9.3 Increasing Engagement and Access to Information

Lead Agencies must collect and disseminate information about the full range of child care services to promote parental choice to parents of children eligible for CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. 9.3.1 Information about CCDF availability and eligibility Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with eligible parents, the general public, and child care providers about the availability of child care services provided through CCDF and other programs for which the family may be eligible. The description should include, at a minimum, what is provided (e.g., written materials, the website, and direct communications) and what approaches are used to tailor information to parents, the general public, and child care providers. The Lead Agency website features information and resources, including the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program, appropriate for parents and the general public as well as for child care providers. These resources offer an overview of eligibility information for different categories of care, the application process and documentation requirements, general co-payment estimates, and finding child care options. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), CCDF Lead Agency, utilizes its One DHS Customer Portal to share information about the availability of other programs and services for which families may be eligible. The One DHS Customer Portal is a self-service website that helps customer to connect to an array of support services aimed at building and empowering strong Tennessee Families in one convenient online location. Through the Lead Agency’s One DHS Customer Portal, families may apply for, access, and maintain services administered by the Lead Agency for: Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program, Child Support, Families First (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Disaster/Relief Assistance (D-SNAP, Emergency Cash Assistance, Pandemic-EBT, etc.). One DHS Portal empowers customers to: • Apply for benefits • Upload, submit, and view documents related to services • Upload household and contact information • Check your case status • Review notifications about your case • File appeals • Learning about programs, services, and find answers to frequently asked questions. The One DHS Customer Portal may be found at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/apply-online- page/one-dhs-customer-portal.html. Lead Agency staff and Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Family Engagement Quality Coaches share information and resources, i.e., brochures, flyers, and contact and website details, with families and the general public about programs and services, including: • Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-payment- assistance.html o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/resources-for- parents.html • Families First (TANF) o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/families-first-tanf.html • Children's Health Insurance Program (CoverKids) o https://www.tn.gov/coverkids.html • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/children/dhs-nutrition-programs/child-and-adult- care-food-program.html o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/children/dhs-nutrition-programs/learn-about-the- summer-food-service-program.html • SNAP o https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/supplemental-nutrition-assistance- program-snap.html • Head Start/Early Head Start o https://www.kidcentraltn.com/program/early-head-start-ehs.html o https://www.kidcentraltn.com/education/preschool/head-start.html • Children's Health Insurance Program (CoverKids) o https://www.tn.gov/coverkids.html • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) o https://www.kidcentraltn.com/program/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-- liheap-.html • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) o https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/fhw/for-pregnant-postpartum/wic.html • Medicaid (TennCare) o https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members-applicants/eligibility/tenncare-medicaid.html • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) o https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/federal-programs-and-oversight/idea.html o https://www.tn.gov/education/families/student-support/special-education.html o https://www.tn.gov/education/families/student-support/special-education/special- education-section-619.html 9.3.2 Information about child care and other services available for parents Does the Lead Agency certify that it provides information described in 9.3.1 for the following required programs? • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. • Head Start and Early Head Start programs. • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). • Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) program. • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). • Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). • Programs carried out under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.3 Consumer statement for parents receiving CCDF services Lead Agencies must provide parents receiving CCDF services with a consumer statement in hard copy or electronically that contains general information about the CCDF program and specific information about the child care provider they select. Please certify if the Lead Agency provides parents receiving CCDF services a consumer statement that contains the following 8 requirements: 1. Health and safety requirements met by the provider 2. Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider 3. Date the provider was last inspected 4. Any history of violations of these requirements 5. Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider 6. How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access 7. How to submit a complaint through the hotline 8. How to contact a local resource and referral agency or other community-based organization to receive assistance in finding and enrolling in quality child care Does the Lead Agency provide to families, either in hard copy or electronically, a consumer statement that contains the required information about the provider they have selected, including the eight required elements above? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.4 Informing families about best practices on child development Describe how the Lead Agency makes information available to parents, providers, and the general public on research and best practices concerning children’s development, including physical health and development, and information about successful parent and family engagement. At a minimum, the description should include what information is provided; how the information is provided; any distinct activities for sharing this information with parents, providers, the general public; and any partners in providing this information. In addition to its consumer website, The Lead Agency maintains KidCentralTN, an online one-stop shop for Tennessee families to raise healthy and happy kids, that serves as a statewide clearinghouse for multiple state agencies sharing information for families, providers, and the general public. KidCentralTN is designed as a resource for parents, child care providers, child advocates, and entities that work with children, or child advocates. Content and resources at KidCentralTN are organized according to four areas: development, education, health, and support. KidCentralTN visitors may also customize their search for resources by child age across a wide array of content topics, including: o Safety, nutrition, physical activity, checkups, oral health, when kids get sick, insurance, pregnancy, and social emotional and behavior health o Preschool, community & after school care, special needs, reading, school readiness, K-12, and higher education o Child development according to the age of the child o Crisis services for children, full family support, basic needs, child care, child support, life skills, adoption and foster parenting, and features of other State programs 9.3.5 Unlimited parental access to their children Does the Lead Agency have procedures to ensure that parents have unlimited access to their children whenever their children are in the care of a provider who receives CCDF funds: [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.6 Informing families about best practices in social and emotional health Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with families, providers, and the general public regarding the social-emotional and behavioral and mental health of young children, including positive behavioral intervention and support models based on research and best practices for those from birth to school age: Information and supports relating to social emotional and behavioral health with families, the general public, and child care providers are shared by the Lead Agency and through programs and services delivered through its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, including the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) and the Association of Infant Mental Health Tennessee (AIMHITN). CCDF Quality Child Care Partners share with child care providers and the early care and education workforce through training and professional development that support social and emotional development in the classroom modeling best practices and using such resources as the Pyramid Model developed by the Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Conscious Discipline, and Building Strong Brains, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Trauma- Informed Care. Inclusion Quality Coaches with CCR&R who specialize in working with young children with disabilities and have education and experience in early childhood special education or related fields work closely with the Lead Agency to deliver supports promoting quality inclusive early childhood education including accommodations and strategies for inclusion. Inclusion Quality Coaches provide coaching to the early care and education workforce and child care providers on challenging behaviors, developmental delays, and medically identified disabilities. Through on-site coaching, CCR&R helps children with disabilities receive safe, high- quality care and appropriate accommodations utilizing tools and resources like an Inclusion Coaching Plan developed with child care providers. CCR&R also provides these and other resources for parents/caregivers and families for providing meaningful care and education in early child care settings in areas that include: • Autism • Communication needs • Co-occurring disorders • Developmental delays • Medical conditions • Neonatal abstinence syndrome • Physical disabilities of all types • Significant behavior disorders CCR&R also liaises with and facilitates connections and referrals to the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) and Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (TDDA) for children up to age three (3) to expedite assessments and home-based therapies; and to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) for children ages three (3) through five (5) to support smooth transitions between early care and kindergarten. AIMHITN offers training and professional development opportunities to the early care and education workforce seeking to educate families and implement inclusion practices for children. AIMHITN also offers supports centered on infant and early childhood mental health principles that strengthen high-quality service and positive outcomes for children and families, including Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® pathways and Reflective Supervision and Consultation supports for the early care and education workforce as well as Lead Agency and CCDF Quality Child Care Partners staff. CCDF Quality Care Partners also collaboratively develop and deliver emergency preparedness and response training, consultation, training, and technical assistance with Lead Agency staff emphasizing Trauma-Informed Care and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) practices for early childhood educators and child care agencies. The Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards (TN-ELDS) and other trainings offered through CCDF Quality Child Care Partners provide content and support for social and emotional and behavioral health and development as well as health and safety requirements. Information and resources about social emotional and behavioral health is shared with or made available by the Lead Agency for families and the general public through its consumer education website at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services.html. These online resources are frequently shared through the Lead Agency’s consumer education statement, provider communications, and during family engagement opportunities. The Lead Agency also maintains KidCentralTN, a one-stop shop for Tennessee families to raise healthy and happy kids located at https://www.kidcentraltn.com. In addition to many other helpful resources, KidCentralTN offers resources on social emotional and behavioral health and infant and early childhood mental health of young children, including: • Positive Action Prevention Program, an evidence-based substance abuse prevention program that addresses social, behavioral, and academic performance, and core risk factors related to self- esteem, self-efficacy and overall risk-related behaviors of children and adolescents. • Early Connections Network (ECN), a system of care for children from birth to 5 years of age with social, emotional and behavioral needs and for their families. ECN brings together families with child care providers and other stakeholders to improve access to quality care for those with mental health challenges and to prepare children for school and for life. ECN has a special focus on working with the children and families of military service members and veterans. The Lead Agency uses the Keeping Kids Safe Curriculum designed to assist child care providers with providing the most effective program possible￿one that children will enjoy and understand. Research has established that children can be given the tools and knowledge to be safer. Because of this, the purpose of this safety curriculum is to improve the knowledge, self-confidence, and assertiveness skills of children thereby: • Promoting disclosure of victimization • Enhancing communication between parents and children about personal safety • Reinforcing adult supervision and protection • Assisting children in learning to identify adults they can trust who can help them with problems too big for them to handle alone. The Keeping Kids Safe Curriculum may found on the Lead Agency website at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human- services/documents/Keeping%20Kids%20Safe%20Curriculum.pdf Tennessee Voices for Children, Inc. is a statewide and national source of referral, support, and advocacy for families and the systems that serve them. Through the Statewide Family Network and its other ten main programs, Tennessee Voices informs, supports, and assists parents and providers statewide. The Lead Agency partners with Tennessee Voices and other public and nonprofit organizations under the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM-TN) to support early childhood mental health services and programs for early care and child care providers about social emotional and behavioral health and well-being. More information about TEAM-TN may be found at https://team-tn.org/. 9.3.7 Policies on the prevention of the suspension and expulsion of children a. The Lead Agency must have policies to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children from birth to age 5 in child care and other early childhood programs receiving CCDF funds. Describe those policies and how those policies are shared with families, providers, and the general public: Child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency are required to have a written expulsion policy as defined at Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.05: (13) The child care agency shall have a written expulsion policy. (a) The policy shall be: 1. Clearly articulated to staff and parents; 2. Developmentally appropriate and consistent; and 3. Non-discriminatory in practice and impact (b) Other options shall be considered prior to expulsion, such as but not limited to reducing the number of days or amount of time the child may attend, or if applicable, referrals to a behavioral health program or other appropriate supporting program (c) Procedures shall be developed to allow for a planned transition of a child to another program if expulsion must occur. (d) Aggregate data that includes reasons for expulsions shall be maintained and reported to the Department on a Department-approved form when such expulsions take place and as requested. The Lead Agency provides the Tennessee Department of Human Services Early Childhood Expulsion and Suspension Policy Statement, a resource for all child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency and license-exempt providers participating in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program, available on the Lead Agency website at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human- services/documents/Policy%20Statement%20Early%20Childhood%20Expulsion%20%20Su spension%20Policy%20Statement%20Final.pdf. The Lead Agency also provides a Sample Early Childhood Expulsion and Suspension Policy template resource for child care providers to use or reference when developing their program-specific policy. This resource is available on the Lead Agency website at https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/human- services/documents/Sample%20Early%20Childhood%20Expulsion%20and%20Suspension- %20Final.pdf. The Lead Agency leverages its CCDF Quality Child Care Partners, including the Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), to support child care providers with understanding and implementing expulsion and suspension policies. The Lead Agency promotes social emotional and behavioral health supports for children, families, and early childhood educators through the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN), Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA), and other CCDF Quality Child Care Partners. CCR&R offers child care providers coaching and technical assistance, training, consultation, and supporting materials and resources on related topics that include developmentally appropriate practices, health and safety issues, parent engagement, social emotional and behavioral health, and best practices across related themes. AIMHITN supports the early care and early education workforce in Tennessee by strengthening competencies in infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) and embedding IECMH principles into the daily practice of all professionals in an effort to enhance overall quality in child care programs, with a particular focus on infant/toddler quality of care. b. Describe what policies, if any, the Lead Agency has to prevent the suspension and expulsion of school-age children from child or youth care settings receiving CCDF funds: Please see response at 9.3.7.a. for child care providers licensed by the Lead Agency. License-exempt child care providers participating in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program and regulated by the Tennessee Department of Education are required by the terms and conditions of the Lead Agency contract to have a written suspension and expulsion policy. License-exempt Boys and Girls Clubs child care programs participating in the Child Care Payment Assistance/Certificate Program are required by the terms and conditions of the Lead Agency contract to have a written suspension and expulsion policy.