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CHILD CARE SERVICES Workforce Solutions Capital Area is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to persons with disabilities. Relay Texas: 1.800.735.2989 (TDD) / 711 (Voice) www.wfscapitalarea.com 1 Agenda 1. Programmatic Information 2. Direct Services 3. Eligibility Requirements 4. Enrollment & Recertification Overview 5. How To Apply 6. Local Match 7. Continuity of Care 8. Special Projects 9. Quality Initiatives 10. Community Engagement 2 Programmatic Info Child Care and Development Block Grant Funding (CCDBG) • The Child Care Services (CCS) program is directed by federal and state rules, state policies and guidance, and local policies. • Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the Lead Agency in Texas. TWC contracts with 28 Local Workforce Development Boards throughout the state. • As the Texas Workforce Development Board for Capital Area ,we are responsible for the administration of the subsidized child care program in Travis County. Funding is invested in two ways to serve the families in our community. Through direct child care services to promote economic self sufficiency for low-income families and quality investments that support healthy development and school readiness needs of children. C C E H P A 3 Direct Child Care Services Target: 2,795 children served per day PRIORITY GROUP 1 MANDATORY POP. PRIORITY GROUP 2 DISCRETIONARY POP. Guaranteed child care services • Choices Services dependent upon availability of funds • Children needing protective care • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) • Children of a qualified veteran or qualified spouse Applicant • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) • Former Choices • Children of a foster youth • Children experiencing homelessness • Children of parents on military deployment • Children of teen parents • Children with disabilities C C E H P A 4 Direct Child Care Services Target: 2,795 children served per day PRIORITY GROUP 3 BOARD-APPROVED POPULATION Services dependent upon availability of funds • Pre-K Partnerships • Former CPS • Siblings of children currently receiving care • Children of customers who are participating in TWC workforce funded programs (WIOA), the WERC Program or other Special Projects defined by the Board where child care is needed for customers to participate while working/training in a program designed to help the customer achieve self-sufficiency. • Children of young adults between the ages of 16-24 at the time of enrollment. Young adults will be participating in a program operated by an Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative active partner, and will be receiving case management services that stabilize and/or support young adults in their quest to achieve education and employment outcomes. • City of Austin/Travis County referred families from high quality centers • Income Eligible C C E H P A 5 Eligibility for Child Care Services • The child(ren) must: • Reside in Travis County • Reside with the parent/s • Be a US citizen or legal immigrant a minimum of 25 hours per week family size number of children needing care • Parents in a single parent household must be working or in education/training activity for • Parents in a two-parent household must maintain a minimum of 50 combined hours per week • Family household gross income cannot exceed 85% of the state median income size for their • Parents pay a share of the cost using a sliding fee scale based upon income, family size, and C C E H P A 7 Enrollment & Recertification Parent/Caregiver Identify and Residence Documents* • Valid driver's license/state ID/passport and • Current utility bill/lease/mortgage statement with address (current – dated within past 30 days) Child/ren Citizenship and Age Verification* • Birth certificate, passport, birth record • Child/ren Immigrant/”Qualified Alien” Verification Household Income Verification – for all household members (earned and unearned) • • If employed, paycheck stubs for the last 3 months If self-employed, business income statement AND other verification (such as quarterly federal tax returns, profit and loss statement, bank statements or business ledgers/records/receipts, etc.) for the last 3 months If cash-paid, completed wage verification form (pg. 14 of the application) or letter from employer with contact information. • This information must be verifiable in order to use as proof of income and participation for child care services. • • Verification of all other income, such as pension, annuities, life insurance, rental income, lottery payments, etc. • If attending school or training, current transcripts, school schedule, and/or training verification – documentation submitted must include the student’s name Complete Child Care Services Packet • Need all 8 pages complete, signatures and initials in all applicable places * secondary documentation for the items listed above are available in the event a customer is unable to submit the required documentation. C C E H P A 8 How to Apply for Child Care Services • Enrollment in the childcare program is subject to the availability of funds. Because the need for childcare services is great in our community, we currently maintain a list of families waiting to be enrolled in the childcare program. When enrollment into the program is not immediately available, we ask eligible parents to complete a pre- assessment form to be added to the waitlist. • Interested parents can: • Visit our website at wfscapitalarea.com to apply online • Email austinccs@wfscapitalarea.com for a waitlist application • Contact Workforce Solutions Child Care Services for assistance at 512.597.7191, or • Visit one of our office locations C C E H P A 9 Matching Funds Much of our funding for subsidized child care is an allocation from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). We supplement this funding with additional investments from our local partners. Local Match: A portion of our allocation from TWC is contingent upon our ability to raise matching funds from the community. These funds are leveraged through a certification or transfer from a public entity or a donation from a private entity. PARTNERS • City of Austin • Travis County • AISD • Austin Community College C C E H P A 10 Continuity of Care Through our partnership and funding from the County and Austin Public Health (City), we are able to provide a bridge to support families in quality rated centers (TRS) until they are eligible for CCDF either through an upfront job search or ensure child care continuity of service for low-income families in instances when there is a program violation. • Austin Public Heath (City) investment: $629,438 • Travis County investment: $459,499 • Total Funding: $1,038,937 2020 PROGRAM YEAR RESULTS • 446 children served out of the 1,579 families that lost their childcare scholarship • 19% of families served experienced a wage increase by either gaining new employment or increased hours, making them eligible for long term childcare funding • 100% of the children referred to Continuity of Care remained in quality rated centers C C E H P A 11 Local Referring Partners • Quality Rated Center can also become a Local Referring Partner • Must complete an agreement and an orientation • For parents in your center or on your waitlist, a referral may be submitted to us. • For providers not currently signed up, please email ccslocalreferral@wfscapitalarea.com • Local Referring Partners are a part of Priority 3 • Families are prescreened for potential eligibility • Reside in Travis County. • Have a child/children under the age of 13 or 19 if a child with disabilities that needs child care. • Working/Training/In School at the minimum of 25 hours a week for a single-parent home and 50 hours a week for a 2-parent home. • Be within income guidelines – no greater than 85% of State Median Income • Referrals are sent to ccslocalreferral@wfscapitalarea.com C C E H P A 12 COVID Response Funding CDBG-CV ESSENTIAL WORKER CHILD CARE SERVICE INDUSTRY RECOVERY CHILD CARE Categories: • Child care industry (teachers, caregivers, etc) Categories: • Arts, Entertainment & Recreation • Education (teachers, support staff, bus drivers, etc) • Accommodation & Food Services • First Responders • Retail Trade • Critical Infrastructure (Grocery, Utilities, Trucking, etc) • Other Infrastructure (State & Local Government, Mail/Delivery Services, Banking, etc) Income limit to participate: • Does not exceed HUD Income Guidelines Income limit to participate: • Does not exceed 75% of State Median Income (SMI) Time limit for SIR funding: • 12-months CCDF UPFRONT JOB SEARCH • Families not meeting participation at the time of outreach for enrollment • 3-months (90 days) C C E H P A 13 Quality Investment Funding The Quality Child Care Collaborative (QC3) is the cornerstone of our quality improvement investments QC3 is an intensive mentor-driven program that provides free mentoring and training, technical assistance, referrals, and resources to help providers in our community achieve a quality ranking. COMMUNITY INVESTORS Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) $1,172,056 Austin Public Health (City) Travis County United Way Total Funding $454,637 $634,300 $40,000 $2,261,033 C C E H P A 14 QC3 Goal To increase the quality of child care in the community by assisting child care facilities to: • Achieve Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification and/or attain national accreditation; and • Increase the accessibility of high-quality child care services to low-income children QC3 SUPPORTS POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR PARENTS & PROVIDERS AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS (FY20) 5,846 Children across Travis County in Workforce Solutions’ (WFS) care Child care providers contracted by WFS 387 297 1,284 Providers and teachers trained and mentored Through 93 trainings hosted Providers are Texas Rising Star (TRS) certified* +50 providers achieved TRS certification through WFS during pandemic 157 84 Children enrolled in Continuity of Care program Funded by City of Austin / Travis County to bridge any gaps in eligibility for local parents Jeanette Watson Wage Supplement Recipients** Helps early childhood professionals continue to work in a field where wages are not commensurate with other skilled positions * As of April 29, 2021 ** In FY21 16 Child Care Providers CONTRACTED PROVIDERS QUALITY PROVIDERS • Licensed Child Care Centers (LCCC): 277 • Texas Rising Star Providers: 182 • Licensed Child Care Homes (LCCH): 21 • Texas School Ready Providers: 29 • Registered Child Care Homes (RCCH): 18 • Nationally Accredited Providers: 54 • Relative Care Listed Homes: 6 C C E H P A 17 Community Engagement PARENT OPPORTUNITIES General Inquiries: • austinccs@wfscapitalarea.com Parenting Series — Virtual Sessions: • Parenting: Strategies for Success Linking Language and Learning: Keeping the Kids Talking • • From Minor Challenges to Major Crises; Stress is part of • Supporting Parents in Understanding Temperament of • Promoting Positive Social/Emotional Development in our lives Young Children Your Children • Connecting with your Children: Fun Activities that Strengthen Your Bonds – And Improve Behavior, Too! • The art of problem solving: giving kids opportunities for independent thinking PROVIDER OPPORTUNITIES General Inquiries: • ccsproviderservices@wfscapitalarea.com Provider Advisory Meetings: • Monthly on the last Thursday • 11:30am – 12:30pm TRS Director Meetings: • Held on the first Thursday of Every Month • 12:00pm – 2:00pm and 6:00pm – 8:00pm C C E H P A 18 Future Projects • Texting feature for parent communication • Provider Payment Portal • New workflow management system • Contracted Slots • Child Care Industry Partnership • Community Meetings hosted by Board Staff • Videos to Better Understand and Access Program • Staff Training to Enhance the Customer Experience • Trauma informed care, Strengthening Families approach, etc. C C E H P A 19