1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: DCFY consulted with local governments regarding the CCDF Plan through its contractual relationship with Washington Communities for Children (WCFC). WCFC conducted listening sessions and a survey with regional coalitions that include units of local government around the issues of access to high quality ECE and living wage and benefits for ECE providers. The feedback DCYF received through this process informs DCYF’s request for budget investments in the 2025 Legislative session to increase subsidy income eligibility and provider base rates, a critical piece of DCYF CCDF Plan going forward. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: DCYF consulted with the Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) by attending their April 2024 meeting and providing members a copy of the draft CCDF Plan and the link to DCYF’s CCDF website where they could comment on the draft. At the April meeting, members zoomed in on recommendations addressing the new CCDF rules requirements around enrollment based and prospective payment, grants and contracts, and remaining 12-month eligibility compliance requirements. ELAC’s input informed DCYF’s request for budget investments in the 2025 Legislative Session to address these topics. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: DCYF consulted with the Indian Policy Early Learning (IPEL) Committee by attending their May 2024 meeting and providing members a copy of the draft CCDF Plan and the link to DCYF’s CCDF website where participants could comment on the draft. At the May meeting, members zoomed in on recommendations addressing the new CCDF rules requirements around enrollment based and prospective payment, grants and contracts, and remaining 12 month eligibility compliance requirements. IPEL's input informed DCYF’s request for budget investments in the 2025 Legislative Session to address these topics. c. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: DCYF's consultation with its advisory council supported consultation with the many entities statute requires to be represented on the council. These included, but are not limited to, School's Out Washington, which advocates for expanded learning opportunities and school-age child care programs, the Office of Superintendent of Public School (OSPI), and the Washington Assocation of Head Start and ECEAP (WSA). At the April 2024 ELAC meeting, members zoomed in on recommendations addressing the new CCDF rules requirements around enrollment based and prospective payment, grants and contracts, and remaining 12-month eligibility compliance requirements. Their input informed DCYF’s request for budget investments in the 2025 Legislative Session to address these topics. Further, DCYF facilitated two public meetings as opportunities for other entities, agencies, and organizations to contribute to development of the CCDF Plan, along with the general public. Participants were provided an overview of the Plan, a copy of the draft CCDF Plan and the link to DCYF’s CCDF website where they could comment on the draft. Participants here also focused on recommendations addressing the new CCDF rules requirements around enrollment based and prospective payment, grants and contracts, and remaining 12 month eligibility compliance requirements. Their input also informed DCYF’s request for budget investments in the 2025 Legislative Session to address these topics. 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: 6/10/2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: 4/17/2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide noticeDCYF notified the public via listserv message, partner email and text message, postings to social media, and postings to its CCDF webpage on the DCYF website: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/government-affairs/ccdf. DCYF took information provided by the public into consideration in developing this Plan. For example, we asked the public for feedback on how to implement new CCDF rules requirements regarding enrollment based and prospective payment and those responses inform our waiver request, process, and timeline for coming into compliance with those requirements. Their feedback further informed our budget requests for the 2024 legislative session seeking funding to comply with these requirements, along with requested increased to subsidy base rates and income eligibility levels. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: DCYF conducted its public hearing on X by webinar rather than in-person in order to support inclusion of all geographic regions. DCYF also conducted virtual public meetings prior to the hearing to further opportunities for input across the state. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): The content of the draft Plan was made available on DCYF's CCDF webpage as a PDF. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: DCYF informed the public that the informal public meetings and formal hearing were opportunities to comment on both policy and procedure in DCYF programs and initiatives funded by, or relevant to, the CCDF grant. DCYF provided the public a concise explanatory document quoting feedback received and hosted a listening session where communities could hear DCYF’s takeaways from their feedback. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/government- affairs/ccdf b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. [ ] Working with advisory committees. Describe: ii. [ ] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: iii. [ ] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: iv. [ ] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: v. [ ] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: vi. [ ] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: vii. [ ] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: viii. [ ] Other. Describe: 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.