BAFO_ATTACHMENT_-_2_Questionnaire_Child___Family_Resourcecs.docx

ATTACHMENT 2 – QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Describe how your organization will develop and implement a continuous improvement process of CCR&R services. Scope of Work Section 5.6. Limit your response to no more than two (2) pages.

Child and Family Resources, Inc. (CFR) has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) since 2001 and hosted its most recent site review and visit during the fall of 2022 successfully resulting in reaccreditation. Accreditation involves an in-depth self-review of the organization and programs against currently accepted best practice standards, an onsite visit by an evaluation team composed of experts, and a subsequent review and decision by the accrediting agency certifying the organization and programs meet standards of quality set forth by the accrediting body. An intricate part of the accreditation process is ensuring the services offered throughout the organization meet robust quality assurance policies, procedures and standards, and high-quality services are delivered consistently by staff members. The Council on Accreditation is the largest most comprehensive independent accreditor of social service and behavioral health agencies in the United States.

As part of this commitment to best practices and high standards, we incorporate continuous quality improvement initiatives and quality control efforts into our day-to-day operations and services to guarantee all staff interactions are provided with a high-level of quality and care. All of our services are relationship-based and customer-centered to focus on the unique and individual needs of the consumer, and address the complexities of the people we serve. As a partner committed to providing high-quality services, Child and Family Resources will continue to partner with ADES to implement any innovations and or changes which are being planned. As an agency, we strive to improve and build upon our services with every interaction, whether it is with consumers, potential Registered Providers, child care providers or community and partnering agencies. Our 53 years of providing services comparable to CCR&R is rooted deep in our history and vision for providing services to children, families, child care providers, and communities across the State of Arizona.

CFR engages in a process called Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) as an organization. Program leadership uses Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) standards to encourage programs to use data to: identify areas of needed improvement, identify gaps or trends, and implement improvement plans in support of achieving performance targets, program goals, client satisfaction, and positive client outcomes. A comprehensive PQI system helps to build a culture in which CFR leadership, program directors, administrative and direct service staff have sufficient information to understand the quality and impact of each program and department. Staff are trained to have an understanding of how to collect data, what to do with it, and how to use it to inform improvements at all levels, including service delivery, client outcomes, and administrative operations. CCR&R maintains a Performance and Quality Improvement Plan that encompasses all program and functional areas, outlines all performance improvement processes, and is reviewed and revised annually by the Directors and Vice President of Early Care and Education.

The CCR&R Performance and Quality Improvement Plan:

1. Describes the program’s PQI activities; including self-monitoring activities;

2. Identifies personnel responsible for carrying out and coordinating PQI activities;

3. Specifies time frames for activities and reporting;

4. Describes stakeholder involvement;

5. Defines methods for monitoring and reporting results; and,

6. Describes the closed-loop feedback mechanisms and corrective action.

Corrective action and improvement initiatives identified through the PQI system include, but are not limited to:

1. Building on the agency’s and community’s strengths and reflecting on program delivery;

2. Identifying and addressing challenges and reducing identified problems;

3. Utilizing data to drive programming;

4. Replicating best practices;

5. Addressing service gaps and identifying enhancement opportunities;

6. Implementing and monitoring effectiveness of corrective action;

7. Enhancing the performance of programs or departments; and,

8. Monitoring change initiatives.

Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) is about using data to inform our understanding of the work we do and how we do it. It is not meant to supersede the feeling in our hearts that we are doing good work; it is additional, objective source information that can help us do those things even better. PQI embodies the CFR values statement “To make a difference: I use data to innovate, learn, and enhance impact.” CFR strives to be a data-driven organization. This means that PQI is not an activity that is conducted in isolation from CFR’s other operations. Instead, PQI is a thread woven through everything that CFR does. A program cannot effectively operate without measuring what it is doing, how well it is doing it, and identifying areas for improvement and taking action to make those improvements. Similarly, CCR&R cannot fully understand the quality and impact of its services without having this information for all of its functions such as the Child Care Information Line, Community Education and Engagement Services, Provider Support Services, and the Registry of Private Family Child Care Homes. Directors/Supervisors are responsible for ensuring staff are aware of and understand the importance of PQI activities, and that procedures regarding data collection, storage, and cleaning are followed with fidelity.

CCR&R’s leadership team is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive continuous improvement process for the program that describes activities for self-monitoring, identifying and addressing challenges, reflecting on program delivery, and identifying enhancement opportunities. CCR&R tracks customer satisfaction, outputs, outcomes, and quality performance indicators as the basis for evaluating the quality and impact of its work. Data collection in these areas leads to reporting and the use of data to improve program operations and, in some cases, adjustments in the identified outputs, outcomes, and quality performance indicators as necessary. All CCR&R team members receive regular one-on-one coaching and reflective supervision to improve and strengthen the quality of their performance and services offered. Whenever possible, CCR&R uses systems building and thinking to develop and implement continuous quality improvement processes and program services by seeking to understand a system's dynamics—analysis; understand a system's hierarchy—synthesis; and develop solutions—decision making. CCR&R will review the developed continuous improvement process with ADES and provide updates and progress to ADES on a quarterly basis.

2. Describe how your organization will develop a Statewide Plan for Consumer Education and Outreach that is culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate. Include your organization’s plan to promote Consumer awareness and understanding of the CCR&R Services in each Service Delivery Area (SDA). Scope of Work Section 6.1.1, Subsection 6.1.1.1 – 6.1.1.3. Limit your response to no more than four (4) pages.

All Child & Family Resources, Inc. (CFR) programs including Arizona Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) provide services appropriate to the economic, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the community. Our staff are highly committed to engaging child care consumers in culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate ways to expand their knowledge, skills, and capacity to support their children's development. Therefore, in hiring, CFR seeks staff that demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of cultural and gender differences of the populations we serve. We seek staff who live in the communities they are serving, and who are representative of the population in each region, including speaking the languages that fit the needs of clients. When program staff do not speak the language, allocated funds will be used for interpreting services. Staff are better prepared to serve and interact with clients when they have increased understanding of cultural practices linked to unique client characteristics and values. Staff receive annual training designed to increase understanding of the unique characteristics of the service population. To ensure staff are best equipped to connect with and relate to the unique characteristics of each service region, Program Directors and Supervisors are trained in reflective supervision and cultural humility to assist staff by modeling a humble approach to learning about the client’s cultural, racial/ethnic, and language characteristics. A key part of the journey to enhance cultural awareness is to reflect and strategize on how to have continuous humility in our daily work with clients, and how to best support those who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, and/or who often face barriers in receiving adequate services within their communities. These include language barriers, marginalization, isolation, and other challenges related to socio-economic status, and encounters with service providers lacking knowledge of the client’s culture. Through this practice, staff have an opportunity to provide a voice for clients who may not be represented equitably.The practice of cultural humility has guided CCR&R to serve all clients in the best way possible. With this lens, CFR’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is working to ensure all major cultural groups are represented in staff, materials, and community partners. Cultural humility is not just about the work done with clients, it is how within interactions, CFR honors the culture of all served communities.

Having said this, CFR has over 53 years of experience developing and implementing a statewide plan for consumer education, engagement, and community outreach that is culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate. The plan includes a wide variety of strategies that promote consumer awareness and understanding of the CCR&R services in each Service Delivery Area (SDA) and statewide. CCR&R has experience and will continue to create and implement strategies to promote Consumer awareness and understanding of ECE Systems in their communities which will facilitate locating and accessing Child Care to meet their specific needs, as well as how to utilize CCR&R services as a statewide resource. In addition, the plan includes strategies to collaborate with communities throughout the state, including tribal and military communities, to promote awareness and understanding of high-quality child care that is culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate and to connect consumers to services. The process for creating the plan is to clearly define goals and objectives, identify the target population, build and strengthen our team, research and understand community needs, develop clear messaging, utilize multiple communication channels and methods, attend conferences and events, collaborate with local leaders and organizations, provide resources and support, solicit feedback, and evaluate and adjust strategies as needed. Overall, the plan is designed to meet the following goals:

· Improve community awareness of CCR&R's information, resources, services, and support, and highlight how CCR&R can be used as a statewide and local resource for professionals and families;

· Educate and engage local, state, and tribal ECE systems in their communities about available resources and supports that assist them with finding and accessing child care information, resources, and services tailored to their specific and unique needs;

· Develop consumers' knowledge, skills, and capacity to support their children's development in culturally appropriate and linguistically appropriate ways; and

· Utilize a variety of communication strategies that meet consumers where they are, including phone, in-person and virtual communication methods. CCR&R will communicate with Consumers based on their stated and preferred communication methods, whether it is in-person (face-to-face), phone, virtual options, email or text.

In addition, CFR has a keen awareness and understanding of the provisions and rules outlined in the Reauthorization of CCDBG in 2014. Reauthorization was a historic event which set into motion a wide range of new provisions and rules that every state receiving Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) must adhere to in order to meet federal requirements. In its reauthorization, CCDBG outlines four specific areas of focus, including to:

1. Protect the health and safety of children in child care settings;

2. Increase and ensure access and affordability of high-quality child care to low-income families;

3. Enhance the quality of child care and the early childhood workforce; and

4. Help families make informed consumer choices with easy access to comprehensive child care and child development information via a phone line and website.

With these four areas of focus in mind, the plan to promote consumer awareness and understanding of the CCR&R services in each Service Delivery Area (SDA) is to utilize our existing Community Education and Engagement team, comprised of the Community Engagement Supervisor and Community Engagement Specialists to foster effective partnerships and collaboration with various Early Care and Education Statewide and Community Stakeholders across Arizona. This will increase awareness of high-quality Child Care and enhance knowledge on accessing child care services. CFR will also utilize the Child Care Information Line team, which includes the Assistant Program Director and Child Care Specialists to facilitate locating and accessing Child Care to meet consumers’ specific needs, and engage in culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate ways to expand their knowledge, skills, and capacity to support their children's development. Our Community Engagement Specialists (CES) provide community-based consumer education services by building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders (parents, businesses, social service organizations, state government, etc.) in all service delivery areas. CES’s primary responsibilities will include being visible in local communities and statewide to achieve the program’s consumer education goals and strategies through various activities such as:

· Represent CCR&R in local groups, councils, community forums and committees relevant to early education and child care, to ensure a better understanding of CCR&R’s role in the local communities;

· Distribute promotional flyers, rack cards, brochures, materials and information to state agencies such as Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) and other identified social service, early childhood, behavioral health, food banks and any targeted location deemed necessary by CCR&R and/or the Department (ADES);

· Arrange for and conduct consumer education and engagement presentations to businesses, organizations, programs, local groups, councils, community forums and committees relevant to early education and child care;

· Recruit new providers to become licensed, certified, registered and/or existing providers to become ADES-contracted and list in the ADES Child Care Provider Database and retain existing providers;

· Provide child care supportive services and technical assistance such as answering regulatory questions, provide resources or information, business questions, liability insurance, fingerprinting and notary services, where to obtain first aid and CPR certification, professional development and workforce registry assistance, and any other resources deemed appropriate by the Department to providers going through the process to become certified or registered;

· Develop and share culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate marketing materials to meet the needs of the program and for the purpose of providing consumer education to the community.

Community Engagement Specialists will continuously explore new opportunities to partner with the community in creative ways. Through our consumer education and engagement services provided by CES’s, we will be able to more effectively educate local partners and the community about child care issues and enlist their support in our mission to increase the supply and improve the quality of child care in Arizona. CCR&R establishes relationships and builds partnerships in the community all communities, including rural and underserved, by attending a variety of child care, career, community, or health care events, conferences, or fairs as a vendor or presenter on a range of child care topics, with an emphasis on consumer education. CCR&R will also continue to partner with the Department to ensure ADES clients are receiving the support and services they need in locating child care, not only through the Child Care Information Line but also by offering to have CES’s available to present and serve clients at their local ADES office. CES’s and ADES have already identified specific dates and times to set up a resource table at the ADES office around the state to meet with families one-on-one or in a group setting to provide consumer education information and services. CFR/CCR&R will continue to partner with the Department to explore any feasible projects that might increase the use of CCR&R by ADES-eligible and other low-income families. CES’s are trained on the ADES Child Care Provider Database and Online Search feature so they can provide on-site referrals to customers seeking child care at community events, family resource centers, libraries, community food banks, and any location where there is a need for onsite services. CFR is highly dedicated to serving the target population and providing them with consumer education support to ensure their understanding of services offered by CCR&R and providing it to consumers through a variety of modalities including via website, email, telephone, in-person contacts and as directed by the Department (ADES).

Services will be provided in both English and Spanish. CCR&R will communicate either directly or through the assistance of professional services, in the native language of clients who have limited speaking ability or English is not their primary language. CFR will use other appropriate and effective modes of communication including, but not limited to Spanish and America Sign Language. To accomplish this, CFR’s hiring strategies include hiring staff with experience working in the community we serve. Nearly half of the agency staff is bilingual and or bicultural and able to confidently communicate in Spanish. For CFR this is a strength which is in alignment with CCR&R clients and providers whose primary languages are English and Spanish. In the event a caller’s language preference is other than English or Spanish, CCR&R employs the services of LanguageLine, an over-the-phone interpretation service. This service is available as needed and offers access to interpreters in over 250 languages. CFR also has established a Communication Accessibility policy which is clearly outlined in our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual. The CFR policy is aligned with the Limited English Proficiency (LEP), DES 1-01-34 policy, and lists 22 of the most common languages and the correct phonetic way to say “Please Hold” as we bridge multilingual calls to LanguageLine. Deaf and hearing-impaired individuals may access CCR&R services statewide at no cost through Arizona Relay by calling 1-800-367-8939. In the same manner, staff of CCR&R can contact a deaf or hearing-impaired individual by calling Arizona Relay at 1-800-842-4681. All materials disseminated to both consumers and providers will contain notification of free language assistance in the language of the LEP consumer and, at a minimum, all website content will be translated into Spanish by a bilingual CFR staff member. Once translated, documents will be reviewed by at least one other bilingual staff member, and ADES, to ensure accuracy and readability. All materials will be created using simple language and avoid the use of jargon or words that are uncommon or confusing to the consumer. CFR/CCRR is cognizant of the needs of clients to receive information and materials that are easy to understand by diverse audiences including persons of limited proficiencies such as low literacy skills or are illiterate and individuals with disabilities.

Lastly, CFR, including CCR&R employs Specialists who are bilingual in English and Spanish, and receive training and support to best serve ta diverse population, as well as, the tools to effectively serve clients with limited proficiencies, such as reading, writing or physical disabilities. All materials disseminated to both consumers and providers will contain the following statement: “Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Child & Family Resources, Inc. prohibits discrimination in admissions, programs, services, activities or employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability”. Child & Family Resources, Inc. must make reasonable accommodation to allow a person with a disability to take part in a program, service, or activity. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For example, this means that if necessary, CFR must provide sign language interpreters for people who are deaf, a wheelchair accessible location, or enlarged print materials, among other accommodations as required. It also means that upon notification, CFR will take any reasonable action that allows a client to take part in and understand a program or activity, including making reasonable changes to an activity. If an individual believes they will not be able to understand or take part in a program or activity because of a disability, they can let CFR know of their disability needs in advance if at all possible. To request reasonable accommodations or any documents in alternative formats or for further information about the policy please contact the Senior Director.

3. Describe your organization's experience in implementing statewide strategies to improve Consumers' ability to access transparent and easy-to-understand information related to high-quality Child Care for the targeted populations. Scope of Work Section 6.1.1.4. Limit your response to no more than three (3) pages.

Child & Family Resources (CFR) has over 50 years of experience implementing statewide strategies to improve consumers’ ability to access transparent and easy-to-understand information about high-quality child care in Arizona. Our simple language consumer education services and public awareness efforts empower consumers to locate services, assess their individual needs, evaluate the quality of child care, and make an informed child care choice for their children. CFR’s Specialists have the experience and expertise to help consumers access transparent and easy-to-understand information related to high-quality child care for the targeted populations by building on their knowledge and understanding of:

· Quality and options in early childhood and school-age care and education programs;

· Child development, developmental screenings, services for children with disabilities, and prevention of suspensions and expulsions;

· CCDF subsidies and other financial assistance that families can use to help pay for early childhood and school-age care and education;

· Policies, procedures, and regulations, for example, licensing, monitoring, and background checks; and

· Comprehensive (health, human, and economic support) services to support family well-being.

CCR&R recognizes that families need immediate and understandable child care consumer education information to empower them to make the best child care decisions for their child(ren) and family. For consumers searching for care, it is often confusing and overwhelming to review the vast amount of information and terms used in child care and early childhood education. Consumers look to CCR&R to be the expert on child care and will often express that they “just want someone to tell them where to go.” It is overwhelming for consumers to comprehend and recall all areas discussed during the call because choosing child care is a very emotional and personal choice. All of our Specialists engage in a conversation with consumers about their needs and plans for child care and provide them with support on how to navigate Arizona’s child care systems. CCR&R honors parental choice and needs as key factors in customizing additional consumer education and resource information. When serving consumers, Specialists will ask open-ended questions to gain a better understanding of their needs and preferences while simultaneously providing consumer education, engagement, and support. All consumers are able to receive CCR&R services through our Child Care Information Line, CCR&R consumer education website, statewide community education and engagement services, and marketing and outreach services.

A good example of strategies used by CCR&R to improve Consumers' ability to access transparent and easy-to-understand information related to high-quality child care is CFR’s Child Care Information Line and community education and engagement services. Consumers who are seeking child care referrals and support have a wide variety of needs and preferences about child care and places to go to get this information. When they utilize CCR&R’s services, they know they are getting information and support from a trusted resource that is based on their unique family’s needs. To gather information from consumers and determine their specific child care needs, Specialists ask a series of questions about their child care needs and preferences. This process, known as the “intake process,” involves information gathering and sharing between the caller or visitor and the Specialist. All information is collected in a sensitive manner, and assumptions are never made about the caller’s or visitor’s stated needs or preferences. Specialists use effective communication strategies such as questioning, restating, clarifying, and validating to be sure the caller’s needs and preferences are identified. Specialists provide information on appropriate child care options, costs, and resources for financial assistance, role of the parent in their child’s education, child development and indicators of quality. They also explain what to expect from the referral process, regulatory complaint procedures, how to view any prior complaints, expulsion and suspension prevention services, and the next steps to take. Specialists educate consumers about the types of child care available and encourage personal choice, while considering each child's personality and developmental needs. Once the caller or visitor has identified the type of child care they prefer, the Specialist can conduct a search to generate options for the consumer. Searches for child care are performed by searching the CCR&R website and using the criteria provided by the consumer. Through this process, there are special populations of consumers that are identified who may need extra help and support in navigating child care systems and locating child care. These populations include:

· Families with infants and toddlers; Ex. Infant and toddler care is hard to find and can be very costly, so it is important to provide extra resources and support to consumers searching for this type of care, as well as discuss other options if care is not available.

· Children who may be experiencing homelessness; Ex. Consumers who are experiencing homelessness need more information, resources and support beyond child care and Specialists provide this population with additional support such as employment services, housing assistance, clothing and food banks, and transportation services.

· Children with special needs; Ex. Consumers with children with special needs are especially challenged in finding care for their child. CCR&R/CFR staff provide extra support and services to families who have children with special needs by calling providers to confirm if the provider has experience and training to care for a child with a specific type of developmental or special needs, or sharing additional resources specific to their child’s special needs such as advocacy, AZEIP, Child Find, healthcare, and more.

· Children involved with the child welfare system; Ex. Children involved in the child welfare system seem to be more likely to experience expulsion or suspension, and/or live with a temporary guardian or foster parent, so they need consistent and stable child care options, and caregivers that have experience with this specific demographic. Specialists help families understand their needs and rights and to find appropriate services and support.

· Urban, rural, and tribal communities; Ex. Urban communities tend to be the easiest and most accessible places to access child care. However, rural and tribal communities lack child care and serving consumers in this demographic requires our Specialists to have vast experience and knowledge of what is available and the culture of each community.

· Diverse and vulnerable populations; Ex. Diverse and vulnerable populations such as refugees, grandparents, those experiencing domestic violence, require extra resources and support that the Specialists assist them with.

In the event any family needs extra support in locating child care, in addition to the ones listed above such as having limited or no access to internet or computer and/or other barriers that prevent them from locating child care, the Specialist may contact child care providers on behalf of the consumer to ensure there are openings in the program for their child or children prior to providing any information to them. This extra support alleviates the task of the consumer contacting child care providers themselves, especially if there are barriers for them to do so. Specialists may also call providers to ask whether the consumers’ specific needs and preferences can be met. For example, a provider may be asked to confirm if there is transportation available from a specific elementary school or if the provider can work with a customer’s rotating work schedule, or if they care for children with special needs. Consumers requesting referrals via telephone or in-person are provided with clear and transparent information detailing how to look for high quality child care, definitions of the types of child care available, regulatory information, background checks, average cost of care, complaint procedures, quality ratings and accreditation, and family engagement. To ensure consumers receive a list of child care options that meet their needs, Specialists provide all consumers with a one-page handout called a “provider profile” with detailed provider information formatted to the ADES specifications for every program referred. The consumer will receive a minimum of three profiles via email for all referral customers who supply an email address. Specialists are able to print and provide provider profiles and consumer information via postal mail to the consumer when needed.

On occasion there are occurrences where CCR&R is not able to provide referrals due to a lack of affordable or available care. Most often, this occurs is rural parts of the state where there is limited access to child care options and/or in areas where there is a lack of non-traditional hours of care. When this occurs, the Specialist will first attempt to expand the perimeters of the search to include at least five. However, if expanding the search does not yield enough results, CCR&R will notify ADES, the same business day, by completing the online Provider Unaffordable/Unavailable form.

When no options are available, the CCR&R Specialist may suggest the use of and will provide information about Family, Friend and Neighbor child care options and/or information about the Non-Certified Relative Care Provider program as applicable. CCR&R will keep a log of the times that these suggestions occur and areas that they occur in, in an effort to track the demand for and lack of child care options for consumers.

Lastly, every community across Arizona needs easy access to transparent and easy-to-understand child care, child development, family support/parenting, health, safety, nutrition, regulatory, and family engagement information, and it is a key focus and foundation of consumer education provided by CFR/CCR&R. CCR&R Specialists will continue to provide community-based consumer education services by building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, such as parents/guardians, businesses/employers, social service/community based organizations, state government, schools, hospitals, health centers, potential and existing ADES certified homes and contracted centers and homes, and others as defined by ADES from across the state. CES’s primary responsibilities will include being highly visible in local communities and statewide to achieve the program’s consumer education goals and strategies through various activities as outlined in the Statewide Plan for Consumer Education and Outreach.

4. Describe your organization’s approach to create and sustain strategic partnerships for Consumer Education and Outreach services with ECE Systems Statewide and with each SDA. Scope of Work Section 6.1.2, Subsection 6.1.2.1- 6.1.2.2. Limit your response to no more than (5) pages.

The landscape of early care and education in Arizona is constantly growing and changing with innovative programs and services being created, as well as coalitions, collaborations, councils and partnerships (formal and informal) forming to address early care and education issues facing families, child care providers, and the community. CFR seeks to help improve the quality of child care in Arizona at all levels. To accomplish this, we recognize the importance of establishing collaborations and strategic partnerships across the public sector and funding sources to increase better outcomes for children. CFR is highly committed to working together to reduce the duplication of and discontinuities children and families experience in early child care education. CFR has a long history of working collaboratively with state and local organizations, forming and maintaining strong, positive contacts, through our relationship-based services. At the core of these collaborative and strategic partnership efforts is the continued reliance on local and statewide child care organizations to identify innovative programs and services for improving the well-being and early education of children. Communication is at the heart of every successful strategic partnership or collaborative effort. Communication can be written, verbal, non-verbal and the need for all types increase or decrease with the intensity of the collaboration. There are several models on the Levels of Coordination. The Peterson Model (1991), Levels of Community Linkage Model (1993) and the Bailey and Koney Model (2000) each reference three in-common critical elements to any partnership and they are: cooperation, coordination, and collaboration. Starting at the lower level, cooperation, organizations can work together and still maintain resources while risking nothing. The mid-level, coordination, increases intensity with rewards and resources being shared. The highest level, collaboration is the most intensive level of partnership with the following criteria established:

· Long-lasting Relationships

· Structure

· Commitment

· Common goals and/or mission

· Strategic planning

· Clear and open lines of communication

· Contribution of resources and reputation

· Shared responsibility and rewards Therefore, CFR welcomes the opportunity to maintain the highest level of communication and immerse in collaboration efforts with the Department by meeting at least quarterly or more frequently as mutually agreed upon, to provide program updates, evaluate the performance against ADES and CCR&R business goals and review, analyze, and update the program strategies. In addition, CCR&R leadership and when appropriate, CCR&R staff, will work with Department Subject Matter Experts to establish and build a collaborative and effective working relationship to achieve the goals and objectives of program services. CFR is also committed to our current and future strategic partnerships with key early childhood stakeholders across the child care systems in Arizona and nationally when appropriate. Our organization’s approach to create and sustain strategic partnerships for consumer education and outreach services with early childhood systems statewide and in each service delivery area includes the following approach:

1. Identify Key Stakeholders: CFR/CCR&R leadership and Specialists identify potential partners such as state agencies and departments, community-based organizations, school districts, military programs, tribal agencies, departments, programs, and services, and others that are focused on early care, education, and child well-being.

2. Align Goals and Values: CFR/CCR&R ensures that the goals and values of potential partners align with the organization’s mission and program’s contractual requirements, as well as the scope of work for child care education, engagement and outreach.

3. Develop a Clear Value Proposition: CFR/CCR&R values communication and knows the importance of being on the same page when it comes to collaboration and creating strategic partnerships. Therefore, it is important for all partners to communicate the benefits of collaboration, emphasizing how the partnership can enhance community well-being and support early childhood development and high-quality child care.

4. Customized Partnership Plans: CFR/CCR&R has the experience and expertise to create formal and informal customized partnership plans within each service delivery area and statewide. A key component of the plan is to address the unique needs and strengths of each potential collaborator or partner, showcasing how joint efforts can achieve mutually defined objectives.

5. Establish Clear Communication Channels: CFR/CCR&R will establish and create effective communication channels to facilitate information sharing and coordination between partners, fostering a collaborative working environment and strengthening working relationships.

6. Leverage Technology: CFR/CCR&R leverages the use of technology by utilizing virtual platforms to engage partners and streamline communication, build stakeholder relationships and strategic partnerships, and facilitate meetings, presentations, webinars, professional development, and more.

7. Community Engagement Events: CFR/CCR&R utilizes community engagement opportunities and events to raise awareness about the importance of early care and education, and to network with key stakeholders and organizations across Arizona, as well as in each service delivery area. CFR/CCR&R also hosts events and/or meetings to further develop collaborations and strategic partnerships, and raise awareness about the services offered by CCR&R.

8. Collect and Share Data: CFR/CCR&R gathers and shares relevant data that demonstrates the positive outcomes of collaborative efforts, reinforcing the value of our strategic partnerships, and adding value to the services offered by CCR&R. Data may also be collected and shared by our partners. Data is a core and critical complement of any strategic partnership and vital to sustaining our role with our collaborators and partners.

9. Continuous Evaluation and Adjustment: CFR/CCR&R engages in performance and continuous quality improvement efforts and regularly assesses the effectiveness of our collaborations and partnerships. Through open communication, feedback loops and mechanisms, data collection and analysis, and identifying gaps and trends, CCR&R will make adjustments or pivot as needed to ensure positive and impactful outcomes for children, families, and early educators.

10. Recognition and Appreciation: CFR/CCR&R values providing recognition and appreciation to the contributions of each partner by recognizing their role in achieving our shared goals and objectives. This fosters a positive, long-term working relationship and strategic partnership, and encourages collaboration at all levels.

11. Sustainability Planning: CFR/CCR&R engages in and supports developing a sustainability plan that outlines how the partnership will evolve over time, ensuring that it remains effective and beneficial for all partners involved. Sustainability planning is necessary when collaborations and strategic partnerships are more formal or there is a need for additional funding to support the strategic partnership.

By following this approach, CFR/CCR&R sustains our current strategic partnerships and can build strong, sustainable partnerships that enhance child care consumer education, engagement, and outreach services in early childhood, and for children, families and early educators. In fact, CFR/CCR&R has achieved success in collaborating with and building strategic partnerships with the following state government entities:

· Arizona Department of Child Safety, including the DCS Child Care Liaison, Foster and Kinship Families Licensing, and professional development for their staff;

· Arizona Department of Education, including the Arizona Head Start Collaboration Office, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education and Health and Nutrition Services;

· Arizona Department of Economic Security, including the Division of Child Care, Arizona Early Intervention Program, Child Support Services, Division of Child Care local offices, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Employment & Rehabilitation Services, Employment assistance programs, such as ARIZONA@WORK, Office of Community Engagement, Tribal Relations and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

· Arizona Department of Health Services, including the Bureau of Child Care Licensing, Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Women and Children’s Health; and

· First Things First, including their Program, Evaluation and Community Engagement teams, FTF Regional Partnership Councils, their regional office staff and statewide and regionally funded grant partners.

In addition to the above, CFR/CCR&R has current formal and informal collaborations and strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, local schools, businesses and employers in every service delivery area across Arizona. CFR/CCR&R will build upon the collaborations and partnerships that have been established in the past five years, and create new ones as needed. Currently, CFR/CCR&R leadership and various staff represent the program by serving on local, state and regional groups, councils, community forums and/or committees. The goal of representing CCR&R in the community is to raise awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the landscape of child care, needs of families and/or child care providers, and to collaborate with various agencies, employers and community programs to further the goals of the program. At the core of these collaborative efforts is the continued reliance on local and statewide child care organizations to identify innovative programs and strategies for improving the well-being of children and families, as well as increase the supply and demand of high-quality child care. CFR plans to continue all existing relationships that the Vice President of Early Care and Education, Program Directors/Supervisor, and Community Engagement Specialists have already established with local, statewide and national collaborations. CFR will offer a comprehensive coordination and collaboration effort aimed at bringing together a variety of early care organizations, non-profit agencies, higher education representation and governmental entities to align with the child care systems and ensure strategies are building on and supporting the early childhood education system and not duplicating efforts. We currently serve on the following local, state and/or national committees and/or coalitions committed to improving the quality of child care and/or services for children to build and increase child care consumer knowledge, understanding and awareness of CCR&R services. The following is a comprehensive list of statewide and community partners which CCR&R regularly outreaches, participates in forums, councils, and committees, as well as establish and/or sustain formal or informal strategic partnerships.

Agency or Organization Type Statewide and Community Partners

Arizona Department of Economic Security, Child Care Administration First Things First, Quality First (Star Ratings Only)

Prevent Expulsion Smart Support Mental Health Consultation for Providers

Caring For Our Children Centers for Disease Control County Health Departments, Child Care Nurse Health Consultants Nemours NHTSA Child Car Seat Safety Safe Kids USA

University of Arizona College of Education Northern Arizona University Center for Excellence in Education Central Arizona College Cochise Community College Eastern Arizona College Maricopa County Community Colleges Pima Community College Western Arizona College Yavapai Community College

Child Welfare League of America Children's Defense Fund Let’s Move Child Care National Association for the Education of Young Children National Association for Family Child Care National Child Care Association National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education Early Childhood Mental Health, Social-Emotional Development and Challenging Behaviors

Ed.gov National Institute for Early Education Research

Childhelp

Arizona Early Care and Education Association (AECEA) Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children Candelen Children’s Action Alliance Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children Easter Seals Blake Foundation First Things First Maricopa County Association of Governments Pima County Association of Governments Southwest Human Development

In collaboration and coordination with ADES, CCR&R will adjust efforts as directed to provide representation at community meetings and groups in all service delivery areas. CFR/CCR&R currently partners with existing child care consumer and community entities in each service delivery area to disseminate information regarding availability of CCR&R services with an emphasis on reaching vulnerable and diverse populations. CCR&R Specialists provide community-based consumer education, outreach, and support that may include, but is not limited to:

· Community events;

· Networking and/or Organizational meetings;

· One-on-one individual meetings;

· Email communications, such as E-newsletters; and

· Presentations and Training.

Our Specialists regularly disseminate CCR&R marketing materials with information and collaborate with strategic audiences that may include, but are not limited, to the following:

· Housing complexes, real estate agents;

· Hospitals and health care offices/clinics, community health centers;

· Arizona Department of Economic Security offices;

· Residential shelters statewide that are serving children and families that may be experiencing homelessness and domestic violence;

· Schools, private and public, including Institutions of higher education;

· Employers and business associations; and

· Libraries, family resource centers, community centers; and food pantries.

Additional strategies to provide consumer education, engagement, and outreach services with ECE Systems Statewide and within each service delivery area are outlined in the Statewide Plan for Consumer Education and Outreach. CCR&R will ensure strategies are building on and supporting the ECE System and not duplicating efforts and will partner with existing Consumer and community entities in each SDA to disseminate information regarding availability of CCR&R services with an emphasis on reaching vulnerable and diverse populations. Lastly, CCR&R will create new and build upon existing strategic partnerships with existing ECE Systems in each SDA to provide community-based education and support.

5. Describe your organization's method of approach for delivering Resource and Referral services to support Consumers in Navigating Arizona’s ECE System. Scope of Work Section 6.2. Limit your response to no more than three (3) pages.

CFR has delivered Arizona Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services in Southern Arizona since its formal inception in the early 1990’s, expanding its services statewide in 2015. In addition to providing accurate, clear, current, and transparent child care information and directing individuals to appropriate resources, CFR's CCR&R leadership and staff have firsthand experience providing or arranging assistance to individuals in order to enable them to access services.