, Safety, and Supervision • Inclusion • Infant and Toddler Care • Quality Rating and Improvement • Small Business • Technology As directed by the Lead Agency, CCR&R offers families consumer information to identify and better understand the components of high-quality child care as well as answer questions about child care providers in their geographic areas. CCR&R assists families, especially those among vulnerable and underserved populations, with identifying and accessing local services and collaborates with local community-based organizations to engage with and support the education of families and the general community about high- quality child care. CCR&R works closely with the Lead Agency to identify and implement strategies to increase outreach and services benefiting homeless populations. CCR&R works with families who receive child care payment assistance with making informed decisions when selecting a child care provider. CCR&R offers child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency coaching and technical assistance, training, consultation, and supporting materials and resources on topics that include developmentally appropriate practices, health and safety issues, parent engagement, social emotional and behavioral health, and best practices across related themes. CCR&R coordinates with the Lead Agency to establish criteria and an intake system that may determine eligibility for potential Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program bonus payment rates and incentives. CCR&R assists parents and families as may be requested by the Lead Agency with navigating available resources and services as well as strengthening the understanding of parents and families of rights and advocacy for the needs of their children. Referral lists of child care providers by geographic service area that enroll children with disabilities by CCR&R to better assist families seeking child care specific to a child’s needs. CCR&R also promotes and offers support for child care providers with program inclusion for children with disabilities or on-site consultation problem-solving child care and other health issues, including evaluation for adaptive equipment and/or technology needs. Through on-site coaching, CCR&R works with child care providers to ensure children with disabilities receive safe, high-quality care and appropriate accommodations through the use of Inclusion Coaching Plans, individualized blueprints for educators to follow that further ensure children in the classroom have sufficient learning opportunities, activities, and materials. Inclusion Coaching Plans identify strategies for providing meaningful care and education and are opportunities for educators and families to work together in support of all children participating in activities and building relationships with their peers. The Lead Agency coordinates with its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, including CCR&R, to strengthen and improve data to ensure adequate supply of child care exists to sufficiently satisfy demand. CCR&R conducts or participants in outreach and awareness initiatives in collaboration with the Lead Agency and other partners on such topics as quality child care, accessibility, etc. CCR&R supports a system of high-quality early care and education for children in Tennessee as directed by the Lead Agency, and providing quality resources, consistent practices, and support for child care agencies that include expertise, training, and technical assistance. CCR&R delivers prioritized targeted coaching in response to referrals from the Lead Agency and partnering CCDF Quality Child Care Partners and supports the development of continuous quality improvement plans by child care providers. Creating small business academies to support, strengthen, and improve small business practices among child care providers is a key strategy to develop relationships and establish partnerships across Tennessee communities. CCR&R emphasizes maintaining consistency in services in the areas of health and safety; infant/toddler best practices; family and group child care; center-based childcare; and school-age child care. Services must reflect developmentally appropriate practices around core areas such as: supervision, child guidance, parent engagement/child care consumer education information, child outcomes and kindergarten readiness. Continuous Quality Improvement Plans form the frame work for technical assistance to agencies requiring identification of agency needs, resources needed, assignment of CCR&R staff and other resources within a timeline and required support from the administration of the child care provider. CCR&R maintains a Tennessee Child Care Provider Training (TN-CCPT) course catalog of over 200 trainings recognized as approved through TrainTN, the Lead Agency’s official clearinghouse for early childhood trainings. Examples of TN-CCPT training titles include: • Building Brains: The Brain Architecture Game • Conscious Discipline: Using Encouragement • Creating Interest Areas in the Preschool Classroom • Emergency Preparedness (Survival Preparation for Fire, Earthquake, Severe Storm/Tornado, Nuclear Accident/Bomb Threat/Terrorist Act, Evacuation Drills, When to Call an Ambulance, First Aid Kits H&S Modules) • Infectious Disease Control - Understanding the Spread of Infectious Disease in Child Care • Frugal Finds for Engaging Minds: STEM in Action • Kindergarten Here We Come • Pillars of Positive Solutions For Families: Preventing Challenging Behaviors • Putting the "A" in STEM: How Creative Art produces STEAM learning • Ramps and Pathways: Physical Science • Reading Books w/ Infants & Toddlers • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Promoting Healthy and Safe Sleep in Child Care. First Candle, Healthy Child Care America Training Manual H&S Modules) • Understanding Free Play The Tennessee Family Child Care Network (TFCCN), a statewide network that provides a system of supports for family and group home providers subject to licensure by the Lead Agency, is also administered by CCR&R. TFCCN continues to strengthen the effectiveness of peer-to-peer mentoring through continued relationship-building and coaching to assure success in the application of knowledge and skills. TFCCN advocates for continuing education and professional development that further empowers and supports licensed family child care providers delivery of high-quality care. TFCCN supports family child care providers with meeting requirements for the Family Child Care Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential. Early childhood professionals may receive guidance observation visits of demonstration sites facilitated by CCR&R where standards and best practices may be observed in practice.