Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan For Missouri FFY 2022-2024 1 Define CCDF Leadership and Coordination with Relevant Systems This section identifies the leadership for the CCDF program in each Lead Agency and the entities and individuals who will participate in the implementation of the program. It also identifies the stakeholders that were consulted to develop the Plan and who the Lead Agency collaborates with to implement services. Respondents are asked to identify how match and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds are used. Lead Agencies explain their coordination with child care resource and referral (CCR&R) systems and describe their efforts on their disaster preparedness and response plans to support continuity of operations in response to emergencies. 1.1 CCDF Leadership The Governor of a state or territory must designate an agency (which may be an appropriate collaborative agency) or establish a joint interagency office to represent the state or territory as the Lead Agency. The Lead Agency agrees to administer the program in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations and the provisions of this Plan, including the assurances and certifications appended hereto (658D; 658E(c)(1) and 98.16 (a)). Note: An amendment to the CCDF State Plan is required if the Lead Agency changes or if the Lead Agency official changes. 1.1.1 Which Lead Agency is designated to administer the CCDF program? Identify the Lead Agency or joint interagency office designated by the state or territory. ACF will send official grant correspondence, such as grant awards, grant adjustments, Plan approvals, and disallowance notifications, to the designated contact identified here (658D(a) and 98.16(a)). Missouri Page 1 of 287 a) Lead Agency or Joint Interagency Office Information: Name of Lead Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Street Address: 205 Jefferson Street, PO Box 480 City: Jefferson City State: MO ZIP Code: 65102-0480 Web Address for Lead Agency: https://dese.mo.gov/ b) Lead Agency or Joint Interagency Official Contact Information: Lead Agency Official First Name: Margaret "Margie" Lead Agency Official Last Name: Vandeven Title: Commissioner of Education Phone Number: 573-751-4446 Email Address: [email protected] 1.1.2 Who is the CCDF Administrator? Identify the CCDF Administrator designated by the Lead Agency, the day-to-day contact, or the person with responsibility for administering the state's or territory's CCDF program. ACF will send programmatic communications, such as program announcements, program instructions, and data collection instructions, to the designated contact identified here. If there is more than one designated contact with equal or shared responsibility for administering the CCDF program, please identify the Co-Administrator or the person with administrative responsibilities and include his or her contact information. a) CCDF Administrator Contact Information: CCDF Administrator First Name: Stephanie Missouri Page 2 of 287 CCDF Administrator Last Name: Chandler Title of the CCDF Administrator: Program Administrator Phone Number: 573.751.6793 Email Address: [email protected] b) CCDF Co-Administrator Contact Information (if applicable): CCDF Co-Administrator First Name: Tracy CCDF Co-Administrator Last Name: Blase Title of the CCDF Co-Administrator: Program Development Specialist Description of the Role of the Co-Administrator: Serves as the back-up to the CCDF Administrator in the development, administration, and monitoring of this state plan. Phone Number: 573.751.4431 Email Address: [email protected] 1.2 CCDF Policy Decision Authority The Lead Agency has broad authority to administer (i.e., establish rules) and operate (i.e., implement activities) the CCDF program through other governmental, non-governmental, or public or private local agencies as long as the Lead Agency retains overall responsibility for the administration of the program (658D(b) and 98.16 (d)(1)). Administrative and implementation responsibilities undertaken by agencies other than the Lead Agency must be governed by written agreements that specify the mutual roles and responsibilities of the Lead Agency and other agencies in meeting the program requirements. 1.2.1 Which of the following CCDF program rules and policies are administered (i.e., set or established) at the state or territory level or local level? Identify whether CCDF program rules and policies are established by the state or territory (even if operated locally) or whether the CCDF policies or rules are established by local entities, such as counties or workforce boards (98.16(i)(3)). Check one. Missouri Page 3 of 287 ~ a. All program rules and policies are set or established at the state or territory level. If checked, skip to question 1.2.2. D b. Some or all program rules and policies are set or established by local entities or agencies. If checked, indicate which entities establish the following policies. Check all that apply. i. Eligibility rules and policies (e.g., income limits) are set by the: □ A. State or territory Identify the entity: D B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the eligibility policies the local entity(ies) can set. D C. Other. Describe: ii. Sliding-fee scale is set by the: □ A. State or territory Identify the entity: □ B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the sliding fee scale policies the local entity(ies) can set. □ C. Other. Describe: iii. Payment rates and payment policies are set by the: D A. State or territory Missouri Page 4 of 287 Identify the entity: □ B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the payment rates and payment policies the local entity(ies) can set. □ C. Other. Describe: iv. Licensing standards and processes are set by the: 0 A. State or territory Identify the entity: □ B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the type of licensing standards and processes the local entity(ies) can set. □ C. Other. Describe: v. Standards and monitoring processes for license-exempt providers are set by the: □ A. State or territory Identify the entity: 0 B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the type of standards and monitoring processes for license-exempt providers the local entity(ies) can set. 0 C. Other. Missouri Page 5 of 287 Describe: vi. Quality improvement activities, including QRIS are set by the: □ A. State or territory Identify the entity: □ B. Local entity (e.g., counties, workforce boards, early learning coalitions). If checked, identify the entity and describe the eligibility policies the local entity(ies) can set. □ C. Other. Describe: vii. Other. List and describe any other program rules and policies that are set at a level other than the state or territory level: 1.2.2 The Lead Agency has broad authority to operate (i.e., implement activities) through other agencies, as long as it retains overall responsibility. Complete the table below to identify which entity(ies) implements or performs CCDF services. a. Check the box(es) to indicate which entity(ies) implement or perform CCDF services. Who conducts eligibility determinations? CCDF Lead Agency TANF agency Local government agencies CCR&R Community-based organizations Who assists parents in locating child care (consumer education)? CCDF Lead Agency Missouri Page 6 of 287 □ TANF agency Local government agencies CCR&R Community-based organizations Who issues payments? RI CCDF Lead Agency □ TANF agency □ Local government agencies □ CCR&R □ Community-based organizations Who monitors licensed providers? @ CCDF Lead Agency D TANF agency □ Local government agencies □ CCR&R □ Community-based organizations Who monitors license-exempt providers? M CCDF Lead Agency D TANF agency □ Local government agencies □ CCR&R □ Community-based organizations Who operates the quality improvement activities? ~ CCDF Lead Agency D TANF agency D Local government agencies □ CCR&R Community-based organizations b. Other. List and describe any other state or territory agencies or partners that implement or perform CCDF services and identify their responsibilities. N/A Missouri Page 7 of 287 1.2.3 Describe the processes the Lead Agency uses to oversee and monitor CCDF administration and implementation responsibilities performed by other agencies as reported above in 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 (98.16(b)). In the description include: Written agreements. Note: The contents of the written agreement may vary based on the role the agency is asked to assume or type of project but must include at a minimum the elements below (98.11(a)(3)). --Tasks to be performed --Schedule for completing tasks --Budget which itemizes categorical expenditures in accordance with CCDF requirements --Monitoring and auditing procedures --Indicators or measures to assess performance of those agencies Any other processes to oversee and monitor other agencies. On January 28, 2021, Missouri Governor Michael Parson and the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and Social Services (DSS) announced the consolidation of several childhood programs across state government into a single Office of Childhood that will be housed in DESE. With the establishment of this new office, DESE is named as the Lead Agency for the administration of CCDF and will have administrative authority over state child care licensing, home visiting, IDEA Part C and Part B Section 619, Missouri's Preschool Development Grant and other key early childhood and afterschool services. This new office is effective August 28, 2021, and at the time of this state plan submission, transition activities are taking place. Therefore, DESE is submitting this state plan as Lead Agency. The Lead Agency has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agency, Department of Social Services (DSS), Family Support Division (FSD), for the application acceptance and process of making eligibility determinations for households eligible for the Child Care Subsidy program. DSS FSD staff are responsible for conducting Missouri Page 8 of 287 the following tasks: processing online and paper applications for the Child Care Subsidy program, collecting necessary documentation, and implementing any applicable policy changes to eligibility as determined by the Lead Agency. The Lead Agency receives data reports, reviews targeted case review data on a monthly basis, and meets quarterly with FSD leadership. The type of data provided, for the purpose of measuring performance of the MOU, include the number of Child Care Subsidy applications processed, including those approved or denied; the length of time to process an application; data for targeted case reviews, including data on number of case errors and types of errors; and a monthly management report which contains the number of families, children, and child care providers receiving child care subsidy by type of provider (licensed, license-exempt, or registered), age category (infant, preschool, or school-age) and monthly expenditures. The Lead Agency conducts regular reviews of training and policies to determine changes to the program based on federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Child Care, public feedback and staff error trends. The MOU is reviewed on an annual basis. Further additions to the current MOU are being developed to include activities related to the administration, implementation and monitoring of federal coronavirus stimulus funds (i.e., Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act; Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations or CRRSA Act, American Rescue Plan Act or ARP Act)as the Lead Agency at the time of award was DSS, but the Lead Agency at the time of implementation will be DESE. Therefore, continued monitoring of such funds will be required by both agencies. 1.2.4 Upon request, and to the extent practicable and appropriate, Lead Agencies must ensure any code or software for child care information systems or information technology for which a Lead Agency or other agency expends CCDF funds to develop must be made available to other public agencies. This includes public agencies in other states, for their use in administering child care or related programs (98.15(a)(11)). Assure by describing how the Lead Agency makes child care information systems systems (e.g., subsidy, registry, and QRIS systems) available to public agencies in other states. Missouri uses a variety of information technology (IT) systems to support the activities Missouri Page 9 of 287 funded through CCDF. To the extent practicable and appropriate, information from these systems are made available either through public internet portals, which will be indicated by a hyperlink below, or by forwarding a formal request to the Lead Agency. For child care licensing activities, IT systems include: 1) Missouri Child Care Information System (MOCCIS) which captures regulated child care provider applications and approval information; dates of supporting documentation received for licensure; licensing specialists notes and actions; inspection overviews and licensure decisions. The data are then transferred to the Show Me Child Care internet portal at: https://healthapps.dhss.mo.gov/childcaresearch/; 2) The Child Care Regulation Information System (CCRIS) captures department vendor numbers, provider information, and complaints. After supervisor approval, substantiated complaints are released to the Show Me Child Care Portal; 3) The Show Me Child Care portal is the web site that provides information on the results of inspections, special supervision, and substantiated complaints. In addition, it allows users to search for a child care provider by name, type of facility, street address, city, county or zip code; For child care subsidy activities, IT systems include: 1) Child Care Business Information Solution (CCBIS) which is a web-based software that collects child care time and attendance for the Lead Agency and provides tools to monitor financial compliance. The system provides the Lead Agency with a comprehensive, time efficient administration of the Child Care Subsidy program. The system allows authorized users to document attendance for payment processing for children eligible for state or federally funded child care subsidies; 2) The Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS) is the eligibility, authorization and payment system used for child care subsidy; and 3) Claims and Restitution System (CARS) is used to enter overpayment claims and track payments made by providers for claims. FAMIS and CARS are not fully funded through CCDF due to the systems also being used for TANF and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additional information on the systems may be requested from the Lead Agency's State Administrator listed in section 1.1.2 of this plan. 1.2.5 Lead Agencies must have in effect policies to govern the use and disclosure of confidential and personally identifiable information about children and families receiving CCDF assistance and child care providers receiving CCDF funds (98.15(b)(13)). Missouri Page 10 of 287