Minnesota Child Care Resource And Referral Network

TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP IN SHAPING COLLABORATIONS THAT COLLECTIVELY BUILD A DIVERSE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MINNESOTA FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH AND IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES.

CHILD CARE AWARE SYSTEM SERVICESPROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE ACROSS THE CHILD CARE AWARE SYSTEM.IN 2021-2022 WE: -CONVENED FUNCTION-SPECIFIC FIELD STAFF AND OVERALL COORDINATION/LEADERSHIP STAFF TO SUPPORT AND GUIDE PROJECT WORK AND PROVIDE UPDATES AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED. -HELD THE 2022 CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA INSTITUTE FOR ALL STAFF WHO WORK IN THE SYSTEM WITH THE THEME, "HARNESSING THE POWER OF SELF-AWARENESS TO BUILD AN INTERCULTURAL MINDSET." -FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ISSUES WITHIN THE CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA SYSTEM AND BEYOND. THIS INCLUDED: -EMPLOYEE SUPPORT/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES -TRAINED RACIAL CONSCIOUS FACILITATORS TO BUILD INTERNAL CAPACITY AND HOLD SPACE FOR CONTINUED LEARNING. -BUILT THE INTERNAL CAPACITY OF CURRENT ACCESS AMBASSADORS TO FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE AND RACISM. -HELD TWO COHORTS OF THE "BUILDING RACIAL CONSCIOUSNESS" WORKSHOPS, A 4-PART SERIES THAT EXPLORED THE HISTORY OF RACE, THE ROLES RACE PLAYS IN SOCIETY, SYSTEMIC RACIAL PATTERNS, AND STRATEGIES FOR DISRUPTING UNHELPFUL PATTERNS AS AN ALLY FOR ELIMINATING RACIAL DISPARITIES. -EMPLOYEE KNOWLEDGE- PROVIDED THE INTERCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INVENTORY (IDI) ASSESSMENT FOR NEW AND INTERESTED CHILD CARE AWARE EMPLOYEES AROUND THE STATE. -SYSTEMS CHANGE- INTERNAL CHANGE -HIRED AN EQUITY AND INCLUSION COORDINATOR. -HELD A COORDINATORS RETREAT IN THE FALL OF 2022 TO DISCUSS CREATION OF A NEW-DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ROOTED IN EQUITY. -IMPLEMENTED THE EQUITY TOOLKIT AN INDIVIDUAL, TEAM, AND BUSINESS EQUITY ANALYSIS -COLLABORATIVELY WORKED WITH COORDINATORS TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK PLAN FOR OUTREACH TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.-COORDINATE AND DELIVER A SYSTEM OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT -CONTINUED TO SERVE AS THE PRIMARY DELIVERY SYSTEM TO DELIVER CHILD CARE AWARE TRAINING FROM BOTH CHILD CARE AWARE STAFF AND CONTRACTED TRAINERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC -COLLECTIVELY (WITH OUR LOCAL AGENCY PARTNERS), DELIVERED 863 CLASSROOM-BASED TRAININGS AND 973 WEB-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 1,836 UNIQUE TRAINING EVENTS DELIVERED TO 20,271 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS. TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT THESE SESSIONS WAS 57,005. -FORTY-FOUR OF THE COURSES WE DELIVERED WERE TAUGHT IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, WITH SPANISH AND SOMALI BEING THE MOST COMMON LANGUAGES. -THE COORDINATING OFFICE OFFERED SIX DIRECTORS CREDENTIAL COHORTS SUPPORTING 75 PARTICIPANTS IN ATTAINING THEIR DIRECTOR'S CREDENTIAL. -WE ALSO HELD FIVE MNCDA LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTED 59 CDA CANDIDATES.-COORDINATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARENT AWARE QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM -AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, THERE WERE 2,804 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS WITH A PARENT AWARE RATING IN MINNESOTA. THIRTY-ONE PERCENT OF ALL ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE (SCHOOL BASED, HEAD START, ECSE, AND ACCREDITED AND NON-ACCREDITED CHILD CARE) CURRENTLY HOLD A RATING. -WE WORKED WITH 14 COACH CHAMPIONS TO ENSURE BROAD SUPPORT OF THE 57 PARENT AWARE QUALITY COACHES AND TO GAIN INSIGHT ON THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THOSE COACHES NEED. THIS INCLUDED: -ONGOING STRATEGIES FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROGRAMS AND EDUCATORS -PROPOSALS FOR TEMPORARY POLICIES THAT PROVIDE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY FOR PROGRAMS IN PARENT AWARE. -QUARTERLY COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE WITH ALL COACHES WITH TOPICS LIKE VIRTUAL COACHING, QDP REFRESHER, CASE STUDIES OF OTHER COACHING MODELS, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING -PROGRAMS IN THE ACCELERATED AND EXPEDITED PATHWAYS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR PARENT AWARE GRANTS. DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, THERE WERE 65 ACCELERATED PATHWAY PROGRAMS AND 4 EXPEDITED PATHWAY PROGRAMS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR A PARENT AWARE GRANT. -PROVIDE ALL FAMILIES WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHILD CARE CHOICE. -THE CCIS TEAM COMPLETED 767 REFERRALS. -BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JUNE 2022, THE CCIS TEAM COMPLETED 398 ADDITIONAL CALLS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN REFERRALS. (PRIOR TO FEBRUARY, THE SYSTEM USED DID NOT TRACK THIS MEASURE.) -OUTREACH EFFORTS HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW. WE CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS/ EMPLOYERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EMPLOYEE TRAININGS, PRINT MATERIALS, ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS, DIRECT EMPLOYEE CONTACT, AND SO MUCH MORE. -HOSTED 141,258 NEW USERS WITH 951,541 TOTAL PAGE VIEWS AND 500,090 UNIQUE PAGE VIEWS ON OUR ONLINE SEARCH TOOL PARENTAWARE.ORG. -PROVIDED ENHANCED SUPPORT TO FAMILIES LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH OUR CHILD CARE INFORMATION SPECIALIST TEAM. -WE PARTNERED WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S CHILDREN'S CABINET, TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES KNEW THAT WE WERE A LEADING RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED CHILD CARE.-PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUPPORT TO THE CHILD CARE SECTOR -THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE CREATED MINNESOTA'S CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANT PROGRAM TO ADMINISTER THESE FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WITH THE PURPOSE TO STABILIZE THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY DURING RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE GRANTS BEGAN IN JUNE 2021, REPLACING THE PUBLIC HEALTH SUPPORT FUNDS, AND WILL LAST UNTIL JUNE 2023. -CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA ONCE AGAIN PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THESE STABILIZATION GRANTS AND CONTINUED TO DO SO THROUGHOUT THE FUNDING PERIOD. BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2021 AND JUNE 2022, CCAOMN RECEIVED A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 315 (TOTAL OF 2,517) CALLS AND A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 410 (TOTAL OF 3,277) EMAIL MESSAGES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THESE GRANTS. -EMPOWER TO EDUCATE IS A NEW WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY WAS LAUNCHED ON JULY 21, 2022, AFTER THE CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD. PRIOR TO LAUNCH, HOWEVER, OUR TEAM WAS PREPARING BY HIRING A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, DEVELOPING AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND TIMELINE, DEVELOPING A PRE-SERVICE TRAINING PACKAGE AND DESIGNING SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES WORKFORCE ADVISING AND RBPD, WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SUPPORT, JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, PROGRAM, DATA AND PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND MARKETING AND OUTREACH. -CHILD CARE WAYFINDER ASSISTANCE NETWORK IS A NEW CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ACCESS TO CHILD CARE BY MAINTAINING AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LICENSED SPACES FOR CHILDREN BY SUPPORTING EARLY EDUCATORS TO NAVIGATE EXISTING PROCESSES TO ESTABLISH, SUSTAIN AND EXPAND LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ON JULY 1, 2022, AFTER THIS REPORTING PERIOD. PRIOR TO THE LAUNCH, OUR TEAM WAS PREPARING TO INITIATE PROGRAMMING. WE HIRED A CHILD CARE CAPACITY BUILDING COORDINATOR, BUILT A WEBSITE, DESIGNED MARKETING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES, ENGAGED IN OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES, GATHERED CHILD CARE SUPPLY AND CAPACITY BUILDING DATA, AND DEVELOPED AN ONGOING PROGRAM EVALUATION PLAN FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORTS HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE REQUIRES STRONG INVESTMENTS IN CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND RETENTION OF EARLY EDUCATORS. OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON RETAINING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND SUPPORTING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD MINNESOTA IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT HELPS EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL-AGE EDUCATORS INCREASE THEIR LEVELS OF EDUCATION, COMPENSATION, AND COMMITMENT TO THE FIELD BY EARNING COLLEGE CREDITS AND DEGREES.IN 2021-2022:- WE SPENT $1,302,588** ON T.EA.C.H. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 225 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.- OF THESE, 50 (26.32%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN. - T.E.A.C.H. RECIPIENTS COMPLETED 2,415 CREDIT HOURS. REETAIN BONUSES HELP SUPPLEMENT INCOME FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AS THEY WORK TO ESTABLISH A CAREER IN THE FIELD. REETAIN BONUSES CAN BE USED FOR PROGRAM SUPPLIES, TRAINING, OR PERSONAL EXPENSES.IN 2021-2022:- WE AWARDED REETAIN GRANTS TOTALING $1,164,500 TO 577 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. - OF THESE, 87 (15%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN.CDA AWARDS HELP EARLY EDUCATORS PAY FOR THE REQUIRED TRAINING, APPLICATION, AND RENEWAL OF THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL (CDA). APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY TIME. AWARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.IN 2021-2022:- WE AWARDED CDA TRAINING, ASSESSMENT OR RENEWAL SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PDS STIPENDS TOTALING $24,965 TO 45 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.- OF THESE, 12 (27%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN.

EAGER-TO-LEARN: EAGER-TO-LEARN IS AN INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED, E-LEARNING PROGRAM. ITS ONLINE COURSES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN. A LEADER IN THE FIELD, EAGER-TO-LEARN IS BUILT UPON SEVERAL DECADES OF RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND UNIVERSAL REACH OF THE ONLINE LEARNING MODEL. TRAINED PROFESSIONALS OFFER COURSES COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS WHICH FOCUS ON CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 12. ANYTIME LEARNING (ATL) COURSES ARE SELF-PACED, ONLINE COURSES DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS THE FLEXIBILITY TO LEARN ON THEIR OWN TIME AND AT THEIR OWN SPEED.IN 2021-2022: - HELD 685 UNIQUE TRAINING EVENTS FOR 14,004 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS AND 44,695 TOTAL ATTENDEES. - WE OFFERED 81 COURSES IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH: - 26 ANYTIME LEARNING COURSES IN SOMALI - 2 ANYTIME LEARNING COURSES IN HMONG - 43 ANYTIME LEARNING COURSES IN SPANISH - 10 INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSES IN SPANISH - DEPLOYED SIGNIFICANT PLATFORM ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING A TOTAL REDESIGN OF OUR GLOBAL NAVIGATION AND ONLINE CLASSROOMS TO CREATE A MORE USER-FRIENDLY, ENGAGING ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. - IMPLEMENTED A TEXTING SOFTWARE TO SEND OUT TRAINING REMINDERS, TARGET MARKETING TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS OF LEARNING COMMUNITIES. - LAUNCHED REGULARLY SCHEDULED INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSES WITH VIDEO-BASED VIDEO CHATS - HELD MONTHLY INSTRUCTOR CHATS WITH ETL INSTRUCTORS, DISCUSSING A VARIETY OF TOPICS RANGING FROM SPECIFIC FEEDBACK REGARDING THE PLATFORM ENHANCEMENTS, HUMANIZING YOUR ONLINE COURSE, STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING TIME AND CONVERSATIONS DURING LIMITED CHAT TIMES, ETC.