Child Care and Development Fund Plan FFY 2012-2013

1. Child Care and Development Fund Plan FFY 2012-2013 Presentation to Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance March 3, 2011 Department of Social Services

2. Child Care and Development Fund Plan The goals of the CCDF are to: • allow each state maximum flexibility in determining child care policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within the state. • promote parental choice in making decisions on child care that best suits their family's needs. • encourage states to provide consumer information to help parents make informed child care choices. • assist states in providing child care to parents trying to become independent of public assistance. • assist states in implementing the health, safety, licensing and registration standards established in state regulations.

3. Child Care and Development Fund Plan The purpose of the CCDF is to increase the availability, affordability and quality of child care services in order to: • provide low-income families with the financial resources to find and afford quality child care for their children. • enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all families, including those who receive no direct assistance under CCDF. • provide parents with a broad range of options to address their child care needs and strengthen the role of the family. • improve the quality of and coordination among child care programs and early childhood development programs. • increase the availability of early childhood development and school-age services.

4. Child Care and Development Fund Plan Further, the CCDF directs Connecticut to: • maximize parental choice through the use of child care certificates and/or contracts. • use a broad range of child care providers that include center-based, family child care, informal home care, relative care and sectarian child care providers. • coordinate planning and delivery of child care services. • design flexible programs that provide for the changing needs of recipient families. • administer CCDF funds responsibly. • design programs that provide uninterrupted service to families and providers.

5. Child Care and Development Fund Plan CCDF funds – estimated at $51.5M per year • allocated by the Connecticut General Assembly through the state General Fund budget process • contribute to a variety of child care and early education programs and services in Connecticut through a variety of state and community agencies. • when combined with other federal and state funding sources, enhance the overall support of Connecticut's child care system.

6. Child Care and Development Fund Plan Current services • Child Care Subsidies - supports eligible families in the Connecticut Care 4 Kids program by providing payment to child care providers chosen by parents. • Early Childhood Programs and Enhancements - supports the DSS Child Day Center contracted program to serve infant/toddlers and the School Readiness Quality Enhancement program for selected communities to provide a variety of services that support child care providers, families and children. • Resource and Referral Services - assists families with consumer education materials and information on available child care providers and provides data management and reporting services. This effort is undertaken primarily by the United Way of Connecticut’s 211-Child Care program.

7. Child Care and Development Fund Plan Current services • Licensing Personnel – supports the hiring of state personnel at the Connecticut Department of Public Health to license and monitor child care facilities. • Provider Training and Professional Development - supports the community college’s Connecticut Charts-a-Course career development system, which include scholarships, a provider registry, a Training Approval Board, career counselors, the statewide Accreditation Facilitation Project and the Training Program in Child Development. In addition, the University of Connecticut distributes a newsletter for all Connecticut child care providers. • Administrative Services - supports DSS administrative functions to manage the CCDF funds.

8. Child Care and Development Fund 2012-13 Plan Contents Part 1: Administration • Contact Information & Estimated Funding • CCDF Program Integrity and Accountability • Consultation in the Development & Coordination of CCDF Services – Public Hearing • Child Care Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan Part 2: CCDF Subsidy Program Administration • Administration of the Program • Family Outreach and Application Process • Eligibility Criteria for Child Care • Fees, Payment Rates, Prioritizing Services and Parental Choice

9. Child Care and Development Fund 2012-13 Plan Contents Part 3: Health and Safety and Quality Improvement Activities • Health and Safety of Children in Child Care • Establishing Early Learning Guidelines • Creating Pathways to Excellence for Child Care Programs through Program Quality Improvement Activities • Creating Pathways to Excellence for the Workforce Professional Development Systems and Workforce Initiatives Appendix 1: Quality Performance Report Appendix 2: CCDF Program Assurances and Certifications

10. Child Care and Development Fund Plan Next Steps • Align CCDF Plan needs with workgroups • Prepare CCDF Plan draft • Schedule Public Hearing(s) – target April 2011 • CCDF Plan due July 1 to ACF – Wash D.C.

11. Child Care and Development Fund Plan Questions?