Florida Administrative Code › 6 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › 6M - Division of Early Learning › Chapter 6M-9 - DIVISION OF EARLY LEARNING - EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS › Section 6M-9.300 - Child Care Resource and Referral and Consumer Education

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The Division of Early Learning, Child
				Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) state network, must ensure delivery of
				CCR&R services as defined in the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
				of 2014, 45 C.F.R. part 98, and Section
				1002.92, Florida Statutes
				(F.S.).
(2) Definitions.
(a) "Business hours" refers to the hours
				during which a CCR&R organization has staff available to provide services
				to customers via telephone, email, or in person.
(b) "CCR&R organization" refers to any
				early learning coalition or other contracted entity providing CCR&R
				services to customers pursuant to Section
				1002.92, F.S.
(c) "Child care listing" refers to the
				customized list of child care providers generated from the single statewide
				information system that best meets a family's needs.
(d) "Community outreach" refers to activities
				in the CCR&R service area that increase awareness of CCR&R services,
				such as involvement in community events, establishing community partnerships,
				displaying program materials in public spaces and on social media platforms,
				and marketing activities.
(e)
				"Community resources" refers to social service and financial assistance
				programs that a family may be eligible for, such as provider discounts and
				scholarships, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office on
				Homelessness, home visiting programs, mental health services, the School
				Readiness Program, the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program,
				Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Low-Income Home Energy
				Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
				(SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
				Children (WIC), Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as any organization or
				service that a family may qualify for that will support the family's financial
				independence, assist with developmental concerns, and help fill an unmet
				need.
(f) "Consumer education"
				refers to information and resources that assist an individual or family in
				making informed decisions regarding quality child care and cost of
				care.
(g) "Differential fee" refers
				to a child care fee charged by a provider to a parent who participates in the
				School Readiness Program or any other subsidized child care assistance program
				that is in addition to the parent copayment set by the early learning
				coalition.
(h) "Family engagement"
				refers to the systematic inclusion of families as partners in their children's
				development, learning, and wellness, enabled by positive relationships between
				families and staff in coalitions and early learning programs.
(i) "Legally operating provider" refers to
				any child care, early learning, or school-age provider that is either licensed,
				registered, or has a qualifying exemption from licensure from the Florida
				Department of Children and Families, including before-school and after-school
				programs, summer recreation and summer day camp programs, and recreational
				facilities.
(j) "Quality child
				care" refers to child care programs that maintain a degree of excellence, going
				above and beyond minimum health and safety standards and training, and that
				maintain a high level of positive teacher-child interactions, promoting the
				health and well-being of all children physically, socially, emotionally, and
				developmentally.
(k) "Registration
				fee" refers to a fee charged by a provider to a parent for enrollment of a
				child into a child care program.
(l) "Service area" refers to the county or
				multicounty region served by the CCR&R organization.
(m) "Single statewide information system"
				refers to the statewide early learning data system used to capture and provide
				critical information to early learning coalitions, parents, partners, and
				providers.
(n) "Standard business
				hours" refers to operating hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday
				through Friday.