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Child Care Subsidy Policy October 1, 2024 113 CHAPTER 12: PROVIDER RESOURCES 12.0. Overview CCR&R and DoHS staff both share a responsibility for resource development to increase and improve the availability of child care services. It is important to develop and maintain an adequate number of providers to offer choices to parents. While an CCR&R agency may conduct recruitment campaigns, the child care regulatory specialist is responsible for regulation of providers and shall inform providers of their ability or potential to accept referrals of additional children. Leads to potential child care providers may also be secured through existing approved homes or parents. As requirements for WV WORKS participation increase, the need for providers may increase. All child care regulatory specialists shall provide support and technical assistance to parties interested in providing child care and refer providers to other resources, as needed. The West Virginia Department of Human Resources, Division of Early Care and Education has implemented initiatives designed to increase the availability of child care. Both CCR&R and DoHS staff are encouraged to work with other early childhood programs to coordinate resources. The development of a strong foundation for child care requires the development of resources. A strong foundation will enable local communities and the State of West Virginia to better accommodate growing child care demands and fluctuations in demand. Therefore, it is important to coordinate DoHS child care services with existing programs operated by both the public and private sector. 12.1. Kindergarten. It is important to evaluate the placement of kindergarten age children carefully. Kindergarten attendance is mandatory and public kindergarten classes, funded by the WV Department of Education and County Boards of Education, are available to all children. DoHS, therefore, will not pay for children to attend private kindergarten programs in child care centers. Parents and centers should be made aware that payment will be approved only for the time the child(ren) attends the child care program. Since centers can require parents to pay the additional cost of kindergarten, it may be necessary to assist parents with making alternate arrangements which are more affordable. 12.2. Head Start and Early Head Start. Head Start, Title 1 and Pre-School Special Needs programs are operated through county school system and/or non-profit agencies. They offer excellent services for pre-school and children with special needs. These programs receive federal and/or state funds for services provided. They generally operate part time and do not meet the child care needs of working parents. They have therefore not typically been eligible to participate in the child care certificate system. Many Head Start programs have chosen to become licensed as child care centers. Some offer services for working parents either before or after normal Head Start hours. In these instances, licensed Head Start facilities can receive child care subsidies for care during extended hours that are not eligible for federal Head Start reimbursement. Child care subsidies may be used for any child whose care is not eligible for the Head Start program. Subsidies may be used for