Organization: CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION
Mission: CCSA'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Activities: 1) CHILD CARE WAGE$ AND INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$:CHILD CARE WAGE$THE KEY GOAL OF THE CHILD CARE WAGE$ PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES. THROUGH INCREASED COMPENSATION, WAGE$ HELPS ATTRACT AND RETAIN EDUCATED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS TO REACH HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION THROUGH A GRADUATED SUPPLEMENT SCALE. THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY OUTCOME FOR FY20 WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS FOR THE YEAR WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. RESULTS: OUTCOME MET FOR JULY - MARCH (TURNOVER TRACKED ONLY THROUGH MARCH 2020 DUE TO COVID-19. THE TURNOVER RATE FOR WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS WAS 12% FOR THIS TIME PERIOD, WELL BELOW THE BENCHMARK OF 25%. THIS REPRESENTS INCREASED STABILITY FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEARS WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED.IN ADDITION TO INCREASED RETENTION, WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAD OR OBTAINED HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION. EIGHTY-NINE PERCENT (89%) WHOSE COUNTIES HAD PARTICIPATED AT LEAST TWO YEARS HAD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ITS EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER BASED ON THE WAGE$ SCALE OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION DURING THE YEAR TO VERIFY THEIR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK.WAGE$ PAID 3,880 EARLY EDUCATORS, SURPASSING THE EXPECTED OUTPUT. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 1,571 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 71,343 CHILDREN AND THEY RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $993. NINETY-NINE PERCENT (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH WAGE$.INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$ PROVIDES EDUCATION-BASED SALARY SUPPLEMENTS TO LOW-PAID EARLY EDUCATORS WORKING WITH CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO AT LEAST 35 HOURS PER WEEK. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BETTER COMPENSATE AND RETAIN WELL-EDUCATED TEACHERS WORKING WITH OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY GOAL WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. THE OUTCOME WAS ACHIEVED; THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PARTICIPANTS FOR OCTOBER THROUGH MARCH WAS 3%. TURNOVER WAS ONLY TRACKED THROUGH MARCH 2020 DUE TO COVID-19. BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS AT ITS PEAK IN THESE YOUNGER YEARS, AND STABILITY IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN. NINETY-NINE PERCENT (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS STATED THAT AWARD$ SUPPLEMENTS HELP TO EASE FINANCIAL STRESS, WHICH IS ANOTHER KEY GOAL FOR THE INITIATIVE.AWARD$ PAID 1,335 EARLY EDUCATORS OCTOBER THROUGH JUNE WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 770 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 20,335 CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $1,271. NEARLY 100% OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH AWARD$.
2) T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD:THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD NORTH CAROLINA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION OF NORTH CAROLINA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STRUCTURED USING FOUR COMPONENTS (SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND COMMITMENT) AND ARE AVAILABLE TO FACILITY BASED EARLY EDUCATORS INCLUDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORM NON-DIRECT SERVICE FUNCTIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLE ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE COURSEWORK LEADING TOWARDS CREDENTIALS AND DEGREES AT ALL OF NORTH CAROLINA'S 58 COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND 20 COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION BY COMPLETING A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS ANNUALLY AND IN TURN ARE GIVEN RAISES OR BONUSES IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMMIT TO THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FIELD, THEIR EMPLOYING SPONSORING PROGRAM OR SPONSORING ORGANIZATION FOR SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. DURING FY 2019-20 THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MET ITS GOALS FOR IMPROVING THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION AMONG ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND PRODUCED POSITIVE OUTCOMES AS WERE PROPOSED. THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED CORE, COMPREHENSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO 4,405 EARLY EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM SPECIALISTS IN 96 OF THE STATE'S 100 COUNTIES. SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WERE PRODUCED IN THE AREAS OF INCREASED EDUCATION, INCREASED COMPENSATION AND RETENTION. FOR EXAMPLE, ON AVERAGE, TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE PROGRAM'S MOST UTILIZED SCHOLARSHIP MODEL, THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND SUCCESSFULLY MET CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, COMPLETED ON AVERAGE 14 CREDIT HOURS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, EXPERIENCED A 9% INCREASE IN EARNINGS AND HAD A 9% TURNOVER RATE. MORE THAN 62,107 CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN A SETTING THAT SUPPORTED AT LEAST ONE RECIPIENT ON A T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD CORE SCHOLARSHIP. THE PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED T.E.A.C.H. RECIPIENTS TO ENROLL IN 20,172 CREDIT HOURS OF EDUCATION AT THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SELECTED UNIVERSITIES.
FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL INITIATIVES:CCR&R COUNCIL AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT:91% OF REGIONAL LEAD CCR&R AGENCIES INDICATED THAT ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM THE R&R COUNCIL WAS HELPFUL AND INDICATED THAT THE CCR&R COUNCIL HAS ENABLED THE IMPROVEMENT OF R&R SERVICES. ALL 14 REGIONAL LEAD AGENCIES SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING THREE CCR&R CORE SERVICES: CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.THE INFANT TODDLER ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE ACHIEVED 96% OF THEIR GOAL OF 1,365 STATEWIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING 1307 INDIVIDUALS ON-SITE TA CONSULTATIONS IN FY20. THESE SERVICES IMPACTED 3,593 INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN OUR STATE. UNDER THE STATEWIDE INFANT/TODDLER PROJECT, 193 TRAINING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED BENEFITING 2481 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS (UNDUPLICATED COUNT) ACROSS NC; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO 457 CLASSROOMS IN LICENSED PROGRAMS; CLASSROOMS THAT COMPLETED PARTICIPATION IN THE INFANT TODDLER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM INCREASED QUALITY INDICATOR SCORES FROM PRE TO POST ASSESSMENT AN AVERAGE OF 1.74 POINTS.UNDER THE STATEWIDE CORE SERVICES, ALL 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 85% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE WITH 12 OF 14 REPORTING THAT AT LEAST 91% OF PARENTS INDICATING THEY CHOOSE THIS LEVEL OF CARE. STATEWIDE, 97% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE. ALL 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 97% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED INDICATED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR CHILD CARE SEARCH STATEWIDE AT THE CONCLUSION OF FY20. STATISTICAL DATA FROM DCDEE INDICATES THAT 73% OF ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CARE IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WERE ENROLLED IN 4- AND 5- STAR CARE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE'S CHILDREN IN HIGHER QUALITY CARE. FURTHERMORE, AT THE CONCLUSION OF FY20, ONLY 3.7% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CHILD CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA REMAIN ENROLLED IN 1- OR 2-STAR CARE.TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES:THERE WERE 341 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED FOR 1,575 (UNDUPLICATED) 2,529 (DUPLICATED) CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. THERE WERE 824.0 IN-SERVICE HOURS RECEIVED BY THE ATTENDEES. THERE WERE 188 PROVIDERS TRAINED IN CEU TOPICS COMPLETING A TOTAL OF 940.0 CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS (CEUS). 99% OF PROVIDERS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS REPORTED FEELING CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED THROUGH TRAINING.CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM:OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: CCSA SERVES AS A SPONSOR FOR THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP), A FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. THE CACFP SERVED 50 CHILD CARE HOMES AND 25 CENTERS IN THE TRIANGLE. THERE WERE 549,380 NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED MEETING THE USDA MEAL PATTERNS TO AN AVERAGE OF 1,097 CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE POPULATION WITH 60% MEETING FEE AND REDUCED GUIDELINES. THERE WERE 225 MONITORING VISITS WERE MADE TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO REVIEW RECORDS, OBSERVE MEALS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES:THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED SUPPORT, COACHING, AND RESOURCES TO 766 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS SERVING A TOTAL OF 3894 CHILDREN AGE BIRTH TO 5.CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES:FY20 DURHAM COUNTY SMART START SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (DPFC)- 100% OF CONTRACTED FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WAS EXPENDED, TOTALING $2,820,589- A TOTAL OF 523 FAMILIES WERE SERVED- A TOTAL OF 554 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS- CHILDREN ATTENDED 69 DIFFERENT CHILD CARE FACILITIES- 4.9 WAS THE AVERAGE STAR RATING OF THE CARE UTILIZED BY CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES- 303 CHILDREN WERE FUNDED JOINTLY THROUGH THE DURHAM COUNTY NCPREK PROGRAM- 51 CHILDREN RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START SET-ASIDE FUND- 25 CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES HAD DOCUMENTED DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS- 27% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES REPORTING SPANISH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGEOTHER FY20 SCHOLARSHIP:- 14 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH THE DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTY REGULAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. 100% OF THESE CHILDREN RECEIVED SERVICES IN A 4 OR 5 STAR FACILITY. A TOTAL OF $77,437 WAS SPENT IN UNITED WAY AND OTHER DONATED FUNDS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS.- 87 CHILDREN RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING 21 CHILDREN OF UNC EMPLOYEES, AND 66 CHILDREN OF UNC STUDENTS. A TOTAL OF $124,894 AND $362,802 WERE EXPENDED ON SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE UNC CHILD CARE FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND UNC STUDENTS FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS FUND, RESPECTIVELY.FY20 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EVALUATION:- 123 FAMILIES AND 69 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS WERE SURVEYED AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL PROGRAM EVALUATION PROCESS.- OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS REPORTED THAT SERVICES ENABLED THEM TO SELECT HIGHER QUALITY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN- 56% REPORTED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE NOT IN ANY KIND OF LICENSED CARE PRIOR TO ACCESSING A SCHOLARSHIP- 86% OF RECIPIENTS REPORTED THAT SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED THEM TO SECURE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT- 99% REPORTED OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH CCSA'S SERVICES- AMONG CHILD CARE PROGRAMS SERVING CCSA SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN, 100% FELT THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE, AND 99% FELT THE PROGRAM WAS BEING OPERATED EFFECTIVELY.CHILD CARE REFERRAL SERVICES:-FOR FY20, A TOTAL OF 2,353 FAMILIES RECEIVED CHILD CARE CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES THROUGH CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL, THE REGIONAL CALL CENTER OPERATED BY CCSA: - 1,099 WERE DURHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 165 WERE ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 904 WERE WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 185 WERE RESIDENTS OF ALAMANCE, CASWELL, FRANKLIN, GRANVILLE, PERSON AND VANCE COUNTIES- A TOTAL OF 3,259 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THESE SERVICES.- 20% OF FAMILIES ACCESSED SERVICES THROUGH THE AGENCY'S ONLINE REFERRAL SYSTEM. ENHANCED REFERRAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 749 FAMILIES.- TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF REFERRALS WERE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $20,000 PER YEAR.- REFERRALS WERE PROVIDED IN SPANISH TO 121 FAMILIES (6% OF ALL COUNSELOR-DELIVERED REFERRALS) AND 7% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING OF LATINO/A DESCENT.- IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL EVALUATION OF FAMILIES SERVED, 371 FAMILIES WERE SURVEYED. 95% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH SERVICES, 99% REPORTED FEELING RESPECTED IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF, AND OVER 99% REPORTED USING THREE OR MORE QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR CHILD CARE.- THE AVERAGE STAR-RATING OF CHILD CARE SELECTED BY FAMILIES RECEIVING REFERRAL SERVICES WAS 4.6.FOR THE YEAR, FAMILY SUPPORT STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED 36 WORKSHOPS AND 115 INFORMATION SESSIONS, AND PARTICIPATED IN 36 COMMUNITY FAIRS THROUGHOUT CCSA'S SERVICE AREA.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Human Services