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: Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services: The state has developed an infrastructure of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to provide resource and referral services, manage the child care certificate system (including eligibility determination and payment to providers) and deliver a number of quality initiatives. The Current six CCR&R agencies were selected through competitive grant announcements. The Department of Human Resources has contracted with community agencies to provide child care resource and referral services and to determine eligibility for subsidized child care services in all areas of West Virginia. Parents not in need of financial assistance or services may contact the CCR&R agency for information about standards, how to select quality care, or referral to registered, licensed, and approved facilities. Resource and Referral agencies are responsible for the following core services: 13.4.1. Promoting consumer education and parental choice: 13.4.1.1. Assisting parents to select child care arrangements and become quality conscious consumers of child care. 13.4.1.2. Encouraging parents to review all consumer information materials prior to selecting care for their children and to constantly monitor and evaluate the child care situation once children are placed. 13.4.1.3. Informing parents to be sensitive to changes in their children’s behavior or attitude toward child care, which could be a sign of problems with the situation. 13.4.1.4. Reminding parents that they should report any concerns about licensed or approved care and any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to the DHoS or CCR&R agency office. 13.4.1.5. Reminding parents of the importance of consistency and continuity of providers and how changing providers too often can be detrimental to children. 13.4.1.6. Helping parents to avoid potentially dangerous or inadequate child care situations. 13.4.2. Recruitment of child care providers. 13.4.3. Assisting child care providers through support activities, training, provision of information regarding age-appropriate care, and encouragement of practicing professional standards. 13.4.4. Operation of the Traveling Resource and Information Library Service. 13.4.5. Eligibility Determination: Managing the subsidy certificate program using policies and forms required: 13.4.5.1. Determine family eligibility and complete a status check at least every twelve months, Provide assistance to families in selecting care as well as consumer education. 13.4.5.2. Accept referrals of WV WORKS participants from the DHoS. CCR&R staff shall utilize WV WORKS Referral Forms to determine and process eligibility status checks for TANF recipients. 13.4.5.3. Issue certificates to all eligible families, based on parental choice. 13.4.5.4. Enroll providers for payment and refer providers to DHoS for registration and/or health and safety checks. 13.4.5.5. Process provider payment forms on an ongoing basis. 13.4.6. Provide training and technical assistance to providers and the early care and education community. 13.4.7. Consumer education. 13.4.8. Work with community resources to improve the availability and quality of child care. 13.4.9. Operation of a grant program for family child care providers. 3.5. Annually assess the supply and demand for child care services in each county. The supply of care shall be considered by types of care, ages of children, and hours of care needed. The results shall be used to determine the need for recruitment efforts and to target priority areas such as care during non-traditional hours, infant and toddler care, etc. Said assessment shall include collaboration with local WV Works and regional child care regulatory staff. Due to increased work participation rates in the TANF program, CCR&R agencies shall develop a letter of understanding with WV Works staff that includes a communications plan regarding assessing child care needs of TANF recipients. The communications plan may consist of meetings, telephone calls, surveys, or e-mails. The assessment of supply and demand must be submitted with the annual report which is due within 45 days of the close of the grant year. 3.6. Actively recruit quality providers in every county on an ongoing basis to build the supply of family, family facility, and center providers to meet the demand created by the work requirements in the TANF Block Grant. Recruitment efforts encourage and assist individuals to become regulated child care providers and may include items such as advertisements, newspaper and website articles that point out the positives of becoming a childcare provider, start-up workshops, assistance with the state registration processes, start-up kits with materials and resources, and presentations on becoming a family child care provider for community groups and organizations. Efforts must be documented through a brief one-page annual narrative report which is due within 45 days of the close of the grant year.