Resource & Referral: A Provider’s Best Friend Riverside County Office of Education Division of Early Childhood Education Services Children’s Services Unit Resource & Referral

What is R & R Funded by California Department of Education (CDE) since 1976 Local resource and referral agencies: Help parents find licensed child care that best meets their family needs Document parents' requests for child care services Maintain comprehensive databases of child care providers in their communities, including licensed family child care homes and child care centers Track providers' licensing status, the languages they speak, the age groups they serve, the schedules they offer, and the number of spaces available in centers or family child care homes Work with providers to improve the quality of child care and to maintain and expand the supply of child care in each county Provide training and other services that help providers stay in business Compile and disseminate information & data on the statewide supply and demand for child care Educate local communities and leaders to understand child care issues and to plan effectively to address child care needs. R&R services are free and available to all parents and child care providers

What About MY R & R R & R agencies in every county in the state Some larger counties have multiple R & R agencies Within the scope of funding, agencies have freedom to provide services as they determine Each county R & R will look different Some may have varying levels of funding, so may not provide the same services Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) Health & Safety

My Child Care Plan Parents can call and get a free, customized plan to assist them in identifying, selecting, & securing child care that best meets their needs Discuss options (State Preschool, Center-base child care, Head Start, etc.) Provide other resources, as necessary (food, shelter, counseling, summer camp program, utility assistance, etc.)

Resource Lending Library Free service available to all licensed centers & family child care homes Curriculum items to enrich learning environments both inside & outside the classroom Borrow items for a period of time much like a library book Some R & R agencies have a van to bring items into the community

Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) Designed to build & improve the supply of quality licensed child care Minimum of 30 hours of training that includes: navigating the licensing process, environmentally- healthy child care, social & emotional competence in children, ages & stages of child development, and character education Also works to assist providers with expanding slots (small to large & center slot expansion) Pre-licensing inspections

Navy & Airforce Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Respite care for special needs children and their siblings Assistance with selection of child care provider Training for provider Parent support No Income restrictions

R & R Activities Holiday Drive Domestic Violence Campaign Purple Ribbon Month Back Pack Drive Shoes That Fit

State Preschool and Infant Programs Direct operated Teen Infant Programs Subcontracted Preschool and Infant programs Trustline Database of in-home caregivers in Riverside County that have cleared criminal record check. Resource and referral network administers the program

Alternative Payment Programs Programs for parents who are: Current or recent (last 24 months) CalWORKs recipients (Stage 1 & Stage 2) Past the 24 months past their cash aid termination date (Stage 3) Currently on the Eligibility List (EL) at programs receiving CDE funding (California Alternative Payment Program -CAPP) Need & eligibility based programs Parent required to recertify annually & report all need & eligibility changes

Partnership with Community Care Licensing R & R has a strong partnership with Community Care Licensing (CCL) at the state & local level All Type A violations, Non-Compliance Conferences (NCC), suspensions, & Temporary Suspension Orders (TSO) are reported within 24 hours to local R & R office Non-Compliance classes may be offered by the local R & R to cover Title 22 & best practices for licensed providers who have received serious or concerning violations or have recently had an NCC

Training & Professional Development Health & Safety Small funding to provide CPR/First Aid training Many R & R agencies provide on-going coaching, mentoring, and/or training to providers Partnership with local community colleges & higher learning institutions Child Care Associations

Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) CDE funded Approach to rating early childhood program settings Currently funding State Preschool Programs New funding for Infant Toddler Programs Uses a tiered-matrix (Tiers 1-5) to identify & assign a quality rating based on 3 core elements of program quality: Child development & school readiness Teachers & teaching Program & Environment

Core Elements of Quality Child development & school readiness Desired Results Developmental Profiles (DRDP) Alignment with California Frameworks & Foundations Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ & ASQ-SE) Teachers & Teaching Minimum Staff Qualifications: Education, Experience, & Child Development Permits Program & Environment Ratios & Group Size Program Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Director Qualifications (centers only)

Improve & Maximize Programs so All Children Thrive (IMPACT) First 5 CA initiative to be a companion to QRIS funding For all non state funded programs Combines Early Learning & Development, Child Health, & Family Support & Strengthening Combines: Quality standards Process of supporting quality improvements Provision of incentives Process for monitoring standards Dissemination of information on quality to parents & the public

Improving Quality Key focus of the State of California to improve quality in early childhood program Each county that is awarded funding structures their QRIS/IMPACT funding differently Not every county is funded for QRIS or IMPACT Tiered ratings will be published by R & R agencies Each county must determine how those ratings will be published

Jill Johnson, Coordinator jjohnson@rcoe Jill Johnson, Coordinator jjohnson@rcoe.us Laura Weeks, Program Specialist lweeks@rcoe.us Priscilla Dade, Program Specialist pdade@rcoe.us 951 826-6626