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 funds a statewide CCR&R network. It contracts with six child care resource and referral agencies, referred to collectively as Care About Childcare(CAC). The CAC agencies operate with a common and coordinated scope of work. The agencies provide consumer education for parents; training classes for providers to align with Utah's Career Ladder and Core Competencies; provide extensive resources to parents and providers regarding the importance of high-quality child care; and assist providers to become licensed. CAC agencies ensure that all providers have access to consistent information related to training, the Child Care Quality System (CCQS) and child care referral information. At least annually, the Care About Childcare agencies complete a whole record update with the child care programs in their area to ensure all data in the database is current and accurate. Using that data and the data collected through their annual Needs Assessment, the Care About Childcare agencies develop and execute a plan to identify child care needs in their region and, in collaboration with the Lead Agency, work to increase the supply and quality of child care services. The CAC agencies work with child care providers to know and understand the ADA laws and responsibilities, including identifying resources for parents and providers and helping them to connect with local services. The contract with the CAC agencies includes a requirement to establish and maintain communication with local government and community agencies, such as child care associations, child nutrition programs, local employment centers, public health authorities, chambers of commerce, economic development offices and large employers so that they can help support the community to identify and coordinate on meeting child care needs.