Mississippi Early Childhood Advisory Council Jackson, Mississippi September 23, 2009 Presented by Carol Burnett Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative

increase children’s participation in existing early childhood programs; and increase collaboration and coordination among early childhood programs. The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act requires states to address some important early childhood challenges. These include:

Mississippi’s Licensed Child Care System Child Care & Development Fund Head Start All Other

Working Parents Need CCDF Child Care 2 out of 3 MS children under 6 have working parents. 62% of MS working families qualify for CCDF child care. Child care costs exceed college tuition. CCDF provides greatest financial relief of any work support. For example, CCDF reduces child care costs from $592 to $65 per month for single mom with 2 children. CCDF child care reduces reliance on public assistance. A single mother leaving welfare for work is 82% more likely to still be working after two years if she has this child care program.

Strengthen CCDF Child Care for Working Families Make it easier for parents to access CCDF child care. Simplify the application requirements. Improve retention. Once parents have CCDF child care, make it easier for them to keep it. Prevent terminations of services to eligible parents. Stabilize CCDF child care programs by providing contracts to providers

Increase Collaboration between CCDF Child Care & Head Start Promote Head Start/child care partnerships to provide full time child care needed by working parents. Coordinating child care is easier for working parents with a collaborative system. Some Head Start programs are full time, but most aren’t. Some Child Care centers provide wrap- around services, but not through partnerships with Head Start.

CCDF Child CareHead Start Serves children birth to 12Serves children 3 & 4 (EHS serves children birth to 3) Income eligibility up to 85% of state median income Income eligibility tied to federal poverty level Parents must workNo work requirement Single parents must apply for child support No child support requirement Parents must pay feesParents not allowed to pay fees Typical services 8 – 10 hours/day, 12 months/year Full-time defined as 6 hours/day. Often closed in summer months Recertification every 6 months Recertification once every program year No quality requirementsExtensive federal quality requirements $3026/child (vouchers to parents) $5999/child (grants to programs)

Extend CCDF child care recertification to 12 months to match Head Start. Eliminate child support requirement in CCDF child care to align with Head Start. Use ARRA funds to provide grants to child care centers so they can afford to meet the Head Start quality requirements. Align CCDF Child Care and Head Start to Promote Partnerships and Collaboration

For more information contact The Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative P. O. Box 204 Biloxi, MS