Child Care Services Association

CCSA LEADS EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION BY PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND THE WORKFORCE.

CHILD CARE WAGE$THE KEY GOAL OF THE CHILD CARE WAGE$ PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES. THROUGH INCREASED COMPENSATION, WAGE$ HELPS ATTRACT AND RETAIN EDUCATED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS TO REACH HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION THROUGH A GRADUATED SUPPLEMENT SCALE. THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY OUTCOME FOR FY23 WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS FOR THE YEAR WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. RESULTS: OUTCOME MET. THE TURNOVER RATE FOR WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS WAS 14%, WELL BELOW THE BENCHMARK OF 25%. THIS REPRESENTS INCREASED STABILITY FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEARS WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED.IN ADDITION TO INCREASED RETENTION, WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAD OR OBTAINED HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION. EIGHTY-EIGHT PERCENT (88%) WHOSE COUNTIES HAD PARTICIPATED AT LEAST TWO YEARS HAD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ITS EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER BASED ON THE WAGE$ SCALE OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION DURING THE YEAR TO VERIFY THEIR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK. WAGE$ PAID 4,122 EARLY EDUCATORS, SURPASSING THE EXPECTED OUTPUT. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 1,799 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 84,077 CHILDREN AND THEY RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $1,219. NINETY-NINE PERCENT (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH WAGE$.INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$ PLUSINFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$ PLUS PROVIDES EDUCATION-BASED SALARY SUPPLEMENTS TO LOW-PAID TEACHERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WORKING AT LEAST 30 HOURS PER WEEK WITH CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BETTER COMPENSATE AND RETAIN PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR FY23 WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PLUS PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. THE OUTCOME WAS ACHIEVED; THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PARTICIPANTS WAS 14%. BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS AT ITS PEAK IN THESE YOUNGER YEARS, AND STABILITY IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN. NINETY-SEVEN (97%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS STATED THAT AWARD$ PLUS SUPPLEMENTS HELP TO EASE FINANCIAL STRESS, WHICH IS ANOTHER KEY GOAL FOR THE INITIATIVE.EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT (85%) HAD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ITS EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER BASED ON THE AWARD$ PLUS SCALE OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION DURING THE YEAR TO VERIFY THEIR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK. AWARD$ PAID 1,483 INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATORS WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 868 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 21,357 CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $1,200. NINETY-NINE PERCENT (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH AWARD$ PLUS.

T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD:THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD NORTH CAROLINA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION OF NORTH CAROLINA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STRUCTURED USING FOUR COMPONENTS (SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND COMMITMENT) AND ARE AVAILABLE TO FACILITY BASED EARLY EDUCATORS INCLUDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORM NON-DIRECT SERVICE FUNCTIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLE ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE COURSEWORK LEADING TOWARDS CREDENTIALS AND DEGREES AT 56 OF NORTH CAROLINA'S 58 COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND 20 COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION BY COMPLETING A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS ANNUALLY AND IN TURN ARE GIVEN RAISES OR BONUSES IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMMIT TO THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FIELD, THEIR EMPLOYING SPONSORING PROGRAM OR SPONSORING ORGANIZATION FOR SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. DURING FY 2022-23 THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MET ITS GOALS FOR IMPROVING THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION AMONG ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND PRODUCED POSITIVE OUTCOMES AS WERE PROPOSED. THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED CORE, COMPREHENSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO 2,333 EARLY EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM SPECIALISTS IN 92 OF THE STATE'S 100 COUNTIES. SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WERE PRODUCED IN THE AREAS OF INCREASED EDUCATION, INCREASED COMPENSATION AND RETENTION. FOR EXAMPLE, ON AVERAGE, TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE PROGRAM'S MOST UTILIZED SCHOLARSHIP MODEL, THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND SUCCESSFULLY MET CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, COMPLETED ON AVERAGE 16.9 CREDIT HOURS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, EXPERIENCED A 13.7% INCREASE IN EARNINGS AND HAD A 7.8% TURNOVER RATE. 63,700 CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN A SETTING THAT SUPPORTED AT LEAST ONE RECIPIENT ON A T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP. THE PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED T.E.A.C.H. RECIPIENTS TO ENROLL IN 17,390 CREDIT HOURS OF EDUCATION AT THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SELECTED UNIVERSITIES.

FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL INITIATIVES:100% OF REGIONAL LEAD CCR&R AGENCIES INDICATED THAT ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM THE R&R COUNCIL WAS HELPFUL AND INDICATED THAT THE CCR&R COUNCIL HAS ENABLED THE IMPROVEMENT OF R&R SERVICES. ALL 14 REGIONAL LEAD AGENCIES SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE FOLLOWING THREE CCR&R CORE SERVICES: CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE BIRTH-TO-THREE QUALITY INITIATIVE (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE INFANT TODDLER ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE) ACHIEVED 33% OF ITS TWO YEAR (23&24) GOAL OF 700 STATEWIDE PRACTICE BASED COACHING PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING 234 INDIVIDUALS PBC IN FY23. UNDER THE B-3 QUALITY INITIATIVE, 2849 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING SESSIONS REPRESENTING 142% OF THE ESTABLISHED GOAL OF 2000 PARTICIPANTS FOR FY23. UNDER THE STATEWIDE CORE SERVICES, 14 OF THE 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 85% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE WITH 7 OF 14 REPORTING THAT AT LEAST 98% OF PARENTS INDICATING THEY CHOOSE THIS LEVEL OF CARE. STATEWIDE, 95% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE. 11 OF 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 90% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR CHILD CARE SEARCH. STATEWIDE AT THE CONCLUSION OF FY23. STATISTICAL DATA FROM DCDEE INDICATES THAT 72% OF ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CARE IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WERE ENROLLED IN 4- AND 5- STAR CARE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE'S CHILDREN IN HIGHER QUALITY CARE. FURTHERMORE, AT THE CONCLUSION OF FY23, ONLY 5% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CHILD CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA REMAIN ENROLLED IN 1- OR 2-STAR CARE.OTHER TRIANGLE CCR&R SERVICES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES:- THERE WERE 229 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED FOR 1,796 (UNDUPLICATED) 3,311 (DUPLICATED) CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. - THERE WERE 1,258.00 IN-SERVICE HOURS RECEIVED BY THE ATTENDEES. - THERE WERE 57 EARLY EDUCATORS TRAINED IN CEU TOPICS COMPLETING A TOTAL OF 28.5 CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS (CEUS)/285.0 IN-SERVICE CREDIT HOURS. - 99% OF EDUCATORS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS REPORTED FEELING CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED THROUGH TRAINING.CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP): - CCSA SERVES AS A SPONSOR FOR CACFP, A FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. - CACFP SERVED 42 CHILD CARE HOMES AND 17 CENTERS IN THE TRIANGLE. - THERE WERE 497,611 NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED MEETING THE USDA MEAL PATTERNS TO AN AVERAGE OF 760 CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE POPULATIONS, - 53% MEETING FREE AND REDUCED GUIDELINES. - THERE WERE 177 MONITORING VISITS MADE TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO REVIEW RECORDS, OBSERVE MEALS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES: - THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDED SUPPORT, COACHING, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO 835 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS SERVING A TOTAL OF 4135 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5.CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES: DURHAM COUNTY SMART START SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (DPFC) - 100% OF CONTRACTED FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WAS EXPENDED, TOTALING $2,820,589 - AT LEAST 574 FAMILIES WERE SERVED - A TOTAL OF 615 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS - CHILDREN ATTENDED 81 DIFFERENT CHILD CARE FACILITIES - 4.9 WAS THE AVERAGE STAR RATING OF THE CARE UTILIZED BY CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES - 353 CHILDREN WERE FUNDED JOINTLY THROUGH THE DURHAM COUNTY NC PREK PROGRAM - 89 CHILDREN RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START SET-ASIDE FUND - 42 CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES HAD DOCUMENTED DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS - 22% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES REPORTING SPANISH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGEOTHER SCHOLARSHIP - 24 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH THE DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTY REGULAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. 100% OF THESE CHILDREN RECEIVED SERVICES IN A 4 OR 5 STAR FACILITY. - A TOTAL OF $65,440.35 WAS SPENT IN UNITED WAY AND OTHER DONATED FUNDS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS. - A TOTAL OF $32,063.54 WAS SPENT IN ARPA BUILD BABIES DURHAM FOR 20 CHILDREN. - 55 CHILDREN RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING 12 CHILDREN OF UNC EMPLOYEES, AND 43 CHILDREN OF UNC STUDENTS. - A TOTAL OF $121,179.21 AND $314,121.40 WERE EXPENDED ON SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE UNC CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND UNC FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS FUND, RESPECTIVELY.SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EVALUATION - 102 FAMILIES AND 67 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS WERE SURVEYED AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL PROGRAM EVALUATION PROCESS. - 80% OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS REPORTED THAT SERVICES ENABLED THEM TO SELECT HIGHER QUALITY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN - 59% REPORTED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE NOT IN ANY KIND OF LICENSED CARE PRIOR TO ACCESSING A SCHOLARSHIP - 96% OF RECIPIENTS REPORTED THAT SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED THEM TO SECURE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT - 99% REPORTED OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH CCSA'S SERVICES - AMONG CHILD CARE PROGRAMS SERVING CCSA SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN, 100% FELT THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE, AND - 96% FELT THE PROGRAM WAS BEING OPERATED EFFECTIVELY. CHILD CARE REFERRAL SERVICES: - TOTAL OF 2,695 FAMILIES RECEIVED CHILD CARE CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL (CER) SERVICES THROUGH CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL, THE REGIONAL CALL CENTER OPERATED BY CCSA. - 788 FAMILIES RECEIVED CONSULTATION SERVICES FOR A TOTAL OF 3,483 FAMILIES. - 1613 WERE DURHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 234 WERE ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 1343 WERE WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 293 WERE RESIDENTS OF ALAMANCE, CASWELL, FRANKLIN, GRANVILLE, PERSON AND VANCE COUNTIES - A TOTAL OF 4,304 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THESE SERVICES. - 24% (843) OF FAMILIES ACCESSED SERVICES THROUGH THE AGENCY'S ONLINE REFERRAL SYSTEM. - ENHANCED REFERRAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 30% (819) OF FAMILIES SERVED. - 29% OF CER SERVICES WERE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $20,000 PER YEAR. (1692 PROVIDED INCOME INFORMATION) - CER SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN SPANISH TO 245 FAMILIES (14% OF ALL COUNSELOR-ASSISTED REFERRALS & CONSULTATIONS) AND 19% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING OF LATINO/A DESCENT. - IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL EVALUATION OF FAMILIES SERVED, 440 FAMILIES WERE SURVEYED. 93.5% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH SERVICES, 98.9% REPORTED FEELING RESPECTED IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF, AND OVER 98.9% REPORTED USING THREE OR MORE QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR CHILD CARE. - THE AVERAGE STAR-RATING OF CHILD CARE SELECTED BY FAMILIES RECEIVING REFERRAL SERVICES WAS 4.5. - CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED 26 WEBINARS/SEMINARS AND 57 INFORMATION SESSIONS, AND PARTICIPATED IN 75 COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT CCSA'S SERVICE AREA.