1.3 Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

The Lead Agency is responsible for developing the CCDF Plan, and consultation with and meaningful input and feedback from a wide range of representatives is critical for CCDF programs to continually adapt to the changing needs of families, child care programs, and the workforce. Consultation involves meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State or Territory CCDF Plan. As part of the Plan development process, Lead Agencies must consult with the following: (1) Appropriate representatives of general-purpose local government. General purpose local governments are defined by the U.S. Census at https://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/g12_org.pdf. (2) The State Advisory Council (SAC) on Early Childhood Education and Care (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act) or similar coordinating body pursuant to 98.14(a)(1)(vii). (3) Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s) within the State. This consultation should be done in a timely manner and at the option of the Tribe(s) or Tribal organization(s). 1.3.1 Consultation efforts in CCDF Plan development Describe the Lead Agency’s consultation efforts in the development of the CCDF Plan, including how and how often the consultation occurred. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with appropriate representatives of general- purpose local government: The Councils and Boards referenced below are made up of representatives from across the State including representatives from local governments. The Department has an ongoing relationship with local governments across the state who were invited to provide feedback regarding the development of the Wyoming CCDF 3-Year Plan, however the Department did not receive interest from the parties to participate. a. Describe how the Lead Agency consulted with the State Advisory Council or similar coordinating body: Members of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council were identified by expertise to focus on specific areas of the State Plan and were provided the opportunity to contribute to the content and review the final draft. Communication on the development of the Plan was via email and we received written recommendations from several individuals. In addition, the Department hosted two (2) teleconferences to review and take comments from Council members and received numerous comments of which many suggestions and changes were implemented in the CCDF. b. Describe, if applicable, how the Lead Agency consulted with Indian Tribes(s) or Tribal organizations(s) within the State: The Department makes its plan available to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho Tribes and solicits input to the plan. Both tribal entities were contacted via email and telephone on two occasions to discuss and review the Plan. The Department did not receive any response from either Tribe with regard to the state plan. c. Identify other entities, agencies, or organizations consulted on the development of the CCDF Plan (e.g., representatives from the child care workforce, or statewide afterschool networks) and describe those consultation efforts: 1.3.2 Public hearing process Lead Agencies must hold at least one public hearing in the State or Territory, with sufficient Statewide or Territory-wide distribution of notice prior to such a hearing to enable the public to comment on the provision of child care services under the CCDF Plan. Describe the Statewide or Territory-wide public hearing process held to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under this Plan. i. Date of the public hearing: 6/18/2024 Reminder: Must be no earlier than January 1, 2024. If more than one public hearing was held, enter one date (e.g., the date of the first hearing, the most recent hearing date, or any hearing date that demonstrates this requirement). ii. Date of notice of public hearing: 5/29/2024 iii. Was the notice of public hearing posted publicly at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the public hearing? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: iv. Describe how the public was notified about the public hearing, including outreach in other languages, information on interpretation services being available, etc. Include specific website links if used to provide noticeThe Department sent an e- blast to all providers. The Department also emailed notification to all providers, stakeholders, parents, other State agencies and public/private entities. Finally, the Department posted notification in the statewide newspaper and on the Department's website. The statewide newspaper also publishes public notices online which can be translated into other languages as needed. Additionally, the language line is always available to the public for interpretation services. v. Describe how the approach to the public hearing was inclusive of all geographic regions of the State or Territory: The Department set up a call-in line for conference calls on June 18, 2024. Due to the conference call format for the hearings, all geographic regions were included. vi. Describe how the content of the Plan was made available to the public in advance of the public hearing (e.g., the Plan was made available in other languages, in multiple formats, etc.): The State Plan was sent electronically to providers, stakeholders, parents, other State agencies, and public/private entities and posted on the Department’s website. The option of obtaining a written draft State Plan and submitting copies via hard copy mail was given with all notices and on the Department’s website. vii. Describe how the information provided by the public was taken into consideration regarding the provision of child care services under this Plan: The Department works collaboratively with partners on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Department reviewed all comments submitted and thoughtfully considered changes to the State Plan. The State Plan is a reflection of the work within the State’s Early Childhood industry and public opinion. 1.3.3 Public availability of final Plan, amendments, and waivers Lead Agencies must make the submitted and approved final Plan, any approved Plan amendments, and any approved requests for temporary waivers publicly available on a website. a. Provide the website link to where the Plan, any Plan amendments, and waivers (if applicable) are available. Note: A Plan amendment is required if the website address where the Plan is posted changes. https://dfs.wyo.gov/services/family-services/child- care/ b. Describe any other strategies that the Lead Agency uses to make submitted and approved CCDF Plan and approved Plan amendments available to the public. Check all that apply and describe the strategies below, including any relevant website links as examples. i. [x] Working with advisory committees. Describe: The Department has administrative staff who provide support to the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has an appointed member on the advisory council. The Department coordinates with the elected chairperson to ensure any CCDF Plan amendments are an agenda topic at an advisory council meeting. The Department ensures that the members of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council receives, via email, a copy of the CCDF Plan and any amendments for review prior to the scheduled advisory council meeting. ii. [ ] Working with child care resource and referral agencies. Describe: iii. [ ] Providing translation in other languages. Describe: iv. [x] Sharing through social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, email). Describe: The Department shall post a link to the DRAFT CCDF Plan to the Department’s Facebook page. v. [x] Providing notification to key constituents (e.g., parent and family groups, provider groups, advocacy groups, foundations, and businesses). Describe: The Department uses different formats to notify stakeholders of the CCDF Plan and amendments including email e-blast, the Department website, and the WY Quality Counts! newsletter. In addition, partner agencies (including Wyoming Department of Health, Wyoming Department of Education, Head Start Collaboration office) share the information with their stakeholder groups. vi. [ ] Working with Statewide afterschool networks or similar coordinating entities for out-of-school time. Describe: vii. [ ] Direct communication with the child care workforce. Describe: viii. [ ] Other. Describe: 2 Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care Stable and reliable child care arrangements facilitate job stability for parents and healthy development of children. CCDF eligibility and enrollment policies can contribute to these goals. Policies and procedures that create barriers to families accessing CCDF, like inaccessible subsidy applications and onerous reporting requirements, interrupt a parent’s ability to work and may deter eligible families from participating in CCDF. To address these concerns, Lead Agencies must provide children with a minimum of 12 months between eligibility determinations, limit reporting requirements during the 12-month period, and ensure eligibility determination and redetermination processes do not interrupt a parent’s work or school. In this section, Lead Agencies will identify how they define eligible children and families and how the Lead Agency’s eligibility and enrollment policies support access for eligible children and families.