EARLY YEARS INC

FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL INITIATIVES:100% 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 THE FOLLOWING THREE CCR&R CORE SERVICES: CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE BIRTH-TO-THREE QUALITY INITIATIVE ACHIEVED 107% OF ITS THREE YEAR (FY23-FY25) GOAL OF REACHING 700 STATEWIDE PRACTICE BASED COACHING PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING 234 INDIVIDUALS PBC IN FY23, 250 INDIVIDUALS PBC IN FY24, AND 265 INDIVIDUALS IN FY25. UNDER THE B-3 QUALITY INITIATIVE, 2394 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING SESSIONS REPRESENTING 120% OF THE ESTABLISHED GOAL OF 2000 PARTICIPANTS FOR FY 25. UNDER THE STATEWIDE CORE SERVICES DURING FY25, 94% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE. EIGHT OF THE 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 89% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED RESPONDED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE, WITH SEVEN OF 14 REPORTING THAT AT LEAST 97% OF PARENTS INDICATED THEY CHOOSE THIS LEVEL OF CARE. STATEWIDE 89% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS DURING FY25 INDICATED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR CARE. NINE OF 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 90% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED RESPONDED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR CHILD CARE SEARCH. STATISTICAL DATA FROM DCDEE INDICATES THAT 74% 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 FY25, ONLY 4% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CHILD CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA REMAIN ENROLLED IN 1- OR 2-STAR CARE.CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP):EARLY YEARS SERVES AS A SPONSOR FOR 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. - CACFP SERVED 36 CHILD CARE HOMES IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. - THERE WERE 133,028 NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED THIS YEAR MEETING THE USDA MEAL PATTERNS TO AN AVERAGE OF 226 CHILDREN PER MONTH FROM DIVERSE POPULATIONS. - THERE WERE 99 MONITORING VISITS MADE TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO REVIEW RECORDS, OBSERVE MEALS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES: - THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDED SUPPORT, COACHING, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO 667 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS SERVING A TOTAL OF 1273 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. - THERE WERE 225 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED FOR 1,733 (UNDUPLICATED) 3,149 (DUPLICATED) CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. - THERE WERE 471 IN-SERVICE HOURS RECEIVED BY THE ATTENDEES. - THERE WERE 55 EARLY EDUCATORS TRAINED IN CEU TOPICS COMPLETING A TOTAL OF 630 CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS (CEUS)/67.5 IN-SERVICE CREDIT HOURS. - 95% OF EDUCATORS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS REPORTED FEELING CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED THROUGH TRAINING.CHILD CARE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES:ALL DURHAM COUNTY SMART START CONTRACTED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WERE FULLY UTILIZED, FOR A TOTAL OF $2,821,710.00. - SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORTED 626 CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE FACILITIES WITH AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.8, AND 90% OF CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES. - 392 CHILDREN WERE JOINTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE DURHAM COUNTY NC PREK PROGRAM. - 1 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START SET-ASIDE FUND. - 0 CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES HAD DOCUMENTED DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS. - 26% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. $29,496.85 WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SUPPORTING FIVE CHILDREN ATTENDING 5-STAR CHILD CARE FACILITIES RESULTING IN 100% ENROLLMENT IN 5-STAR LICENSED CARE. - 40% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. - 100% OF CHILDREN WERE FROM FAMILIES WHOSE ELIGIBILITY WAS BASED ON EMPLOYMENT. $703,073.84 WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ARPA BUILD BABIES DURHAM. $692,567.86 SUPPORTED 104 CHILDREN ATTENDING CHILD CARE FACILITIES WITH AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.8, WITH 75% ENROLLED IN 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES. - 7% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. - 96% OF CHILDREN WERE FROM FAMILIES WHOSE ELIGIBILITY WAS BASED ON EMPLOYMENT. UNC CHILD CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - $85,769.67 SUPPORTED 11 CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES. - 91% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.9. - $45,890.00 SUPPORTED 3 CHILDREN OF STUDENTS. - 100% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 5.0. UNC STUDENTS FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: - $342,112.44 SUPPORTED 40 CHILDREN. - 95% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.9. 109 FAMILIES AND 62 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY YEARS, FORMERLY CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION, ANNUAL SURVEY OF SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES. - AMONG FAMILIES RECEIVING AN EARLY YEARS SCHOLARSHIP: - 48% OF FAMILIES REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN WERE NOT IN LICENSED CARE BEFORE ACCESSING SCHOLARSHIPS. - 100% OF FAMILIES REPORTED THAT SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED THEM TO SECURE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. - 100% OF FAMILIES EXPRESSED OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH EARLY YEARS SERVICES. - 97% OF FAMILIES EXPRESSED THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP MADE BUDGETING OR PAYING FOR OTHER FAMILY NEEDS EASIER. AMONG CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT SERVED EARLY YEARS SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN: - 100% RECOGNIZED THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. - 100% UNDERSTOOD THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIESCHILD CARE REFERRAL SERVICES: 3,498 FAMILIES WERE SERVED THROUGH THE CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL PROGRAM TOTAL OF 1,370 FAMILIES RECEIVED CHILD CARE CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL (CER) SERVICES THROUGH CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL, THE REGIONAL CALL CENTER OPERATED BY EARLY YEARS FORMALLY CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION. - 688 FAMILIES RECEIVED CONSULTATION SERVICES - 1646 WERE DURHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 241 WERE ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 1,296 WERE WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 328 WERE RESIDENTS OF ALAMANCE, CASWELL, FRANKLIN, GRANVILLE, PERSON AND VANCE COUNTIES - A TOTAL OF 2,565 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THESE SERVICES. 48% (1,693 OF 3,498) OF FAMILIES ACCESSED SERVICES THROUGH THE AGENCY'S ONLINE REFERRAL SYSTEM. - ENHANCED REFERRAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 45% (507) OF FAMILIES SERVED. - 23% OF CER SERVICES WERE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $20,000 PER YEAR. - CER SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN SPANISH TO 235 FAMILIES, 6 FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES IN OTHER LANGUAGES (11% OF ALL COUNSELOR-ASSISTED REFERRALS & CONSULTATIONS) AND 17% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING OF LATINO/A DESCENT.IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL EVALUATION OF FAMILIES SERVED, 294 FAMILIES WERE SURVEYED. 96.9% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH SERVICES, 98.3% REPORTED FEELING RESPECTED IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF, AND OVER 100% 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 4.4 OUT OF 5.83.7% INDICATED THEY SELECTED A PROGRAM WITH A 3, 4, OR 5 STAR RATED LICENSE.CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED 19 WEBINARS/SEMINARS AND 16 INFORMATION SESSIONS AND PARTICIPATED IN 31 COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT EARLY YEARS' SERVICE AREA.