2
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

3
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Homeless Placements
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Peaked in September 2008 – 2,306 children
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December 2009 – 1,556 children
By age group: total number of children younger than school age consistently highest category– currently 1,318 children placed
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Teen Parent Placements
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FY’09 - 2,695 children placed
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December 2009 – 1,352 children placed
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Supportive Placements
December 2009: 3,119 contracts
990 9S vouchers*
Total: 4,109
*9S vouchers are expansion vouchers. Supportive contracted providers are allowed to provide supportive services in other regions and other program types where they do not have contracts

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Family residential stability is highly associated with educational
success of children and youth and conversely, homelessness contributes to poor educational outcomes for children and youth.
1
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EEC 2008 survey of supportive providers noted that mental
health and domestic violence issues were the biggest areas of need for families in their programs
2
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Supportive social relationships can play an important role in
buffering the stresses experienced by teenage mothers, thus positively influencing their psychological well-being and mothering ability.
3
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Scientists now know that chronic, unrelenting stress in early
childhood, perhaps caused by extreme poverty, neglect, repeated abuse, or severe maternal depression, for example, can be toxic to the developing brain.
4
1
2
3
4
Aaronson, D. 2000 A Note on the Benefits of Homeownership. Journal of Urban Economics
47: 356-369
Proventive, July 2008. EEC Supportive Services Survey, Statewide Report Findings
Thompson, M.S., & Peebles-Wilkins, W. (1992)
Shonkoff, J. and Phillips, D. (EDs.). (2000) From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Source of
Early Childhood Development. Washington DC: National Academy Press

5
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Families with active DCF protective cases
Closed referral service Only families referred by DCF or by DCF’s
Family Based Services Lead Agency may be enrolled.
Supportive child care is appropriate for DCF families only when it is used in conjunction with other services as part of a family
treatment plan.
Supportive Child Care services are intended to be transitional in nature.
Issues/Recommendations for FY ’11

Issue: Addressing the needs of DCF involved families whose open case has closed.
Recommendation: Provide child care for at least 6 months for family whose open case has closed, based on risk of reengagement with DCF.
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Issue: Addressing the needs of foster families who need child care to sustain placement.
Recommendation: Use supportive slots with regional director approval, review annually to determine if the child can be placed in an income eligible slot at lower cost.

6
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Referral must come from Housing Authority Program (HAP) or shelter;
Current access 85 slots in 10 contracted programs.* There are no vendors in Regions 1 and 5. Homeless families who reside in shelters in the Greater Boston area or Framingham, Waltham, Worcester, Malden, and Lynn have access due to location of contracted providers.
EEC income and activity requirements must be met; activity requirements can include housing search and other shelter activities.
6 month reassessment of individualized service plan
Contractor reassesses needs of family and works with the shelter to help meet the family’s housing goals .
Length of Eligibility Continuity of care is provided at income eligible rate once goals are met.
Issues/Recommendations for FY ’11

Issue: Even with recent expansion of slots, there continues to be a large unmet need for homeless families.
Recommendation: Increase number of contracted slots for homeless families to 600.
*
Increased current number of contracted slots by 170 effective 2/1/10.

7
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Teen parents must be under age twenty to access care.
Enrolled teens who turn twenty during their enrollment year may remain in care up to age 21.
Income requirements The gross monthly income of a teen parent family must be at or below 50% of the State’s Median
Income (SMI).
Service need based on the teen’s involvement in an educational program (such as attending high school or a
General Equivalency Degree (GED) program) or work activities.
Enrollment Teens may enroll during their last trimester of pregnancy in order to receive support services, and to reserve a child care slot for their child.
Issues/Recommendations for FY ’11

Issue: Currently, there is no continuity of care from contract to income eligible slot for teen parents aging out.
Recommendation: Provide continuity of care if EEC income and activity requirements are met

8
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors * will serve as an overarching frame for programs working with priority populations.
The Protective Factors are:

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Parental resilience
Social connections
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Knowledge of parenting and child development
Concrete support in times of need
Children’s social and emotional development
*Center for Social Policy, Strengthening Families website http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net/index.php/main_pages/protective_factors

9
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Curriculum and Learning: curriculum, assessment, teacher child relationships and interactions, special education, children with diverse language and cultures IE Developmental Screening , Child Assessment ,
Curriculum
Environment: indoor, outdoor, health and safety
Workforce Qualifications and Professional Development: directors, teachers, teacher assistants, consultants IE Professional Development
Family Involvement IE Family Engagement
Leadership, Management and Administration: administration, management and leadership, supervision, evaluation, community involvement IE Comprehensive Services, Collaborations & Shared
Services
All providers for Priority Populations will be expected to participate in the QRIS.

10
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Stable, nurturing and stimulating environment that meets the individual developmental, behavioral and emotional needs of children
Parent access to counseling services to inform them about community support services and public assistance benefits they may access while they seek housing and employment, including WIC and Food Stamps.
Parent access to skill building programs , such as: life skills, literacy, parenting , employment /training , academic development, money management, domestic violence prevention education, health and nutritional education counseling
Individualized service plans outlining any behavioral, developmental or emotional issues which need to be addressed while in care must be developed for each enrolled child .
Smooth transitions for children and families identifying children and families’ specific needs; linking families to appropriate community resources, including early education and care options; planning and coordinating information.
Therapeutic supports for families as necessary. Through affiliations with local licensed or accredited mental health clinics, provide access to services , such as: assessment; on-site therapy; family therapy; multi-family therapy groups; and/or consultation with Specialized Child Care Services Contractors.
Outreach to and parent involvement opportunities for families
Individualized transportation services must be provided for all priority families as needed.
Ongoing staff training related to the specific needs of the children and
families in care, on topics such as: working with children with challenging behaviors, mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction and topics related specifically to homelessness and teen parenting

11
Supportive Child Care Providers
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Case Coordination with DCF Case Managers
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Discharge Planning
Supporting DCF treatment goals
Specialized Child Care Services for Homeless
Families
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Maintain affiliations with Homeless shelters
Teen Parents
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Regular and routine contact with local schools and
DTA offices (if necessary) to monitor and document parent participation in school, or GED attendance

12

Supportive Child Care
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$15.65 per. day includes:
• case management/counseling/referrals
• coordination with DCF
• Transportation
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Teen Parent Child Care Service
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$14.50 per. day includes:

• case management, counseling/referrals
• transportation
Up to $9.00 per. day based on need and utilization of following services for teens and their child(ren):
• $3.00 per. day counseling
• $3.00 per. day parent training
• $3.00 home visiting

Specialized Child Care Services for Homeless Children

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$8.00 - $12.00 per day depending on the proposed services to specific homeless population for case management/counseling/referrals
$6.00 - $9.00 per. day for transportation
Recommendation for FY ‘11: Because expectations are similar for all contracts, we would like to establish one rate for add-on services.

13
Line Item Type
3000-3050
Supportive
Contract
3000-4060 Homeless
3000-4060
Teen Parent IE
Contract
* effective February 1, 2010
** Recommendation for FY '11
FY10
Amount
Open
Access
New FY10
Amount
FY10
Slots
$51,965,829 $0 $51,965,829 3,991
$1,054,062 $878,385 $1,932,447 255*
$7,821,910 $0 $7,821,910 512
FY11 proposed
Amount
FY11
Slots
$51,965,829 3,991
$6,210,697 600**
$7,821,910 512