4.5 Supply Building

Building a supply of high-quality child care that meets the needs and preferences of parents participating in CCDF is necessary to meet CCDF’s core purposes. Lead Agencies must support parent choice by providing some portion of direct services via grants or contracts, including at a minimum for children in underserved geographic areas, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 4.5.1 Child care services available through grants or contracts Does the Lead Agency provide direct child care services through grants or contracts for child care slots? [ ] Yes, statewide. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: [x] Yes, in some jurisdictions, but not statewide. Describe how many jurisdictions use grants or contracts for child care slots and how the Lead Agency ensures that parents who enroll with a provider who has a grant or contract have choices when selecting a provider: The Lead Agency's contract with United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) specifies that parents may choose any provider who is eligible to receive Wisconsin Shares. Due to the recent change in CCDF rules (effective 4/30/2024) the Lead Agency has submitted a waiver to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF-OCC) to secure additional authority to provide services through grants and contracts. This waiver process will include statutory, administrative rule, and policy changes that could take up to two years to accomplish with the continued support of the State Legislature and key early care and education stakeholders. [ ] No. If no, describe any Lead Agency plans to provide direct child care services through grants and contracts for child care slots: If no, skip to question 4.5.2. i. If yes, identify the populations of children served through grants or contracts for child care slots (check all that apply). For each population selected, identify the number of slots allocated through grants or contracts for direct service of children receiving CCDF. [ ] Children with disabilities. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Infants and toddlers. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in underserved geographic areas. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children needing non-traditional hour care. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] School-age children. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children experiencing homelessness. Number of slots allocated through grants or contracts: [ ] Children in urban areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [ ] Children in rural areas. Percent of CCDF children served in an average month: [x] Other populations. If checked, describe: Children of migrant farm workers. ii. If yes, how are rates for slots funded by grants and contracts determined by the Lead Agency? UMOS uses the Wisconsin Shares Maximum Rates to determine the payment to providers. 4.5.2 Care in the child’s home (in-home care) The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care (i.e., care provided in the child’s own home) but may limit its use. Will the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If yes, what limits will the Lead Agency set on the use of in-home care? Check all that apply. i. [x] Restricted based on the minimum number of children in the care of the in- home provider to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage) requirements. Describe: The Lead Agency's policy allows the base subsidy amount to be adjusted to minimum wage minus the copayment amount when the in- home care provider is caring for children for 15 or more hours per week. ii. [x] Restricted based on the in-home provider meeting a minimum age requirement. Describe: An in-home care provider must be 18 years of age or older. iii. [x] Restricted based on the hours of care (i.e., certain number of hours, non- traditional work hours). Describe: The Lead Agency's policy allows child care to be authorized to an in-home provider when no other care is available, such as second or third shift hours and weekend care, or if no other care is available within a reasonable geographic area. iv. [ ] Restricted to care by relatives. (A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age based on the definition of eligible child care provider.) Describe: v. [x] Restricted to care for children with special needs or a medical condition. Describe: The Lead Agency's policy allows a child with a special needs to be cared for by an in home provider if the child's needs are best met in their own home. vi. [x] Restricted to in-home providers that meet additional health and safety requirements beyond those required by CCDF. Describe: The Lead Agency's policy requires that in-home child care providers must be certified. vii. [ ] Other. Describe: 4.5.3 Shortages in the supply of child care Lead Agencies must identify shortages in the supply of child care providers that meet parents’ needs and preferences. What child care shortages has the Lead Agency identified in the State or Territory, and what is the plan to address the child care shortages? a. In infant and toddler programs: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency uses data collected by the statewide CCR&R network as well as other key early care and education stakeholders to identify shortages in the availability of infant and toddlers slots. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency continues to review data provided by the CCR&R network to identify increases or decreases in the number of child care slots available throughout the state. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of child care slots at family care homes. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of slots within each family care provider. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of child care slots at child care centers. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of slots within each child care centers. b. In different regions of the State or Territory: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency uses data collected by the statewide CCR&R network as well as other key early care and education stakeholders to identify shortages in the child care slots across the regions of the state. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency continues to review data provided by the CCR&R network to identify increases or decreases in the number of child care slots available in the regions throughout the state. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of child care slots at family care homes. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of slots within each region. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of child care slots at within each region. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of slots within each region. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: The Lead Agency uses data collected by the statewide CCR&R network as well as other key early care and education stakeholders to identify shortages in the availability of special population slots. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency continues to review data provided by the CCR&R network to identify increases or decreases in the number of special population child care slots available throughout the state. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of special population child care slots at family care homes. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of special population slots within each family care provider. iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? The Lead Agency continues to explore biennial budget solutions to supplement CCDF and other federal funding sources to provide specific funding to increase the availability of special population child care slots at child care centers. The Lead Agency is reviewing the new CCDF rule (eff. 4/30/24) to begin the utilization of grants and contracts to increase and maintain the level of special population slots within each child care centers. 4.5.4 Strategies to increase the supply of and improve quality of child care Lead Agencies must develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of and improve the quality of child care services. These strategies must address child care in underserved geographic areas; infants and toddlers; children with disabilities, as defined by the Lead Agency; and children who receive care during non-traditional hours. How does the Lead Agency identify any gaps in the supply and quality of child care services and what strategies are used to address those gaps for: a. Underserved geographic areas. Describe: The Lead Agency continues to look for new and innovative approaches to provide high-quality child care services across the state. Through data collection the Lead Agency has identified specific areas of the state that are known to be "child care deserts" and working collaboratively with key stakeholders to further define these underserved areas. The Lead Agency has also reviewed the new CCDF Rule (effective 4/30/24) and has submitted a waiver request to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF-OCC) to pursue potential statutory, administrative rule, and/or policy changes to enhance child care availability across the state. This may include the use of contracts and grants to secure slots in these historically underserved areas of the state. b. Infants and toddlers. Describe: The Lead Agency continues to look for new and innovative approaches to provide high-quality child care services across the state. Through data collection the Lead Agency has identified specific areas of the state that are known to be lacking in availability of infant and toddler care. The Lead Agency continues to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to further define these underserved areas. The Lead Agency has also reviewed the new CCDF Rule (effective 4/30/24) and has submitted a waiver request to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF- OCC) to pursue potential statutory, administrative rule, and/or policy changes to enhance child care availability across the state. This may include the use of contracts and grants to secure slots in these areas of the state that are lacking infant and toddler child care availability. c. Children with disabilities. Describe: The Lead Agency continues to look for new and innovative approaches to provide high-quality child care services across the state. Through data collection the Lead Agency has identified specific areas of the state that are known to be lacking child care for children with disabilities. The Lead Agency continues to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to further define these underserved areas. The Lead Agency has also reviewed the new CCDF Rule (effective 4/30/24) and has submitted a waiver request to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF- OCC) to pursue potential statutory, administrative rule, and/or policy changes to enhance child care availability across the state. This may include the use of contracts and grants to secure slots in these historically underserved areas of the state. d. Children who receive care during non-traditional hours. Describe: The Lead Agency continues to look for new and innovative approaches to provide high-quality child care services across the state. Through data collection the Lead Agency has identified specific areas of the state that are known to be lacking non-traditional hour child care. The Lead Agency continues to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to further define these underserved areas. The Lead Agency has also reviewed the new CCDF Rule (effective 4/30/24) and has submitted a waiver request to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (ACF-OCC) to pursue potential statutory, administrative rule, and/or policy changes to enhance child care availability across the state. This may include the use of contracts and grants to secure slots in these historically underserved areas of the state. e. Other. Specify what population is being focused on to increase supply or improve quality. Describe: The Lead Agency Contracts with the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), a non-profit a non-profit organization that provides child care services to children of migrant farm workers throughout the state. UMOS contracts with local area child care providers to provide services during times when UMOS centers are not available. 4.5.5 Prioritization of investments in areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment Lead Agencies must prioritize investments for increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and do not currently have sufficient numbers of such programs. Describe how the Lead Agency prioritizes increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have access to high-quality programs. The Lead Agency administers the Wisconsin Shares subsidy program to provide financial support for qualified families to access quality child care. Child care programs must participate in YoungStar in order to serve families who utilize Wisconsin Shares. YoungStar technical consultation is provided to increase program quality. The 53206-zip code in Milwaukee County has been identified as high- need and is receiving additional supports and services through the 53206 Early Care and Education Initiative. The Lead Agency contracts with local CCR&Rs and IHEs to provide professional development and financial support through a workforce pilot focused on increasing the educational level of early care and education professionals working in the 53206-zip code. The Lead Agency funded the creation of Early Learning Kits that provide quality materials to programs in this identified area. The local CCR&R provides targeted technical assistance to increase the quality of infant and toddler child care and to encourage active participation in YoungStar quality improvement services. The Lead Agency increased the financial support for families living in the 53206-zip code who utilize Wisconsin Shares and have children zero to three years of age. In focusing on the advancement of equity and inclusion, the Lead Agency will identify high-priority communities that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and lack of access to high-quality programs. Furthermore, the Lead Agency collaborates with WAN to support before and after school programs within rural school districts and identified poverty areas to address the lack of availability of high-quality school-age programs. 5 Health and Safety of Child Care Settings Child care health and safety standards and enforcement practices are essential to protect the health and safety of children while out of their parents’ care. CCDF provides a minimum threshold for child care health and safety policies and practices but leaves authority to Lead Agencies to design standards that appropriately protect children’s safety and promote nurturing environments that support their healthy growth and development. Lead Agencies should set standards for ratios, group size limits, and provider qualifications that help ensure that the child care environment is conducive to safety and learning and enable caregivers to promote all domains of children’s development. CCDF health and safety standards help set clear expectations for CCDF providers, form the foundation for health and safety training for child care workers, and establish the baseline for monitoring to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. These health and safety requirements apply to all providers serving children receiving CCDF services – whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt, must be appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served, must include specific topics and training on those topics, and are subject to monitoring and enforcement procedures by the Lead Agency. CCDF-required annual monitoring and enforcement actions help ensure that CCDF providers are adopting and implementing health and safety requirements. Through child care licensing, Lead Agencies set minimum requirements, including health and safety requirements, that child care providers must meet to legally operate in that State or Territory. In some cases, CCDF health and safety requirements may be integrated within the licensing system for licensed providers and may be separate for CCDF providers who are license- exempt. This section addresses CCDF health and safety requirements, Lead Agency licensing requirements and exemptions, and comprehensive background checks. When responding to questions in this section, OCC recognizes that each Lead Agency identifies and defines its own categories of care. OCC does not expect Lead Agencies to change their definitions to fit the CCDF-defined categories of care. For these questions, provide responses that best match the CCDF categories of care.