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 Department provides child care resource and referral services to families in Wyoming. Parents can access CCR&R services through our toll free number or on the Department's website. The Department's website includes a searchable database and the phone numbers of licensing staff across the state. Licensing staff are trained to provide information on the components of quality early care and education and make additional referrals based on the needs of individual families. Child care licensers distribute materials to providers and parents. Parents can receive materials through the mail or electronically if requested. Additionally, the Department also provides brochures and newsletters to families receiving child care which provide information on the different child care options that are available to the family. One (1) full-time staff member at the Department helps families and providers navigate resources and referrals. The Department collaborates with local Head Start programs to create opportunities for receipt of child care assistance and to provide information regarding how families can access child care subsidy. The Department coordinates with WY Quality Counts!, Wyoming Workforce Services, the Department staff (including child welfare and foster care), Department of Education, Department of Health, local school districts, Child Support Program staff, and other public/private entities to disseminate information regarding child care assistance services available. There are several early childhood websites where parents, consumers, providers, prospective providers and others can find information. Over the course of the next year or two, the Department will convene the appropriate agencies and entities to coordinate content and access and determine how to streamline and consolidate how and where early childhood information is found. When parents are applying for other benefits, the Department's Benefit Specialists provide an application for child care assistance. Child care providers are also provided a supply of applications. The Department's Early Childhood website houses information about the application process and program availability. In addition, e-blasts are sent to pre-built listserv which includes all directors, providers and facility staff to be distributed to parents and families. Child Care Licensing assists in the distribution of materials to child care providers and families by hand delivering and emailing information. 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 Department makes available information regarding early childhood development through the Department's website, CCR&R, Child Care Licensing, WY Quality Counts!, other state agencies, and public/private entities. The Department shares developmental milestones, resources to obtain information from nationally known programs, shares best practices, assists with arranging training opportunities, and distributes materials relating to Early Learning Guidelines and Early Learning Foundations through the Department's website, e-blasts, provider/family newsletters, CCR&R, Child Care Licensing and community booths. The Early Learning Guidelines and Early Learning Foundations are developed with child development as the foundation. The Early Learning Guidelines and Early Learning Foundations provide child development information as well as activities the parent or caregiver may implement with the child(ren) to enhance child development. The Department and the following State agencies and organizations collaborate with Wy Quality Counts!: Department of Health, Department of Education, Parents as Teachers, WY Kids First, Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council, community colleges, University of Wyoming, Parent Information Center/Parent Education Network, Uplift, and the Early Childhood community partnerships. WY Quality Counts! was established to provide parent and consumer education regarding early childhood. In addition, the Department partners with the Department of Health, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant (ECCS), which has established a Help Me Grow resource to educate parents about childhood development. The Department of Health, ECCS, has also established the Parent Leadership Training Institute to train parent leaders to engage in authentic parent and family engagement regarding policies and procedure. 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: The following information is related to children from birth to school age. PARENTS: The Department makes information available through their website, e-blast newsletters and resources. The Department and the following State agencies and organizations collaborate with Wy Quality Counts!: Department of Health, Department of Education, Parents as Teachers, WY Kids First, Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council, community colleges, University of Wyoming, Parent Information Center/Parent Education Network, Uplift, and the Early Childhood community partnerships. WY Quality Counts! was established to provide parent and consumer education regarding early childhood including social emotional/behavioral and early childhood mental health. WY Quality Counts! has a website with parent and provider pages where information is posted. In addition, WY Quality Counts! distributes child development milestones and activities to parents and providers. WY Quality Counts! uses various social media networks to share information statewide. In addition, the Department shares information with the Department of Health regarding barriers, including access, for children and families in the mental health system. The Department provides referrals to early childhood mental health consultation services on an as needed basis. PROVIDERS: The Department and the following State agencies and organizations collaborate with WY Quality Counts!: Department of Health, Department of Education, Parents as Teachers, WY Kids First, Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council, community colleges, University of Wyoming, Parent Information Center/Parent Education Network, Uplift, and the Early Childhood community partnerships. WY Quality Counts! was established to provide parent and consumer education regarding early childhood including social emotional/behavioral and early childhood mental health. WY Quality Counts! has a website with consumers, stakeholders/general public and providers pages where information is posted. In addition, WY Quality Counts! distributes child development milestones and activities to consumers, stakeholders/general public and providers. WY Quality Counts! uses various social media networks to share information statewide. The Department provides social emotional and temperaments training through the Infant/Toddler Director Credential training available to child care providers. In addition, the Department shares information with the Department of Health regarding barriers, including access, for children and families in the mental health system. GENERAL PUBLIC: The Department and the following State agencies and organizations collaborate with Wy Quality Counts!: Department of Health, Department of Education, Parents as Teachers, WY Kids First, Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council, community colleges, University of Wyoming, Parent Information Center/Parent Education Network, Uplift, and the Early Childhood community partnerships. WY Quality Counts! was established to provide parent and consumer education regarding early childhood including social emotional/behavioral and early childhood mental health. WY Quality Counts! has a website with individual pages where information is posted for consumers, stakeholders/general public and providers. In addition, WY Quality Counts! distributes child development milestones and activities to consumers, stakeholders/general public and providers. WY Quality Counts! uses various social media networks to share information statewide. In addition, the Department shares information with the Department of Health regarding barriers 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: The Department's Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Centers and the Rules for Child Care Purchase of Service require all licensed and license-exempt non-relative providers to develop a suspension and expulsion policy. The policy shall: promote the social and emotional and behavioral health of children and limit the use of expulsion, suspension and other expulsionary practices; define how the director, owner and/or staff shall communicate with a parent(s) or guardian(s) regarding child's behavior and intervention implemented; and the program shall collaborate with the parents and engage available community resources to address challenging behaviors before a program determines whether an expulsion or suspension is appropriate. Additionally, the Department’s Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Center (CCC) requires that parents shall be given a copy of written program policies by the child care provider, initially, and when there are changes to the policy, this includes the suspension and expulsion policy. The child care providers (license and license- exempt) received copies of the Department's rules which detail the requirement for the suspension and expulsion policy. The Department's rules are accessible on the website and via the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. 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: The Department's Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Centers and the Rules for Child Care Purchase of Service require all licensed and license-exempt non-relative providers to develop a suspension and expulsion policy. The policy shall: promote the social and emotional and behavioral health of children and limit the use of expulsion, suspension and other expulsionary practices; define how the director, owner and/or staff shall communicate with a parent(s) or guardian(s) regarding child's behavior and intervention implemented; and the program shall collaborate with the parents and engage available community resources to address challenging behaviors before a program determines whether an expulsion or suspension is appropriate. Additionally, the Department’s Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Center (CCC) requires that parents shall be given a copy of written program policies by the child care provider, initially, and when there are changes to the policy, this includes the suspension and expulsion policy. The child care providers (license and license-exempt) received copies of the Department's rules which detail the requirement for the suspension and expulsion policy. The Department's rules are accessible on the website and via the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office.