7.2 Use of Quality Set-Aside Funds

Lead Agencies must use a portion of their CCDF expenditures for activities designed to improve the quality of child care services and to increase parental options for and access to high-quality child care. They must use the quality set-aside funds on at least one of 10 activities described in CCDF and the quality activities must be aligned with a Statewide or Territory-wide assessment of the State's or Territory’s need to carry out such services and care. 7.2.1 Quality improvement activities a. Describe how the Lead Agency will make its Quality Progress Report (ACF – 218) and expenditure reports, available to the public. Provide a link if available. The Lead agency’s Quality Progress Report is available to the public on the WV DoHS website. The report is available here: https://dhhr.wv.gov/bfa/ece/data/Pages/default.aspx The expenditure report is not available to the public and at this time there are no plans to do so. b. Identify Lead Agency plans, if any, to spend CCDF funds for each of the following quality improvement activities. If an activity is checked “yes”, describe the Lead Agency’s current and/or future plans for this activity. i. Supporting the training and professional development of the child care workforce, including birth to five and school-age providers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. CCR&R Services: The state has developed Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to provide resource and referral services to deliver a number of quality initiatives, including professional development training and technical assistance. Supports include: Infant Toddler Specialists, Early Childhood Specialists, Behavioral Consultants, Quality Improvement Specialists, A Traveling Resource and Information Library System Van (TRAILS), equipped with early childhood resources, an Infant and Toddler Coaching Specialist and an Early Childhood Coaching Specialist. Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) to help build a competent, sustained workforce to provide quality care and education to West Virginia children. WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources (WVECTCR) is a statewide program designed to provide professional development opportunities for the early care and education community. Through an extensive network of information, training and technical assistance, resources, and collaboration, WVECTCR strives to improve the quality of early education services for young children and their families. ii. Developing, maintaining, or implementing early learning and developmental guidelines. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. iii. Developing, implementing, or enhancing a quality improvement system. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. West Virginia Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is currently in development. iv. Improving the supply and quality of child care services for infants and toddlers. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Infant and Toddler Statewide Network is comprised of the Infant and Toddler State Lead, twelve infant and toddler specialists and 6 Infant and toddler coaches to provide input on program standards for the provision of high quality care for infants and toddlers. Infant and toddler specialists offer WVIT I and WVIT 2 for specialized training for providers caring for children 0-36 months of age. WV offers a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Designation for all provider types. Technical assistance for these initiatives is available from the Infant and Toddler specialist, the Nurse Health Educators and the Nurse Health Consultants. v. Establishing or expanding a statewide system of CCR&R services. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. WV will continue to offer support to the 6 CCR&R agencies that provide training, technical assistance, coaching and education and resources to parents and child care providers. vi. Facilitating compliance with Lead Agency child care licensing, monitoring, inspection and health and safety standards. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ]Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. vii. Evaluating and assessing the quality and effectiveness of child care services within the State/Territory. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. The Lead Agency has implemented an evaluation project to assess the base line of quality of child care in the state. The Early Care and Education Evaluation Project uses Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ECERS-3), Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale-3 (ITERS-3) and the Family Child Care Rating Scale-3 (FCCERS-3) and School Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS) to assess the quality of child care centers and family home providers throughout the state. viii. Accreditation support. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. WV offers grants/mentoring to help support centers and family child care providers to achieve accreditation. This program is called Quality Support Services. Grants to assist in the cost of applying for and completing accreditation applications are available through West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources. Mentoring is available through the six CCR&R agencies Quality Improvement Specialists. ix. Supporting State/Territory or local efforts to develop high-quality program standards relating to health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and physical development. [ ] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [x] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. West Virginia Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is currently in development. Current Tiered Reimbursement Program standards will be reviewed and revised in 2025- 2026. x. Other activities determined by the Lead Agency to improve the quality of child care services and the measurement of outcomes related to improved provider preparedness, child safety, child well-being, or kindergarten entry. [x] No plans to spend in this category of activities at this time. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe current and future investments. 8 Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery Coordination and partnerships help ensure that the Lead Agency’s efforts accomplish CCDF goals effectively, leverage other resources, and avoid duplication of effort. Such coordination and partnerships can help families better access child care, can assist in providing consumer education to parents, and can be used to improve child care quality and the stability of child care providers. Such coordination can also be particularly helpful in the aftermath of disasters when the provision of emergency child care services and the rebuilding and restoring of child care infrastructure are an essential part of ensuring the well-being of children and families in recovering communities. This section identifies who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services, how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used, coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems, and efforts for disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies.