8.1 Coordination with Partners to Expand Accessibility and Continuity of Care

Lead Agencies must coordinate child care services supported by CCDF with other federal, State/Territory, and local level programs. This includes programs for the benefit of Indian children, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care. 8.1.1 Coordination with required and optional partners Describe how the Lead Agency coordinates and the results of this coordination of the provision of child care services with the organizations and agencies to expand accessibility and continuity of care and to assist children enrolled in early childhood programs in receiving full-day services that meet the needs of working families. The Lead Agency must coordinate with the following agencies: a. State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body (pursuant to 642B(b)(I)(A)(i) of the Head Start Act). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: 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. Indian Tribe(s) and/or Tribal organization(s), at the option of the Tribe or Tribal organization. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination, including which Tribe(s) was (were) involved: 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. [ ] Not applicable. Check here if there are no Indian Tribes and/or Tribal organizations in the State/Territory. c. State/Territory agency(ies) responsible for programs for children with disabilities, including early intervention programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory and Wyoming Early Intervention Councils are made up of representatives from across the State including representatives from state and local governments. The Wyoming Early Intervention Council’s mission is to advise and assist coordinated community-based programs for families, and their children from birth through age 5, who are identified as having development delays and/or disabilities. The Department provides information regarding services offered from the network of Child Development Centers across the state to parents, providers and other consumers. In addition, the Wyoming Early Intervention and Education Program’s manager is a member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has been active in their work with the Department, ALIGN and WY Kids FIrst on the Preschool Development Grant BIrth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. d. State/Territory office/director for Head Start State collaboration. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Wyoming Head Start state collaboration director is a member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has been active in their work with the Department, ALIGN and WY Kids FIrst on the Preschool Development Grant BIrth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. e. State/Territory agency responsible for public health, including the agency responsible for immunizations. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department partners with public health to ensure the Wyoming Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), and Child Care Centers (CCC) reflect the current requirements of the Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health. Specifically, the public health division staff consult with the Department on requirements regarding immunizations and TB testing and other health related content in the Rules. In addition, a representative from the public health division is a member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has been active in their work with the Department ALIGN and WY Kids FIrst on the Preschool Development Grant BIrth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. f. State/Territory agency responsible for employment services/workforce development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services shall collaborate and coordinate on specific projects related to development of the early childhood workforce, including making referrals and working with the prospective staff to meet all requirements for child care staff. In addition, the Department of Workforce Services is the legislatively mandated early childhood consumer education entity. The Departments coordinate activities related to provider training and consumer education. g. State/Territory agency responsible for public education, including pre-Kindergarten. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has both the Early Learning Specialist and the Head Start Collaboration Director as members of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council. They have been active in the work with the WDE, ALIGN and WY Kids First on the Preschool Development Grant Birth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. The WDE partners with the Department’s Economic Security Division on implementation of TANF Preschools. h. State/Territory agency responsible for child care licensing. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department is responsible for child care licensing. i. State/Territory agency responsible for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and other relevant nutrition programs. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department partners with Wyoming Department of Education, Nutrition Program, to ensure the Wyoming Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), and Child Care Centers (CCC) reflect the current requirements of the Wyoming Department of Education, Nutrition Program. In addition, information regarding licensure status is provided to the Nutrition Program State Director, as changes in programs are received by Child Care Licensing to ensure only eligible programs are receiving assistance through CACFP. j. McKinney-Vento State coordinators for homeless education and other agencies providing services for children experiencing homelessness and, to the extent practicable, local McKinney-Vento liaisons. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department oversees the Wyoming State Homeless Program. The Program Manager coordinates with the Wyoming Continuum of Care and other state providers to include child care and other early childhood programs to identify families in need of services, and to prevent homelessness. k. State/Territory agency responsible for the TANF program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department is responsible for TANF. The CCDF Administrator and the TANF Administrator have continuous communication to ensure coordination across both programs. l. State/Territory agency responsible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Wyoming Department of Health is a member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has been active in their work with the Department, ALIGN and WY Kids FIrst on the Preschool Development Grant BIrth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. In addition, the Department and the Wyoming Department of Health coordinate provision of information regarding Medicaid and CHIP to parents, providers and other consumers. The information is included in the Department’s Family Resource sheet, website and the consumer education website. The two programs coordinate to ensure the Department has the most current program information to share with providers, parents and other consumers. m. State/Territory agency responsible for mental health services. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Wyoming Department of Health is a member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and has been active in their work with the Department, ALIGN and WY Kids FIrst on the Preschool Development Grant BIrth through 5. The council is instrumental in providing input and recommendations on the strategic plan and subsequent activity in each of the 6 program areas. n. Child care resource and referral agencies, child care consumer education organizations, and providers of early childhood education training and professional development. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department is responsible for child care resource and referral. The CCDF Co-Administrator supervises the CCR&R program staff. The CCR&R program staff is included in all program development and implementation meetings. In addition, the CCR&R program staff provides monitoring and oversight of the professional development Registry vendor and reports to the CCDF Co- Administrator weekly. As a benefit to having CCR&R responsibilities, the Department has data regarding providers, utilization of child care services, and needs of families readily accessible. o. Statewide afterschool network or other coordinating entity for out-of-school time care (if applicable). Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department coordinates with the Statewide Afterschool Network on a number of key areas mentioned additionally in other sections throughout this plan. Those areas include: collecting data on school-age supply, school-age workforce and school age rates and costs of care; encouraging school-age quality practices in school age settings; establishing professional development specific to the needs of school-age providers; and ensuring on-going staff trainings are relevant to school-age providers. p. Agency responsible for emergency management and response. Describe the coordination and results of the coordination: The Department takes the whole community approach to crisis and emergency management. The Department coordinates planning, training, response coordination with each Wyoming county emergency management coordinator, public health response coordinator, state agencies ( ie. Wyoming Homeland Security, US Homeland Security, and Wyoming Department of Health), and non-government organizations (ie. Red Cross and Wyoming Volunteer Organizations After A Disaster). The intent of the ongoing coordination between all mentioned entities is to ensure Emergency Response and Preparedness plans are current and in alignment with FEMA goals. In addition, the Department provides access to critical location identification information for emergency response during an emergency or disaster. The Department has developed and manages location maps identifying the at risk populations overseen by the Department in addition to community services resources map and list. The Department distributes these lists and the information is also available on emergency management shared data drives. q. The following are examples of optional partners a Lead Agency might coordinate with to provide services. Check which optional partners the Lead Agency coordinates with and describe the coordination and results of the coordination. i. [ ] State/Territory/local agencies with Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grants. Describe: ii. [x] State/Territory institutions for higher education, including community colleges. Describe: The Department partners and contracts with the University of Wyoming to manage and operate the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Leaving Collaborative (PLC): to train and mentor Professional Learning facilitator to follow the framework including deepening knowledge, dispositions and practice in: principles of adult learning and evidence based transformative learning practices; NAEYC professional standards and competencies for early childhood educators; NAEYC developmentally appropriate practice position statement; whole leadership framework for early childhood program leaders; coaching with powerful interactions coaching modes; and 5 commitments of optimistic leadership The Professional Learning facilitators provide professional learning opportunities to all early childhood educators utilizing resources developed and researched available on the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative website. Additionally, the Professional Learning facilitators provide necessary training for the Wyoming Infant and Toddler Credential. The Department also contracts with Western States Learning Corporation, dba Align for management, coordination and operation of the Wyoming Statewide Training and Resource System (STARS) for early childhood professionals as well as coordination between the new STARS registry that integrates with the Department child care licensing and Child Care Resource & Referral. iii. [ ] Other federal, State, local, and/or private agencies providing early childhood and school-age/youth-serving developmental services. Describe: iv. [ ] State/Territory agency responsible for implementing the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs grant. Describe: v. [ ] Agency responsible for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Program. Describe: vi. [ ] State/Territory agency responsible for child welfare. Describe: vii. [ ] Child care provider groups or associations. Describe: viii. [ ] Parent groups or organizations. Describe: ix. [ ] Title IV B 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinators. Describe: x. [ ] Other. Describe: