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: https://www.childcare.texas.gov/ https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/childcaresearch https://earlychildhood.texas.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: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services- providers/child-care-regulation/child-day-care-provider/become-a-child-care- center-based-provider ii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the processes for conducting monitoring and inspections of child care providers:: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services-providers/child-care- regulation/become-a-child-care-home-provider iii. Provide the direct URL/website link to the policies and procedures related to criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services-providers/child-care- regulation/child-care-regulation-background-checks iv. Provide the direct URL/website link to the offenses that prevent individuals from being employed by a child care provider: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/protective-services-providers/child-care- regulation/criminal-history-requirements-charts 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: https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/childcaresearch https://childcare.twc.texas.gov/find/welcome 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. [ ] Other (e.g., summer camps, public pre-Kindergarten). Describe: 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] [ ] [ ] [x] [ ] Ages of children served [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Specialization or training for certain populations [x] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 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: Director name; Provider website; Type of issuance; Issuance date; Permit renewal date; Conditions on permit; Number of admin penalties; Corrective and adverse action status; Temporary closure status; Five year inspection and compliance summary (including inspections, reports, assessments); Weights of the standard deficiencies; Five year serious injury and fatality summary; and History of number of employees who left employment in previous years. 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: Type of issuance; Issuance date; Conditions on permit; Number of admin penalties; Corrective and adverse action status; Temporary closure status; Five year inspection and compliance summary (including inspections, reports, assessments); Weights of the standard deficiencies; and Five year serious injury and fatality summary. 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. [ ] Meeting Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards. v. [ ] Meeting pre-Kindergarten quality requirements. vi. [ ] School-age standards. vii. [ ] Quality framework or quality improvement system. viii. [x] Other. Describe: Available slots by age group are available on the TX3C Availability Portal, if the provider enters the information. Providers can also provide information about the curriculum they use on the Availability Portal. The CCR consumer information website links directly to the Availability Portal provider data and vice versa. b. For what types of child care providers is quality information available? i. [x] Licensed CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: Texas Rising Star is a quality-based rating system of child care providers participating in TWC's subsidized child care program. All child care providers that participate in the program are now required to participate in Texas Rising Star program, beginning at the Entry Level designation. Once designated as Entry Level, the child care and early learning program will have a maximum of 24 months to attain star-level certification in Texas Rising Star. Entry Level programs are offered TA, resources, materials, and mentoring to support them in attaining Texas Rising Star certification. Texas Rising Star offers three levels of certification (Two-Star, Three- Star, and Four-Star) to encourage providers to attain progressively higher levels of quality. This data is included on CCR’s Search Texas Child Care website and on the Texas Child Care Availability Portal. CCR’s Search Texas Child Care website includes provider’s self-reported information regarding their national accreditation status. ii. [ ] Licensed non-CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: iii. [x] License-exempt center-based CCDF providers. Describe the quality information: Providers operated by the US DoD are required to meet high-quality standards established and monitored by DoD. Therefore, DoD-operated facilities automatically receive an initial Four-Star certification without a full on-site assessment. 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. [ ] Other. Describe: 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: CCR will begin publishing the number of children in care by provider category or licensing status on the Serious Injuries Report for FY24. 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: CCR requires providers to report serious injuries and deaths of children occurring in regulated child care operations. CCR does not regulate license-exempt providers eligible for CCDF and therefore does not have reporting requirements for those providers. Regulated providers may report serious injuries or deaths of children: By phone 24 hours a day to the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1-800-252- 5400); or 24 hours a day via the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline online reporting system. If a report is made to the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline (online or by phone), DFPS, which manages the hotline, enters the report into. IMPACT routes reports related to child care operations to the licensing system, CLASS. CCR is a division of the Texas HHSC and the HHSC Regulatory Services Division Analytics team currently supports CCR’s data and reporting needs. ii. The definition of “substantiated child abuse” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: An allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation is substantiated if, based on the preponderance of evidence gathered during an investigation, the DFPS investigator concludes that the alleged abuse or neglect occurred. Abuse and neglect are defined in Texas Family Code §261.001. iii. The definition of “serious injury” used by the Lead Agency for this requirement: Serious injury is defined as any physical injury to a child that requires medical treatment and resulted or may result in impairment to the child's overall health or well-being. This does not include: Near fatal injuries; Injuries for which a child is evaluated by a professional as a precaution; Injuries for which first aid is administered at the operation, but no further treatment by a medical professional is warranted; or Medical events due to routine, ongoing medical issues, such as asthma or seizures. Also see impairment: Impairment: In most instances, an impairment prevents the injured person from performing one or more of their usual and customary daily activities or makes the task of daily activities more difficult. 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://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Child_Care/Search_Texas_Child_Care/default.asp https://find.childcare.texas.gov/ 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: https://www.childcare.texas.gov/office-locator 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: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/child-care/contact-child-care-regulation https://www.childcare.texas.gov/tx3c-contact-us 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? [x] Yes. [ ] No. b. Provide the direct URL/website link to the sliding fee scale. https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/ccel/docs/bcy-26-psoc-chart-twc.pdf