Name of Lead Agency:
Address of Lead Agency:
Name and Title of the Lead Agency's Chief Executive Officer:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
E-Mail Address:
Web Address for Lead Agency (if any):

Name of the State Child Care Contact (CCDF):
Title of State Child Care Contact:
Address:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
E-Mail Address:
Phone Number for child care subsidy program information (for the public) (if any):
Web Address for child care subsidy program information (for the public) (if any):

The Lead Agency estimates that the following amounts will be available for child care services and related activities during the 1-year period: October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. (§98.13(a))

CCDF: $
Federal TANF Transfer to CCDF: $
Direct Federal TANF Spending on Child Care: $
State CCDF Maintenance of Effort Funds: $
State Matching Funds: $
Total Funds Available:  $

The Lead Agency estimates that the following amount (and percentage) of Federal CCDF and State Matching Funds will be used to administer the program (not to exceed 5 percent): $       ( %). (658E(c)(3), §§98.13(a), 98.52)

Will the Lead Agency use private funds to meet a part of the matching requirement of the CCDF pursuant to §98.53(e)(2)?

    Yes.  If yes, are those funds:

           Donated directly to the State?

           Donated to a separate entity or entities designated to receive private donated funds?

           How many entities are designated to receive private donated fund? _____

          Provide information below for each entity:

                                    Name:
                                    Address:
                                    Contact:
                                    Type:
    No.

1.7   Use of State Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Expenditures for CCDF-Eligible Children

Lead Agencies are required to consult with appropriate agencies and coordinate with other Federal, State, local, tribal (if applicable) and private agencies providing child care and early childhood development services (§98.12, §98.14(a),(b), §98.16(d)). Indicate the entities with which the Lead Agency has consulted or coordinated (as defined below), by checking the appropriate box(es) in the following table.

Consultation involves the meeting with or otherwise obtaining input from an appropriate agency in the development of the State Plan. At a minimum, Lead Agencies must consult with representatives of general purpose local governments (noted by the asterisk in the chart below).

Coordination involves the coordination of child care and early childhood development service delivery, including efforts to coordinate across multiple entities, both public and private (for instance, in connection with a State Early Childhood Comprehensive System (SECCS) grant or infant-toddler initiative). At a minimum, Lead Agencies must coordinate with (1) other Federal, State, local, Tribal (if applicable), and/or private agencies responsible for providing child care and early childhood development services, (2) public health (including the agency responsible for immunizations and programs that promote children’s emotional and mental health), (3) employment services / workforce development, (4) public education, (5) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and (6) any Indian Tribes in the State receiving CCDF funds (noted by the asterisks in the chart below).

                                                                                                 * Required.

For each box checked above, (a) identify the agency providing the service and (b) describe the consultation and coordination efforts.  Descriptions must be provided for any consultation or coordination required by statute or regulation.

If you have prepared an emergency preparedness plan related to your child care and early childhood development services, attach it as Attachment 2.1.1.

State Plan for Early Childhood Program Coordination.  Good Start, Grow Smart encourages States to develop a plan for coordination across early childhood programs.  Indicate which of the following best describes the current status of the State's efforts in this area. Note: Check only ONE.

Planning.  Indicate whether steps are under way to develop a plan.  If so, describe the time frames for completion and/or implementation, the steps anticipated, and how the plan is expected to support early language, literacy, pre-reading and early math concepts. 

Developing.  A plan is being drafted. The draft is included as Attachment 2.1.2.

Developed.  A plan has been written but has not yet been implemented.  The plan is included as Attachment 2.1.2.

Implementing.  A plan has been written and is now in the process of being implemented.  The plan is included as Attachment 2.1.2.

Other (describe):

Describe the progress made by the State planning for coordination across early childhood programs since the date of submission of the 2006-2007 State Plan.

Indicate whether there is an entity that is responsible for ensuring that such coordination occurs.  Indicate the four or more early childhood programs and/or funding streams that are coordinated and describe the nature of the coordination.

Describe the results or expected results of this coordination.  Discuss how these results relate to the development and implementation of the State's early learning guidelines, plans for professional development, and outcomes for children.

Describe how the State's plan supports or will support continued coordination among the programs.  Are changes anticipated in the plan?

(1)

if the Lead Agency is also providing child care services through grants and contracts, estimate the proportion of §98.50 services available through certificates versus grants/contracts, and explain how it ensures that parents offered child care services are given the option of receiving a child care certificate. (98.30(a) & (b))  This may be expressed in terms of dollars, number of slots, or percentages of services.

Attach a copy of your eligibility worker’s manual, policy handbook, or other printed guidelines for administering the child care subsidy program as Attachment 3.1.1.  If these materials are available on the web, the State may provide the appropriate Web site address in lieu of attaching hard copies to the Plan.

Note:  Eligibility worker’s manuals, policy handbooks, or other printed guidelines for administering a child care subsidy program will be used for reference purposes only.  Documents provided by Lead Agencies pursuant to this section will not be uniformly or comprehensively reviewed and will not be considered part of the Plan.  All information required to be part of the Plan must continue to be set forth in the Plan.

In addition to offering certificates, does the Lead Agency also have grants or contracts for child care slots?

The Lead Agency must allow for in-home care but may limit its use.  Does the Lead Agency limit the use of in-home care in any way?

Are child care services provided through certificates, grants and/or contracts offered throughout the State? (658E(a), §98.16(g)(3))

Age Eligibility

Does the Lead Agency allow CCDF-funded child care for children above age 13 but below age 19 who are physically and/or mentally incapable of self-care?  (Physical and mental incapacity must then be defined in Appendix 2.)  (658E(c)(3)(B), 658P(3), §98.20(a)(1)(ii))

    Yes, and the upper age is       .

    No.

Does the Lead Agency allow CCDF-funded child care for children above age 13 but below age 19who are under court supervision? (658P(3), 658E(c)(3)(B), §98.20(a)(1)(ii))

    Yes, and the upper age is       .

    No.

Income Eligibility

Complete columns (a) and (b) in the matrix below.  Complete Columns (c) and (d) ONLY IF the Lead Agency is using income eligibility limits lower than 85% of the SMI.

If the Lead Agency does not use the SMI from the most current year, indicate the year used:

If applicable, indicate the date on which the eligibility limits detailed in column (c) became or will become effective:

How does the Lead Agency define “income” for the purposes of eligibility? Describe and/or include information as Attachment 3.3.2.  (§§98.16(g)(5), 98.20(b))

• Is any income deducted or excluded from total family income (for instance, work or medical expenses; child support paid to, or received from, other households; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments)?

    Yes. If yes, describe what type of income is deducted or excluded from total family income.

    No.

• Is the income of all family members included?

    Yes.

    No. If no, describe whose income is excluded for purposes of eligibility determination.

Eligibility Based Upon Receiving or Needing to Receive Protective Services

Does the State choose to provide child care to children in protective services, as defined in Appendix 2? (§§98.16(f)(7), 98.20(a)(3)(ii)(A) & (B))

  Yes.

  No.

Has the Lead Agency elected to waive, on a case-by-case basis, the fee and income eligibility requirements for cases in which children receive, or need to receive, protective services, as defined in Appendix 2?  (658E(c)(3)(B), 658P(3)(C)(ii), §98.20(a)(3)(ii)(A))

  Yes.

  No.

  Not applicable.  CCDF-funded child care is not provided in      cases in which children receive, or need to receive, protective services.

Does the State choose to provide CCDF-funded child care to children in foster care whose foster care parents are not working, or who are not in education/training activities? (§§98.20(a)(3)(ii), 98.16(f)(7))

  Yes. (NOTE: This means that for CCDF purposes the State considers these children to be in protective services.)

  No.

Additional Eligibility Conditions

Has the Lead Agency established additional eligibility conditions? (658E(c)(3)(B), §98.16(g)(5), §98.20(b))

  Yes, and the additional eligibility conditions are: (Terms must be defined in Appendix 2)

  No.

Complete the table below regarding eligibility conditions and priority rules. For columns (a) through (d), check box if reply is “Yes”. Leave blank if “No”. Complete column (e) if you check column (d).

Describe how the State prioritizes service for the following CCDF-eligible children:  (a) children with special needs and (b) children in families with very low incomes.  Terms must be defined in Appendix 2. (658E(c)(3)(B))

Has the Lead Agency established additional priority rules that are not reflected in the table completed for Section 3.4.1? (658E(c)(3)(B), §98.16(g)(5), §98.20(b))

  Yes, and the additional priority rules are: (Terms must be defined in Appendix 2)
  No.

Does the Lead Agency serve all eligible families that apply?

  Yes.

  No.

Does the Lead Agency maintain a waiting list?

  If yes, for what populations?  Is the waiting list maintained at the State level?  Are certain populations given priority for services, and if so, which populations?  What methods are employed to keep the list current?

  No.

A sliding fee scale, which is used to determine each family's contribution to the cost of child care, must vary based on income and the size of the family.  A copy of this sliding fee scale for child care services and an explanation of how it works is provided as Attachment 3.5.1.

The attached fee scale was or will be effective as of _________________.

Will the Lead Agency use additional factors to determine each family's contribution to the cost of child care? (658E(c)(3)(B), §98.42(b))

  Yes, and the following describes any additional factors that will be used:

  No.

Is the sliding fee scale provided in the attachment in response to question 3.5.1 used in all parts of the State? (658E(c)(3)(B))

  Yes.

  No, and other scale(s) and their effective date(s)are provided as Attachment 3.5.2.

ALL families with income at or below the poverty level for a family of the same size ARE NOT required to pay a fee.

SOME families with income at or below the poverty level for a family of the same size ARE NOT required to pay a fee.  The following describes these families:

Does the State allow providers to charge parents the difference between the maximum reimbursement rate and their private pay rate?

  Yes.

  No.

The following is an explanation of how the copayments required by the Lead Agency's sliding fee scale(s) were determined to be affordable: (§98.43(b)(3))

Describe the process for a family to apply for and receive child care services (658D(b)(1)(A), 658E(c)(2)(D) & (3)(B), §§98.16(k), 98.30(a) through (e)).  At minimum, the description should include:

• How parents are informed of the availability of child care services and about child care options
• Where/how applications are made
• What documentation parents must provide
• How parents who receive TANF benefits are informed about the exception to individual penalties as described in 4.4
• Length of eligibility periodincluding variations that relate to the services provided, e.g., through collaborations with Head Start or pre-kindergarten programs
• Any steps the State has taken to reduce barriers to initial and continuing eligibility for child care subsidie

Attach a copy of your parent application for the child care subsidy program. If the application is available on the web, provide the appropriate Web site address (application must still be attached to Plan):

Is the application process different for families receiving TANF?

  Yes.  If yes, describe how the process is different:

  No.

The following is a detailed description of how the State ensures parental choice by making sure that parents are informed about their ability to choose from among family and group home care, center-based care and in-home care including faith-based providers in each of these categories.

Does the State conduct activities aimed at families with limited English proficiency to promote access to child care subsidies and reduce barriers to receiving subsidies and accessing child care services?

  Yes.  If yes, describe these activities, including how the State overcomes language barriers with families and providers.

  No.

The following is a detailed description of how the State maintains a record of substantiated parental complaints and how it makes the information regarding such parental complaints available to the public on request. (658E(c)(2)(C), §98.32))

The following is a detailed description of the procedures in effect in the State for affording parents unlimited access to their children whenever their children are in the care of a provider who receives CCDF funds. (658E(c)(2)(B), §98.31))

The regulations at §98.33(b) require the Lead Agency to inform parents who receive TANF benefits about the exception to the individual penalties associated with the work requirement for any single custodial parent who has a demonstrated inability to obtain needed child care for a child under 6 years of age.

In fulfilling this requirement, the following criteria or definitions are applied by the TANF agency to determine whether the parent has a demonstrated inability to obtain needed child care:

NOTE:  The TANF agency, not the Child Care Lead Agency, is responsible for establishing the following criteria or definitions.  These criteria or definitions are offered in this Plan as a matter of public record.  The TANF agency that established these criteria or definitions is:  __________________________________________.

• "appropriate child care":

• "reasonable distance":

• "unsuitability of informal child care":

• "affordable child care arrangements":

The Child Care and Development Fund provides earmarks for infant and toddler care and school-age care and resource and referral services as well as the special earmark for quality activities.  The following describes the activities; identifies the entities providing the activities; describes the expected results of the activities and, if the activities have been ongoing, the actual results of the activities.  For the infant and toddler earmark, the State must note in its description of the activities what is the maximum age of a child who may be served with such earmarked funds (not to exceed 36 months).

Infants and toddlers:

Resource and referral services:

School-age child care:

The law requires that not less than 4% of the CCDF be set aside for quality activities. (658E(c)(3)(B), 658G, §§98.13(a), 98.16(h), 98.51)  The Lead Agency estimates that the following amount and percentage will be used for the quality activities (not including earmarked funds) during the 1-year period: October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008:

$ _____________________ (      %)

Check each activity the Lead Agency will undertake to improve the availability and quality of child care (include activities funded through the 4% quality set-aside as well as the special earmark for quality activities).  (658D(b)(1)(D), 658E(c)(3)(B), §§98.13(a), 98.16(h))

For each activity checked, describe the expected results of the activity. If you have conducted an evaluation of this activity, describe the results. If you have not conducted an evaluation, describe how you will evaluate the activities.

Describe the progress made by the State in developing, implementing, or revising early learning guidelines since the date of submission of the 2006-2007 State Plan.

If developed, are the guidelines aligned with K-12 content standards or other standards (e.g., Head Start Child Outcomes, State Performance Standards)?

    Yes.  If yes, name standards.
    No. 

If developed, are the guidelines aligned with early childhood curricula?

    Yes.  If yes, describe.

    No.

Have guidelines been developed for children in the following age groups (check if guidelines have been developed):

    Birth to three. Guidelines are included as Attachment 5.2.1

    Birth to five. Guidelines are included as Attachment 5.2.1

    Five years or older. Guidelines are included as Attachment 5.2.1

Efforts to develop early learning guidelines for children that may differ from those addressed in Good Start, Grow Smart (i.e., children birth to three or older than five) may be described here.

If any of your guidelines are available on the web, provide the appropriate Web site address (guidelines must still be attached to Plan):

Domains of Voluntary Early Learning Guidelines.  Do the guidelines for children three-to-five-years-old address language, literacy, pre-reading, and early math concepts?

  Yes.
  No.

Do the guidelines for children three-to-five-years-old address domains not specifically included in Good Start, Grow Smart, such as social/emotional, cognitive, physical, health, creative arts, or other domains?

  Yes.  If yes, describe.
  No.

  Disseminating materials to practitioners and families
  Developing training curricula
  Partnering with other training entities to deliver training
  Aligning early learning guidelines with licensing, core competencies, and/or quality rating systems
  Other. Describe:

How are (or will) cultural, linguistic and individual variations (be) acknowledged in implementation?

How are (or will) the diversity of child care settings (be) acknowledged in implementation?

Materials developed to support implementation of the guidelines are included as Attachment 5.2.3. If these are available on the web, provide the appropriate Web site address:

Assessment of Voluntary Early Learning Guidelines.  As applicable, describe the State's plan for:

(a)    Validating the content of the early learning guidelines

(b)    Assessing the effectiveness and/or implementation of the guidelines

(c)    Assessing the progress of children using measures aligned with the guidelines

(d)    Aligning the guidelines with accountability initiatives

Written reports of these efforts are included as Attachment 5.2.4.  If these are available on the web, provide the appropriate Web site address (reports must still be attached to Plan):

Describe the progress made by the State in planning, developing, implementing, or revising the professional development plan since the date of submission of the 2006-2007 State Plan.

If your State has developed a plan for professional development, does the plan include (Check EITHER yes or no for each item):

For each Yes response, reference the page(s) in the plan and briefly describe.

For each No response, indicate any plans the Lead Agency has to incorporate these components.

Are the professional development opportunities described in the plan available:

Note: Check either yes or no for each item):

Describe how the plan addresses early language, literacy, pre-reading, and early math concepts development.

Are program or provider-level incentives offered to encourage provider training and education?

As applicable, does the State assess the effectiveness of its professional development plan, including the achievement of any specified goals or desired outcomes?

6.1.1      

Are all center-based providers paid with CCDF funds subject to licensing under State law that is indicated in the NRCHSCC's compilation?

  Yes.  Answer 6.1.2, skip 6.1.3, and go to 6.2.

  No. If no, describe which center-based providers are exempt from licensing under State law and answer 6.1.2 and 6.1.3.

Have center licensing requirements as they relate to staff-child ratios, group size, or staff training been modified since approval of the last State Plan?  (§98.41(a)(2)& (3))

  If yes, describe the changes.

  No.

For center-based care that is NOT licensed, and therefore not reflected in NRCHSCC's compilation, the following health and safety requirements apply to child care services provided under the CCDF for:

• The prevention and control of infectious disease (including age-appropriate immunizations)
  
  
• Building and physical premises safety 
  
  
• Health and safety training

Are all group home providers paid with CCDF funds subject to licensing under State law that is indicated in the NRCHSCC's compilation?  If:

  Yes. Answer 6.2.2, skip 6.2.3, and go to 6.3.

  No.  If no, describe which group home providers are exempt from licensing under State law and answer 6.2.2 and 6.2.3.

Have group home licensing requirements that relate to staff-child ratios, group size, or staff training been modified since the approval of the last State Plan?  (§98.41(a)(2) & (3))

  Yes. If yes, describe the changes.

  No.