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. TWC’s consumer education website provides information about Child Care Services (CCS), including a step-by-step guide for applying, access to the online application, and relevant forms that a parent may need to access. This information is available at https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for-families/child-care-scholarships. Information about CCS and how to become a CCS provider is available at https://www.childcare.texas.gov/for- providers/offering-child-care-services. Boards must promote informed child care choices by providing consumer education information to the following: Parents who are eligible for CCS (child care scholarships for eligible children); Parents who are placed on a Board’s waiting list; Parents who are no longer eligible for CCS; and Applicants who are not eligible for CCS. Information is provided electronically through each Board’s website. As required in CCS rule §809.15, Boards must ensure that consumer education information is provided through a Board's website and contains, at a minimum, the following: Information about the Texas Information and Referral Network (2-1-1 Texas); and The website and telephone number for CCR so that parents can obtain health and safety requirements, including information on: The prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunizations); Building and physical premises safety; Minimum health and safety training appropriate to the provider setting; and The regulatory compliance history of child care providers. A description of the full range of eligible child care providers; and A description of programs available in the LWDA relating to school readiness and quality rating systems, including: Texas Rising Star provider criteria; and Integrated school readiness models, pursuant to Texas Education Code §29.160. A list of child care providers that meet quality indicators, pursuant to Texas Government Code §2308.3171; and A link to the website for the official statewide Child Care Availability Portal (https://childcare.twc.texas.gov/find/welcome). 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. Parent education, provider information, and health and development information are all provided in the following websites: https://www.childcare.texas.gov/ https://www.earlychildhood.texas.gov/ 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: Parent education, provider information, and health and development information are included in the following websites: https://earlychildhood.texas.gov/ https://www.childcare.texas.gov/ 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: Section 746.501 of the CCR Minimum Standards requires child care centers to develop written operational policies that must address the suspension and expulsion of children. Failing to demonstrate a written policy results in a Medium-High deficiency. Texas Rising Star assessments include two structural measures (met/not met) under the Program Administration ￿ Family Involvement category to assess Director/Parent/Teacher Collaboration Regarding Challenging Behavior: - Program has a written policy/process for addressing challenging behaviors of children. The policy/process includes teacher and/or director having ongoing conversations with parents to express concerns and discuss strategies in addressing challenging behaviors. Conversations are framed around the objective of the program. Parents are kept informed of their child’s progress. - The director and teachers should be able to provide evidence that they are working together with the parents about decisions regarding the child’s experience, which may include written reports for children and a parent communication log. Ensuring that providers have policies to address challenging behaviors, specifically how the program determines what behaviors lead to suspension or expulsion from the program, and that parents are aware of those policies keeps families informed and holds programs accountable to follow their policies. 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: Section 744.501 of the CCR Minimum Standards require providers to develop written operational policies that must address the suspension and expulsion of children. Failing to demonstrate a written policy results in a Medium-High deficiency. Texas Rising Star assessments include two structural measures (met/not met) under the Program Administration ￿ Family Involvement category to assess Director/Parent/Teacher Collaboration Regarding Challenging Behavior: - Program has a written policy/process for addressing challenging behaviors of children. The policy/process includes teacher and/or director having ongoing conversations with parents to express concerns and discuss strategies in addressing challenging behaviors. Conversations are framed around the objective of the program. Parents are kept informed of their child’s progress. - The director and teachers should be able to provide evidence that they are working together with the parents about decisions regarding the child’s experience, which may include written reports for children and a parent communication log. Ensuring that providers have policies to address challenging behaviors, specifically how the program determines what behaviors lead to suspension or expulsion from the program, and that parents are aware of those policies keeps families informed and holds programs accountable to follow their policies.