CCDF Reauthorization: Reforming Child Care for Children and Families

CCDF Grantee Success Stories

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View the Latest Resources on CCDF Reauthorization

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Key Policy Resources

CCDF Final Rule with Track Changes

CCDF Final Rule Resources

Program Instruction: CCDF-ACF-2016-02

Overview of CCDBG Act of 2014

Statutory Language (PDF)

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

Program Instruction on CCDF Reauthorization Effective Dates

Information Memorandum on Building the Supply of High-Quality Child Care

The resources below have been provided by the Office of Child Care to support States and Territories with important information regarding Reauthorization, the CCDF Final Rule, and other important CCDF topics.

Federal TA Resources

Define CCDF Leadership and Coordination with Relevant Systems

Early Care and Education Partnerships: A Review of the Literature
This literature review, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research as part of the Study of Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, assesses the current knowledge base for early care and education (ECE) partnerships, highlights promising models or components of models for these partnerships, and identifies gaps in the research.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/early-care-and-education-partnerships-a-review-of-the-literature
Child Care Resources for Disasters and Emergencies
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/child-care-resources-for-disasters-and-emergencies
Developing a Comprehensive Child Care Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
This resource includes state examples and a six part webinar series.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/emergency-preparedness-0
Early Care and Education Systems that Support Quality Care for Babies and Toddlers: Key Elements
This paper presents an overview of key early care and education system elements and the characteristics that reflect how such a system can offer quality child care to infants, toddlers, and their families.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/ece-key-elements-for-infants-and-toddlers.pdf
Early Child Care and Education: State Governance Structures
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/early-child-care-and-education-state-governance-structures
Early Childhood Disaster-Related Resources from the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR)
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohsepr/information-for-providers
Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/early-head-start-child-care-partnerships-top-10-ways-ccdf-can-support-early-head-start
Office of Child Care Information Memorandum, "Child Welfare and Child Care Partnerships: Partnering with Families Involved in Child Care Subsidy Programs"
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/im-child-welfare
Pre-Kindergarten and Child Care Coordination Initiatives
The document provides examples of pre-kindergarten and child care coordination initiatives and highlights the income eligibility requirements, funding streams, and eligible provider requirements for both programs.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/pre-kindergarten-and-child-care-coordination-initiatives
Quick Facts: State/Territory Coordination Activities to Support CCDF Services
This quick facts document provides counts of coordination activities reported by CCDF Lead Agencies in section 1.5.1 of the CCDF Plans for FY 2012-2013. It also highlights State coordination activities that promote child welfare and well-being, consumer education, family self-sufficiency, health/safety and licensing, nutrition, professional development, quality improvement, and special needs and inclusion services.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/quick-facts-stateterritory-coordination-activities-support-ccdf-services
Quick Facts: State/Territory Coordination Plans and Designated Coordination Entities
The document provides information about early childhood/school-age coordination plans and designated entities responsible for program coordination within a State/Territory.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/quick-facts-stateterritory-coordination-plans-and-designated-coordination-entities
Resource Guide: Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources for Child Care Programs
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/resource-guide-emergency-preparedness-and-response-resources-child-care-programs
State Profiles of Successful Public-Private Partnerships for Early Learning
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/state-profiles-successful-public-private-partnerships
Systems Resource Guide: Collaborative Governance Module
This module serves as a framework and tool for CCDF Administrators and their partners to use as they explore and establish strategic steps to implement and sustain shared goals related to systems building.
https://ecesystemsbuilding.icfwebservices.com/collaborative-governance/overview
Systems Resource Guide: Strategic Planning Module
This module helps the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Administrators (SAs) and their partners to prepare for, lead, and sustain strategic planning efforts. It provides an overview of key concepts, delineating what strategic planning is, why it is important to systems building, and key associated principles.
https://ecesystemsbuilding.icfwebservices.com/strategic-planning/overview
Systems Resource Guide: Strategic Relationships Module
This module assists CCDF Administrators in identifying the key elements in building strong, trusting relationships throughout the state to leverage existing service delivery systems to increase the supply and quality of services for children and families.
https://ecesystemsbuilding.icfwebservices.com/strategic-relationships/key-concepts
What is a Public-Private Partnership and Why Do They Matter?
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/what-public-private-partnership-and-why-do-they-matter

Promote Family Engagement through Outreach and Consumer Education

State Consumer Education Web Sites New
This issue brief includes a table with links to all state agency, child care resource and referral, and quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) Web sites. The table contains information on whether the sites address the diversity of early education services; include a provider search; explain how to choose quality and QRIS; and provide information on subsidy, licensing, and family support services. This is one of a series of four issue briefs that address Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requirements and provide state examples and links to state Web sites that can serve as examples for States and Territories in enhancing their own consumer education efforts.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/state-consumer-education-web-sites
Consumer Education: Information about Provider Monitoring and Oversight New
This issue brief includes an overview of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG Act of 2014) requirements specific to consumer education and how States share provider-specific information; aggregate information about deaths, serious injuries, and abuse; and information about State licensing processes. It includes a table that contains information on the content of five States’ reports: which providers are included in the search function; whether inspection dates, corrective actions, and information about licensing and enforcement processes are provided; and other notable features. Information is also provided about how States are currently sharing licensing and monitoring data. This is one of a series of four issue briefs that address CCDBG Act of 2014 requirements and provide state examples and links to state Web sites that can serve as examples for States and Territories in enhancing their own consumer education efforts.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/consumer-education-information-about-provider-monitoring-and-oversight-0
Consumer Education: Full Diversity of Support Services for Families New
This issue brief provides examples and brief descriptions of state Web sites that effectively direct families to specific support services and other supplemental resources. It includes an overview of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG Act of 2014) requirements specific to consumer education and information on programs, policies, and research that support families This is one of a series of four issue briefs that address CCDBG Act of 2014 requirements and provide state examples and links to state Web sites that can serve as examples for States and Territories in enhancing their own consumer education efforts.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/consumer-education-full-diversity-support-services-families-0
Consumer Education: Child Care Services and Resources for Choosing Care New
This issue brief focuses on how to support families in choosing quality care and understanding a QRIS. Innovative state examples describe various ways to inform parents about what to look for when searching for child care, including guidebooks, checklists, videos, and public awareness campaigns. This is one of a series of four issue briefs that address Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requirements and provide state examples and links to state Web sites that can serve as examples for States and Territories in enhancing their own consumer education efforts.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/consumer-education-child-care-services-and-resources-choosing-care
Consumer Education: Online Inspection Reports Webinar New
This PowerPoint presentation, used for regional Webinars, describes the requirements for consumer education Web sites and online inspection reports under the CCDBG Act of 2014.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/consumer-education-online-inspection-reports-webinar
Reporting and Tracking Serious Incidents in Child Care Webinar New
This PowerPoint presentation is used for the regional Webinars on serious incidents in child care. It includes information about new requirements and defining, reporting, tracking, and evaluating serious incidents in child care.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/reporting-and-tracking-serious-incidents-child-care-webinar
Developmental Screening Resources in Support of Reauthorization
The purpose of this overview is to provide a variety of resources to support Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators in meeting the provisions of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/293_1508_developmental_screening_resources_final_0.pdf
Expulsion Policy Resources in Support of Reauthorization
The purpose of this overview is to provide a variety of resources to support Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators in meeting the provisions of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/297_1508_expulsion_resources_final.pdf
Household Search for and Perceptions of Early Care and Education
This fact sheet reports preliminary findings from the newly available NSECE Household Survey to provide insight into how parents perceive the ECE arrangements available to them, how and why they search for care, and when searches result in a change in arrangement.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/factsheet_hh_search_for_and_perceptions_of_ece_100114.pdf
Early Childhood Developmental Screening: A Compendium of Measures for Children Ages Birth to Five
This compendium has been created to help practitioners better understand this information and make informed choices about the developmental screening tools they use with children birth to age five.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/compendium_2013_508_compliant_final_2_5_2014.pdf
Child Care Aware's interactive map with links to state resources including background checks and licensing/inspection history
http://www.childcareaware.org/node/1405
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! is a coordinated federal effort to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive
Child Care Licensing Inspection Policies
This resource includes a section on Public Access to Inspection and Enforcement Actions.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-child-care-licensing-inspection-policies
Early Childhood Education, Financial Stability, and Asset Building Strategies for Families with Young Children
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/im-2011-04
Licensing Info Posted on the Internet
The purpose of this paper is to assist state licensing and child care administrators in assessing and enhancing the information they provide to families on the internet.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/licensing-information-posted-internet
QRIS Resource Guide: Chapter 9 on Consumer Education
https://occqrisguide.icfwebservices.com/index.cfm?do=section&sid=8
Reporting, Tracking and Responding to Serious Injuries and Fatalities in Child Care
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-reporting-tracking-and-responding-serious-injuries-and
Systems Resource Guide: Effective Communication Module
This module provides ideas on how to engage stakeholders and communicate effectively in different ways with different audiences. It includes a tool to assist State Administrators in developing a Communication Plan.
https://ecesystemsbuilding.icfwebservices.com/effective-communication/overview
The Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Resource Catalogue 1.0
This is an annotated catalog of exemplary resources to promote effective parent, family, and community engagement in support of young children’s learning, development, and school readiness.
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/
Use of Technology to Support Licensing Administration
This resource includes section on online licensing information for consumers.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/use-technology-enhance-licensing-administration-0
Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns.
This is a free, one hour online training course for early care and education providers in response to an expressed need from child care providers around the country. This course is part of the "Learn the Signs. Act Early" program, a suite of free, evidence based and customizable resources and materials for early care and education providers that promote awareness of: healthy developmental milestones in early childhood, the importance of tracking each child's development, the importance of acting early if there are concerns.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

Provide Stable Child Care Financial Assistance to Families

Extending and Aligning Redetermination Periods New
Research on continuity of care has found that instability is particularly high with low-income families.This is important because continuity has been linked to positive child development and secure attachments between children and teachers. Extending eligibility redeterminations to 12 months or more provides both financial stability for families and continuous early care and education for children. Practical alignment of CCDF policies on redetermination with other assistance programs helps families keep their subsidies by simplifying the eligibility process and also saves workers’ time and agency costs.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/extending-and-aligning-redetermination-periods
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships: Top 10 Ways CCDF Can Support Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships New
Early Head Start (EHS) and the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) both serve low-income families and their children; however, there are some differences in policy, operations, and funding requirements. EHS-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships will benefit from strategies to bridge these differences. These strategies might include aligning policies to encourage stability and continuity of care, streamlining administrative procedures, and identifying opportunities to support Partnerships and providers. This document highlights 10 specific areas of CCDF policy that can support EHS-CC Partnership efforts.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/early-head-start-child-care-partnerships-top-10-ways-ccdf-can-support-early-head-start
Supporting Continuity through Child Care and Development Fund Subsidies: A Review of Select State Policies
This report highlights similarities and differences in states on select subsidy policies that may be related to the continuity of subsidy receipt and/or the continuity of subsidized arrangements among eligible families.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/continuity_brief.pdf
Expanding Early Care and Education for Homeless Families
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/interagency-projects/ece-services-for-homeless-children
Extending and Aligning Redetermination Periods
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/extending-and-aligning-redetermination-periods
Policies and Practices that Promote Continuity of Child Care Services and Enhance Subsidy Systems
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/im2011-06
Office of Child Care Information Memorandum, "Helping Victims of Domestic Violence and Their Children"
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/im-2010-02
Promoting Access to Care after an Emergency or Disaster: Illustrative State CCDF Policies
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/promoting-access-care-after-emergency-or-disaster-illustrative-state-ccdf-policies
Refugee Resettlement and Child Care Partnerships: Partnering to Increase Refugee Families’ Access to High-Quality Child Care
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/im-refugee-resettlement
Supporting Continuity through CCDF Subsidies: A Review of Select State Policies
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/supporting-continuity-through-ccdf-subsidies
Supporting Working Families with Access to High-Quality Early Care and Education
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/resource/supporting-working-families-with-access-to-high-quality-early-care-and-education
Using Grants and Contracts to serve vulnerable children and families
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/using-grants-and-contracts-build-and-stabilize-supply

Ensure Equal Access to High Quality Child Care for Low-Income Children

Financial Assistance-OCC Cross-Regional Meeting 2015 New
The attached resources were presented at the 2015 Spring Cross-Regional Meetings.
- Child Care Financial Assistance- System Reform: State Trends & Strategies, How Effective TA Can and Will Support States
- Maryland's Plan: Implementing the New CCDF Rules for Child Care Subsidy
- CCDF Reauthorization: Kentucky's Implementation Road Map
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/financial-assistance-occ-cross-regional-meeting-2015
Contracting for Child Care Services for Families Eligible for Subsidy New
This presentation provides an overview of information about contracts through the child care subsidy program funded by CCDF. The objectives for this presentation are for participants to:
- Understand the fundamentals of subsidy contracts;
- Learn about the purposes of contracts;
- Understand benefits and limitations; and
- Consider implementation issues and innovations.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contracting-child-care-services-families-eligible-subsidy
Grants and Contracts - A Deep Dive into the Mechanics of Contracting for Child Care: STAM 2015 New
The attached resources were presented as part of the "Increasing Access and Building Supply" sessions at the 2015 State and Territory Administrator's Meeting:
- The Mechanics of Contracting for Child Care
- Illinois' Contracted Child Care at Department of Children & Family Services
- Oregon's Contracted Child Care
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/grants-and-contracts-deep-dive-mechanics-contracting-child-care-stam-2015
Using Grants and Contracts to Build and Stabilize Supply New
Lead Agencies can use direct service grants or contracts to increase the supply of quality child care for underserved or vulnerable populations. This brief provides information on direct service grants and contracts, including:
- Key Issues and Goals;
- Top Policies and Practices; and
- Measuring Progress.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/using-grants-and-contracts-build-and-stabilize-supply
Attendance Policies and Systems New
Establishing time and attendance systems that support adequate, stable payments to providers is key for programs to keep doors open, provide quality care, and hire and retain good staff. This brief provides information on attendance systems and policies, including:
- Key Issues and Benefits;
- Top 5 Policies and Practices; and
- Evaluating Progress.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/attendance-policies-and-systems
Attendance Policies and Systems
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/attendance-policies-and-systems
Child Care as a Business Resource Guide for Program Administrators
The goal of this resource is to raise awareness in, and provide resources for, the child care community about small business and asset-building opportunities for child care providers and aspiring or existing business owners.
http://idaresources.acf.hhs.gov/page?pageid=a047000000Dej3ZAAR
Cost Estimation Tool
https://cemocc.icfwebservices.com/index.cfm?do=viewLogin
Early Childhood Education, Financial Stability, and Asset Building Strategies for Families with Young Children
The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to provide Head Start programs and CCDF grantees with information about key strategies that can help families with low incomes and limited economic assets improve their financial stability.
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/im/2011/resour_ime_005_092111.html
Study of Market Prices: Validating Child Care Market Rate Surveys (ACF-funded report)
http://www.researchconnections.org/childcare/resources/14724
The Provider Cost of Quality Calculator (PCQC)
This web-based tool calculates the cost of quality based on site level provider data. It can be used by policymakers to understand the costs associated with delivering high quality early care and education.
https://www.ecequalitycalculator.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Using Grants and Contracts to serve vulnerable children and families
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/using-grants-and-contracts-build-and-stabilize-supply

Establish Standards and Monitoring Processes to Ensure the Health and Safety of Child Care Settings

Supporting License-Exempt Family Child Care New
This issue brief aims to assist CCDF Administrators and their partners in their work to support license-exempt family child care (FCC) homes. In addressing the unique needs of exempt FCC homes, States and Territories can better support the children in their care and their families. This brief is organized into two sections: the first provides an overview of terminology, characteristics, parental preferences, and child care assistance data, and the second provides examples of several state and national initiatives to support exempt FCC. It is one of a series of three issue briefs that offer insights into how States and Territories have improved their systems with new requirements, monitoring policies, and support systems for exempt providers.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/supporting-license-exempt-family-child-care
Monitoring and Supporting License-Exempt Care: Case Studies New
This issue brief shares the experiences of six States (AR, AZ, IN, ND, NM, and UT) that have begun to address the challenges of monitoring exempt care. In addition to describing their structures, the issue brief highlights their differences in needs, cultural diversity and compliance levels, efforts to retain exempt home providers, lessons learned, and how they cultivated support for policy changes. Though the issue brief is primarily focused on exempt homes, information about how these States oversee exempt centers is also addressed. It is one of a series of three issue briefs that offer insights into how States and Territories have improved their systems with new requirements, monitoring policies, and support systems for exempt providers.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/monitoring-and-supporting-license-exempt-care-case-studies
Monitoring License-Exempt CCDF Homes New
This issue brief explores decision points in developing a monitoring system, including requirements; inspections; and processes for responding to violations, complaints, referrals, and appeals. Caseloads, number of providers, and compensation and support systems for monitors and supervisors are discussed as factors that influence the cost of implementing a monitoring system. Four monitoring models are described and state examples are provided. It is one of a series of three issue briefs that offer insights into how States and Territories have improved their systems with new requirements, monitoring policies, and support systems for exempt providers.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/monitoring-license-exempt-ccdf-homes
Monitoring and Supporting License-Exempt Child Care Webinar New
This PowerPoint presentation includes an overview of licensing thresholds, common exemptions, national data on monitoring, cost of monitoring, and supports for exempt family child care, including training.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/monitoring-and-supporting-license-exempt-child-care-webinar
CCDF Health and Safety Requirements Fact Sheet: Health and Safety Training
This Fact Sheet provides information related to health and safety training requirements in the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 for all providers that receive payment from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/286_1508_healthsafety_summary_training_final_0.pdf
CCDF Health and Safety Requirements Fact Sheet: Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Using Safe Sleeping Practices
This Fact Sheet provides information related to the provisions about reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and safe sleep practices in the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 for all providers that receive payment from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/259_1508_healthsafety_summary_sids_final.pdf
Services for Families of Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Trauma: A Research-to-Practice Brief
This brief summarizes what is known about the impact of trauma on infants and toddlers, and the intervention strategies that could potentially protect them from the adverse consequences of traumatic experiences.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/impact-of-trauma-families-of-infants-and-toddlers
Building Support for Licensing
This resource discusses the responsibilities of licensing agencies and how they build support for their efforts from various stakeholder groups—including child care providers, consumers of child care, other governmental agencies, and the legislature.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/building-support-licensing
Caring for Our Children
This resource provides information on standards and benchmarks for meeting these requirements.
http://cfoc.nrckids.org/
Caring for Our Children Basics
This resource provides proposed minimum standards for health and safety requirements.
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/12/18/2014-29649/caring-for-our-children-basics-comment-request
CCDF Data Explorer tool
State-level data about child: staff ratios and group sizes in child care centers and the number of children allowed in family child care homes are available in the CCDF Data Explorer tool on the Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) Web site. Data include child-staff ratios and group sizes, criminal background checks, minimum pre-service qualifications, ongoing training hours, and types and frequency of routine licensing inspections.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/data
Comparison of State Licensing and QRIS Standards for Infants and Toddlers in Child Care Centers: Learning Environment, Developmental Domains, and Assessment
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/comparison-state-licensing-and-qris-standards-infants-and-toddlers-child-care-centers
Contemporary Issues in Licensing
A series of eight issue reports that include research as well as examples of innovative and diverse state practices.
- Building and Physical Premises Safety in Child Care
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-building-and-physical-premises-safety-child-care
- Child Care Licensing Inspection Policies
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-child-care-licensing-inspection-policies
- Elements of a Licensing Statute
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-elements-licensing-statute
- Enforcement and Approaches to Illegally-Operating Providers
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-enforcement-and-approaches-illegally-operating-providers
- Enforcement Strategies with Licensed Child Care Providers
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-enforcement-strategies-licensed-child-care-providers
- Monitoring Strategies for Determining Compliance - Differential Monitoring, Risk Assessment, and Key Indicators
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-monitoring-strategies-determining-compliance-differential
- Quality Assurance in Child Care Licensing
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-quality-assurance-child-care-licensing
- Reporting, Tracking, and Responding to Serious Injuries and Fatalities in Child Care
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/contemporary-issues-licensing-reporting-tracking-and-responding-serious-injuries-and
Revising State Licensing Requirements: Readiness for Change
This resource poses questions for States and Territories to consider as they begin the process of revising licensing requirements.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/revising-state-licensing-requirements-readiness-change
The Health and Safety and Licensing Topic on the CCTAN Web site
Includes more than 30 documents that explore how licensing and other regulatory systems establish and enforce health and safety requirements, monitor provider compliance, and serve as the foundation for quality improvement initiatives.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/topics/health-and-safety-and-licensing
The National Program Standards Crosswalk Tool
Prepopulated with national early childhood program standards (such as Head Start, accreditation, Caring for our Children). It is designed to help States that are developing and aligning program standards for licensing, quality rating and improvement systems, or prekindergarten programs to search and compare the content of several sets of national standards.
https://occqrisguide.icfwebservices.com/index.cfm?do=crosswalk

Recruit and Retain a Qualified and Effective Child Care Workforce

Supporting Business Practices New
This brief provides an overview of strategies that States and Territories can employ to promote and strengthen business practices and leadership in early childhood settings. This resource, which draws on State examples, is divided into four key sections: Licensing; Quality Rating and Improvement Systems; Professional Development; and Resources.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/supporting-business-practices
About Distance Learning
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning
Aligning Distance Learning Criteria
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning
Aligned Professional Development Systems Planning and Implementation Guide
Aligned professional development systems consist of interrelated supports and services that address a continuum of professional development. The common goal is to support the workforce through coordinated efforts that include training, technical assistance and education. Key elements of an aligned professional development system include core knowledge and competencies, career pathways, professional development capacity, access to professional development and compensation and workforce conditions.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/tool-assess-alignment-stateterritory-pds-and-qris
Design of Distance Learning
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning
Distance Learning Planning and Implementation Guide
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning-planning-and-implementation-guide-0
Engaging and Supporting the Distance Learner
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning
Helping Children Recover from Exposure to Trauma: Resources for Child Care Providers and Parents
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/helping-children-recover-exposure-trauma-resources-child-care-providers-and-parents-0
Infant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines Factsheet
This factsheet documents the ways that states and territories represent infants and toddlers in their Early Learning Guidelines.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/infant-toddler-early-learning-guidelines.pdf
Infant/Toddler Early Learning Guidelines Implementation Tool Kit
This tool kit provides resources, tools, and process suggestions to assist states and territories in engaging in strategic planning to support the implementation of Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/webinars-conference-calls/it-elg-implementation-toolkit-introduction-508-compliant.pdf
Professional Development for the Infant/Toddler Early Care and Education Workforce
This paper offers a framework and approaches to strengthen professional development opportunities for the infant/toddler workforce.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/professional-development-for-the-infant-toddler-workforce.pdf
Professional Development Overview: Support for Practitioners
Professional development systems are made up of connected services and supports that support the workforce. Supporting the practitioner's ongoing professional growth requires intentional planning and being responsive to the needs of the workforce which includes service delivery and supporting the sequential nature of portable professional development.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/professional-development-overview-support-practitioners
Standards and Criteria for Distance Learning
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/distance-learning
State Early Learning Guidelines
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/state-early-learning-guidelines
The Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning training modules
This resource focuses on promoting social emotional development and school readiness for children birth through age 5. There are four modules for each age group, covering multiple topics.
- Infant Toddler Modules
  http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/training_infant.html
- Preschool Modules
  http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/training_preschool.html
Trends documents describe staff roles, staff qualifications and ongoing training requirements, health and safety training, and orientation training by provider setting:
- Trends in Child Care Center Licensing Regulation and Policies for 2011
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-1-trends-child-care-center-licensing-regulations-and-policies-2011
- Trends in Family Child Care Center Licensing Regulations and Policies for 2011
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-2-trends-family-child-care-home-licensing-requirements-and-policies-2011
- Trends in Group Child Care Home Licensing Regulations and Policies for 2011
  https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/research-brief-3-trends-group-child-care-home-licensing-regulations-and-policies-2011
Workforce Data and Implementation Guide
Consideration for how workforce data will be collected, tracked and analyzed is a priority for many states and territories. Alignment of data systems and development or enhancement of workforce data systems is a key component of an aligned professional development system.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/workforce-data-planning-and-implementation-guide

Support Continuous Quality Improvement

Reviewing and Clarifying Goals, Outcomes and Levels of Implementation: Toward the Next Generation of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS)
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/qris_conceptual_framework.pdf
Measuring the Quality of Caregiver-Child Interactions for Infants and Toddlers (Q-CCIIT)
This report provides an overview of the Quality of Caregiver-Child Interactions for Infants and Toddlers (QCCIIT) observation tool, which was designed to measure the quality of caregiver-child interactions in child care settings serving infants and toddlers.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/measuring-the-quality-of-caregiver-child-interactions-for-infants-and-toddlers-q-cciit
Benchmarks for Quality Improvement: Measuring Progress in State and Territory Program Quality Improvement Efforts
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/benchmarks-quality-improvement-measuring-progress-state-and-territory-program-quality
Benchmarks for Quality Improvement Self-Assessment Tool
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/benchmarks-quality-improvement-self-assessment-tool
Collaborative Partnerships between Early Care & Education and Child Welfare: Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families through Risk to Resilience
This brief provides practical partnership and collaboration strategies for early care and education and child welfare systems to meet the needs of and best serve families with infants and toddlers who are in or at risk of entering the child welfare system.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/collaborative-partnerships-between-ece.pdf
Developing a Statewide Network of Infant and Toddler Specialists: Technical Assistance Manual for States and Territories
This manual describes the process of developing and implementing an Infant Toddler Specialist Network using six state examples.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/developing-a-statewide-network-of-infant-and-toddler-specialists.pdf
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network Factsheet
This factsheet provides background on Infant/Toddler Specialist Networks, a strategy that states and territories have implemented to improve the quality of child care and support healthy development of infants and toddlers.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/infant-toddler-specialist-network.pdf
QRIS Information Products
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/qris
QRIS Quality Standards Web Sites
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/qris-quality-standards-web-sites
QRIS Resource Guide
The QRIS Resource Guide is an online tool that provides guidance for States as they explore key issues and consider decision points on all elements of a QRIS during the planning, implementation and revision of a QRIS.
https://occqrisguide.icfwebservices.com/index.cfm
Strategic Planning Process Tool Kit
This tool kit provides resources, tools, and process suggestions to assist states and territories with strategic planning to support quality child care for infants and toddlers.
http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/strategic-planning-process-tool-kit.pdf
The Cost Estimation Model (CEM)
This web-based tool uses a State's best available data on key elements as a guide to determine the eventual cost of a QRIS.
https://cemocc.icfwebservices.com/index.cfm?do=viewLogin
The Provider Cost of Quality Calculator (PCQC)
This web-based tool calculates the cost of quality based on site level provider data. It can be used by policymakers to understand the costs associated with delivering high quality early care and education.
https://www.ecequalitycalculator.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Ensure Grantee Program Integrity and Accountability

Family Friendly Policies to Improve Program Integrity New
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program provides funding to states, tribes, and territories to support child care assistance for low-income families. Eligibility policies that are family friendly, child focused, and fair to providers support CCDF goals. They can promote program access, economic stability for low-income families, and improved early learning and care outcomes for children. Streamlined eligibility practices also create administrative efficiencies, decrease the risk of improper payments, and create opportunities for using program resources to support program goals.
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/family-friendly-policies-improve-program-integrity
The CCDF Policies Database Book of Tables: Key Cross-State Variations in CCDF Policies as of October 1, 2013
The fourth report of this project, this book of tables presents key aspects of the differences in CCDF-funded programs across all 50 States, territories, outlying areas, and the District of Columbia, as of October 1, 2013.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/the-ccdf-policies-database-book-of-tables-key-cross-state-variations-in-ccdf-policies-as-of-october-1-2013
Improper Payments Error Rate Review Process
https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/resource/improper-payments-error-rate-review-process

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CCTAN - The Child Care Technical Assistance Network, a service of the Office of Child Care

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You are here

CCDF Reauthorization: Reforming Child Care for Children and Families

CCDF Grantee Success Stories

View the Latest Resources on CCDF Reauthorization

Key Policy Resources

Federal TA Resources

Define CCDF Leadership and Coordination with Relevant Systems

Promote Family Engagement through Outreach and Consumer Education

Provide Stable Child Care Financial Assistance to Families

Ensure Equal Access to High Quality Child Care for Low-Income Children

Establish Standards and Monitoring Processes to Ensure the Health and Safety of Child Care Settings

Recruit and Retain a Qualified and Effective Child Care Workforce

Support Continuous Quality Improvement

Ensure Grantee Program Integrity and Accountability

National Meeting Resources

January Reauthorization Meeting

Spring Cross-Regional Meetings

July STAM Meeting

TA Topics

Early Childhood T&TA System