9.3 Increasing Engagement and Access to Information

Lead Agencies must collect and disseminate information about the full range of child care services to promote parental choice to parents of children eligible for CCDF, the general public, and child care providers. 9.3.1 Information about CCDF availability and eligibility Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with eligible parents, the general public, and child care providers about the availability of child care services provided through CCDF and other programs for which the family may be eligible. The description should include, at a minimum, what is provided (e.g., written materials, the website, and direct communications) and what approaches are used to tailor information to parents, the general public, and child care providers. The lead agency charges Child Care Resource and Referral agencies with providing information regarding the early childhood program landscape in their communities. They do so through social media, commercial media, printed pamphlets, and billboards. All agencies maintain websites to provide consumer education and assist families in learning how to choose quality child care. The lead agency also partners with Head Start and the the West Virginia Department of Education to communicate with families and providers. 9.3.2 Information about child care and other services available for parents Does the Lead Agency certify that it provides information described in 9.3.1 for the following required programs? • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. • Head Start and Early Head Start programs. • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). • Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) program. • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). • Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). • Programs carried out under IDEA Part B, Section 619 and Part C. [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.3 Consumer statement for parents receiving CCDF services Lead Agencies must provide parents receiving CCDF services with a consumer statement in hard copy or electronically that contains general information about the CCDF program and specific information about the child care provider they select. Please certify if the Lead Agency provides parents receiving CCDF services a consumer statement that contains the following 8 requirements: 1. Health and safety requirements met by the provider 2. Licensing or regulatory requirements met by the provider 3. Date the provider was last inspected 4. Any history of violations of these requirements 5. Any voluntary quality standards met by the provider 6. How CCDF subsidies are designed to promote equal access 7. How to submit a complaint through the hotline 8. How to contact a local resource and referral agency or other community-based organization to receive assistance in finding and enrolling in quality child care Does the Lead Agency provide to families, either in hard copy or electronically, a consumer statement that contains the required information about the provider they have selected, including the eight required elements above? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.4 Informing families about best practices on child development Describe how the Lead Agency makes information available to parents, providers, and the general public on research and best practices concerning children’s development, including physical health and development, and information about successful parent and family engagement. At a minimum, the description should include what information is provided; how the information is provided; any distinct activities for sharing this information with parents, providers, the general public; and any partners in providing this information. The Lead Agency makes available to parents, providers, and the general public information on best practices concerning children’s physical health and development including healthy eating and physical activities through the following resources: West Virginia Page 57 of 321 - Nurse health educators are nurse health consultants are available through the State’s six (6) Resource and Referral agencies to provide training and information to child care providers on nutrition, physical activity, child health and well-being. - KEYS 4 Healthy Kids (KEYS) is a partnership of community stakeholders whose goals is to implement healthy eating and active living policy and environmental change initiatives that can support healthier communities for children and families across the West Virginia. KEYS places special emphasis on reaching children who are at highest risk for obesity on the basis of race/ethnicity, income, and/or geographic location. - The Key 2 a Healthy Start is a quality improvement project in Early Care and Education (ECE) to prevent childhood obesity through policy, systems, and environmental changes. This intervention consists of developing a collaborative network, workshop training using an evidence-based obesity prevention quality improvement tool, and support to improve the nutrition and physical activity environments of young children. Farm to Childcare is a program that aims to make connections between local farmers for sustainable produce and local childcare centers. The plan is to facilitate the development of a community supported agriculture (CSA) for Farm to Child Care to increase buying power of local, fresh produce. The high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables is listed as one of the barriers to access to healthy foods. In order to keep the cost of food low, many child care centers and families are resorting to buying little fresh produce. Many factors impact the child care center’s ability to increase the amount of fresh produce on their menu including cost, availability, and time spent to travel to place that sells local produce. - Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Centers (NAP SACC) is a tool to improve nutrition and physical activity standards in child care settings. This tool to assess childcare centers for is used by The KEY 2 a Healthy Start. KEYS 4 Healthy Kids has partnered with childcare centers that completed NAP SACC before participating in workshops and implementing policy and environment changes. The workshop topics include an overview of nutrition and physical activity policies, menu planning with registered dietitians, physical activity improvement opportunities, incorporating families into nutrition and physical activity goals, worksite wellness, and goal setting to measure progress. - Natural Learning Environment are a new type of playground. They are spaces that provide enriching outdoor learning opportunities that contribute to healthy development. Gardening is one of several but perhaps the most important element of a natural learning environment. Research shows that children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when they have planted and cared for them. Keys 2 a Healthy Start has incorporated gardening into their school and childcare projects. All-natural learning environment sites are shared use meaning that they are open to the public. - Spectrum of Opportunities’ is a current initiative that exists by which states, and to some extent communities, can support ECE facilities in their jurisdictions to achieve recommended standards and best practices for obesity prevention. Participants from various stakeholders throughout the state are involved with this program and researching how standards can be incorporated into all aspects of Early Care and Education settings. Spectrum of Opportunities maintains its own website to provide information to parents, providers, and the general public. 9.3.5 Unlimited parental access to their children Does the Lead Agency have procedures to ensure that parents have unlimited access to their children whenever their children are in the care of a provider who receives CCDF funds: [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 9.3.6 Informing families about best practices in social and emotional health Describe how the Lead Agency shares information with families, providers, and the general public regarding the social-emotional and behavioral and mental health of young children, including positive behavioral intervention and support models based on research and best practices for those from birth to school age: Two Behavioral Consultants (BC) are on staff at each of West Virginia’s six Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R). CCR&R Behavioral Consultants utilize developmentally appropriate practices and positive child guidance supports that include prevention, promotion, and intervention in addressing the social/emotional development and behavior concerns regarding children. BCs offer telephone and onsite consultation services and training based upon general and specific needs of programs, staff and children. Families Behavioral Consultation is available to parents/caregivers via request or referral. State resource and referral agencies provide information regarding behavioral consultation services and social/emotional development to parents through website information, informational brochures, during face to face meetings, trainings, and direct referral. Parents receive consultation information and services from provider referrals as well. Providers Behavioral Consultation is available to providers via request or referral. Consultation may be programmatic/classroom or child-specific; dependent upon need. Behavioral Consultants offer general community and site- specific training on positive child guidance, which may include positive behavior intervention and support models. Behavioral Consultants promote services by visiting centers to share consultation information and foster positive relationships. State resource and referral agencies provide information regarding behavioral consultation services through website information, informational brochures, and resource and referral newsletters. Information regarding social emotional development and related training opportunities are available on the WV Early Childhood Professional Development Calendar. General Public Information regarding behavioral consultation services is available to the public on state resource and referral websites and brochures. Partners The Department of Education Head Start, Birth to Three, Home Visitation and others, participate in advisory councils/committees to disseminate information and training on infant mental health, social emotional development, positive behavior intervention and supports; to their respective clientele and the early childhood community at large. 9.3.7 Policies on the prevention of the suspension and expulsion of children a. The Lead Agency must have policies to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children from birth to age 5 in child care and other early childhood programs receiving CCDF funds. Describe those policies and how those policies are shared with families, providers, and the general public: All child care providers who participate in the subsidy system sign a provider services agreement. A condition of which requires providers to provide two weeks’ notice of an intent to terminate services. Early detection and appropriate referral are critical for preventing expulsion and obtaining needed supports for children at risk. Child care providers in West Virginia are encouraged to make a referral to the Child Care Resource and Referral Behavior Consultant at the first indication a child is at risk of being excluded or expelled due to behavioral concerns. A Behavioral Consultant (BC) is on staff at each of West Virginia’s six Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&R). R&R Behavioral Consultants utilize developmentally appropriate practices and positive child guidance supports that include prevention, promotion, and intervention in addressing the social emotional development and behavior concerns regarding children at risk for expulsion. BCs offer onsite professional development and technical assistance based upon general and specific needs of children. WV Birth to Three (Part C) is a statewide system of services and supports for children under age three who have a delay in their development or may be at risk of having a delay. Child care providers in West Virginia are required to make a referral to the West Virginia Birth to Three program at the first indication that a child is at risk of being excluded or expelled due to developmental concerns. Online Professional Development and Technical Assistance - West Virginia early childhood providers, regardless of setting, are encouraged to access specific training on social and emotional development, as well as behavioral intervention strategies and supports critical to expulsion prevention are available. Multiple prevention initiatives and service models are currently accessible online for training and technical assistance. The lead agency communicates its policies to prevent suspension and expulsion during community presentations and provider professional development conferences. Clients who apply for subsidies are informed of their rights at the time of application. b. Describe what policies, if any, the Lead Agency has to prevent the suspension and expulsion of school-age children from child or youth care settings receiving CCDF funds: Current West Virginia licensing and regulations provide general guidelines regarding prohibitive behavior management methods as well as acceptable behavior guidance techniques. The use of certain terminology will be discouraged or prohibited from provider policies and communique with parents/caregivers. Use of statements such as ￿zero tolerance￿, ￿probation plans￿ or ￿three strikes and you are out￿ are not included in childcare provider policies, parent handbooks, or discipline plans in early childhood programs. West Virginia is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) with regard to suspension and expulsions. The lead agency strives to make certain accommodations for individuals who meet ADA/IDEA criteria. In addition, children who meet ADA/IDEA criteria are eligible for targeted intervention services by providing provider access to the Traveling Resource And Information Library System (TRAILS). Providers are encouraged and required to implement accommodations and educational support warranted under the act(s).