CCDF Reauthorization Kentucky’s Implementation Road Map

KENTUCKY’S NEW CHILD CARE BENEFITS EXCHANGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION The Division of Child Care, Family Support, and other agencies are working together in Joint Application Design (JAD) sessions. JAD is a structured workshop where project stakeholders come together to analyze and design the requirements for implementing information systems for an organization.

INTEGRATING CHILD CARE INTO KENTUCKY’S HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE To improve service for citizens of the Commonwealth who are applying for or are recipients of child care services. An improvement in client service is to be achieved by the following means:  Enable online access for citizens including  Integrated case management solution  Enable data sharing between agencies  A more streamlined application process

KENTUCKY DIVISION OF CHILD CARE JAD SESSIONS 1. JAD Documentation2. JAD Activities3. Deliverables Operation Manuals & State/Fed regulations Base Requirements Federal and State Requirements Eligibility Rules JAD Session Attendee Validation / Feedback Participants of the JAD Session will :  Refine requirements and rules design  Validate and provide feedback  Identify and resolve project decisions, risks and issues Detailed Design Documents (DDDs) Interface Specs Screen Storyboards Conversion Plan Reports Correspondences

kynect KENTUCKY’S CHILD CARE ONLINE SYSTEM Worker Portal Intake Changes Renewals Support data collection for Child Care specific details. Support a school directory admin module Self-Service Portal Screening Apply for benefits Check my benefits Report a change Renewing benefits Provider search Eligibility CCIE: Low Income Families with working adults TENF: Teen Parent attending high school TANF: A KTAP family with a member(s) who is working TCCN: A KTAP family with a member(s) who is a KWP participant and not working CCP: abuse, neglect or dependency is substantiated or to prevent the need for Child Protective Services And other special populations Enrollment / Interfaces Service schedules vs school calendar Provider search, selection and enrollment Allocate co-pay and co-pay override Create “Child Care Agreement” certificate Establish enrollment Support Re-Enrollment

PAYMENT PRACTICES Market Rate Survey (MRS) 85% of facilities surveyed accept child subsidy payments. The percentage of facilities accepting subsidy payments declined 7% due to a new applicant moratorium that lasted from April of 2013 through June of Enrollment-based payments The Division of Child Care is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to gain approval for an enrollment-based payment system to provide more stable funding streams to providers and incentivize providers to join the subsidy program. Payment practices will enable families to remain eligible until they exceed federal limits on subsidy benefits.

NEW CHILD CARE LEGISLATION In October 2014, the Division filed legislation 922 KAR 2160e to make participation in the STARS for KIDS Now quality rating system mandatory for all programs that accept child care subsidy payments. December 2014 there were 840 quality–rated child care programs across the state. On April 15, 2015 there were 1276 quality-rated child care programs across the state. Additionally, the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant is in the process of developing new quality-rating standards grids which will inform future STARS for Kids Now program standards and requirements in accordance with new HB 234 making quality rating mandatory for all early care and education programs.

KENTUCKY ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS Creating a new Comprehensive Background Check regulation which is specific to child care staff only and collaborate with other state agencies to implement system with fingerprint scanners located across the state. Collaborating with stakeholder and advocate groups to do an update of current child care licensure (8 licensure regulations). Collaboration team includes: Child Care Health Consultants, Child Care Regulatory Committee, local university content specialists, interagency liaisons from Division of Licensing, Office of family and support from Cabinet for Health and Family services regulation specialists.