Priority Populations Procurement
FY ‘11
1
Who are our Priority Populations?
2

Supportive Child Care: child/family
involved with DCF for whom DCF has
authorized access to EEC supportive
care

Homeless families: a child whose
family is living in shelter

Teen Parents: a child with a parent
who is younger than 20 years of age
Priority Populations - Placement data

Homeless Placements
 Peaked in September 2008 – 2,306 children
 December 2009 – 1,556 children
 By age group: total number of children younger than school age
consistently highest category– currently 1,318 children placed

Teen Parent Placements
FY’09 - 2,695 children placed
 December 2009 – 1,392 children placed (54 teen parents also
received services)


3
Supportive Placements FY’10 Average-6,126 contracts & vouchers
 FY’10 July-January Monthly Averages: 5,106 children in contracts
(4,790 regular slots; 316 expansion slots); 1,019 vouchers)
 December 2009: 3,514 regular contract slots, 320 expansion
slots, and 1,025 9S vouchers* - Total: 4,816
*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
Research Supporting Services to Priority
Populations

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

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

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

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
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
Supportive Child Care Eligibility
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
5

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 re-engagement with DCF.

Issue: Addressing the needs of foster families who need child care to
sustain placement.

Recommendation: Use income eligible or supportive slots with
regional director approval, depending on the need of the family.
Supportive placements would be reviewed annually to determine if the
child can be placed in an income eligible slot at lower cost.
Supportive Child Care Eligibility
Issues/Recommendations for FY ’11
6

Issue: Lack of infant/toddler placements to meet the
increasing need of DCF involved families

Recommendation: Mapping of DCF involved families
will inform EEC’s selection of supportive programs to
meet this growing need for infant-toddler slots

Recommendation: Beyond Priority Population
procurement, explore option of providing Early Head
Start Programming as an additional option for supportive
families.

Issue: Need for improvement of communication between
programs and DCF area office
 Recommendation: Application will require letter of
support from appropriate DCF representative
FY2010 Supportive Caseload -July through January
8000
7591
7160
N 7000
u
m
b 6000
e
r
5000
o
f
6782
982
999
1073
5869
5460
1051
1025
5204
4816
1025
982
4000
C
h 3000
i
l
d 2000
r
e
n 1000
0
6306
5849
5380
4506
303
312
329
7/1/2009
8/1/2009
9/1/09
4119
3859
3514
312
316
320
320
10/1/2009
11/1/2009
12/1/2009
1/1/2010
Service Month
Supportive expansion
regular kids
Voucher Kids
total in care
Solid blue line represents the 3,991 regular supportive slots contracted for
7
Length of Stay on DCF Supportive WaitlistDecember 2009
Age of Child
Infants (0-15 months)
Toddlers (>15 months to
2 yrs 9 mos)
Preschool (2 yrs 9 mos to
6 years)
School Age (6 yrs to 12
years)
Total
8
Children on Children on
Children on waitlist Children on waitlist
waitlist 8 to 12 waitlist over 1 Total
less than 3 months
3 to 8 months
months
year
103
43
11
2
159
99
71
15
57
111
77
20
137
72
61
21
95
385
252
67
291
242
345
249
995
Eligibility for Homeless Families





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.
*Increased current number of contracted slots to 255 effective
2/1/10.
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Eligibility for Homeless Families
Issues/Recommendations for FY ’11
10

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.

Issue: Need for improvement of communication between
programs, shelters and Housing area offices
 Recommendation: Application will require letters of support
from appropriate DCHD representative responsible for
placements and shelter partners

Issue: Need for access for families participating in a Division of
Housing Stabilization diversion program. This is for families who
are eligible for shelter but choose to take funds for another
apartment or who take some solution other than shelter.
 Recommendation: EEC will provide access for these
families.
Homeless Placement Data
Month
Children in
DTA- ESP DTA –Non
Income
All other vouchers
Contracted
referred ESP referred
Eligible
(includes all other
programs
vouchers (1H) Vouchers (3H) Homeless types of EEC care
(Homeless
Children on through vouchers
contracts and
Vouchers (6H) including IE,
other types)
Supportive, DTA
paid).
Total
Jul-09
265
390
917
80
507
2159
Aug-09
312
474
892
57
479
2214
Sep-09
315
482
777
46
524
2144
Oct-09
354
459
516
37
598
1964
Nov-09
335
450
287
23
604
1699
Dec- 09
381
406
34
16
719
1556
Jan-10
365
406
34
16
628
1449
11
Homeless Placement Report FY2010
2500
2159
2000
500
0
524
57
80
917
2144
1964
479
507
1500
1000
2214
892
1699
46
37
777
1556
598
516
1449
604
719
23
287
628
16
34
16
34
474
482
459
450
406
406
265
312
315
354
335
381
365
Jul-09
Aug-09
Sep-09
Oct-09
Nov-09
December
January ‘10
390
All other vouchers (includes all other types of EEC care through vouchers including IE,
Supportive, DTA paid).
Income Eligible Homeless Children on Vouchers (6H)
DTA –Non ESP referred Vouchers (3H)
DTA- ESP referred vouchers (1H)
Children in Contracted programs (Homeless contracts and other types)
Total
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Eligibility for Teens Parents




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.
13
FY2010 Teen Parent Caseload- Vouchers and
Contracts
1600
1504
1467
1400
70
67
36
54
1406
1327
45
38
1110
1114
1200
1446
47
1000
932
988
955
925
800
854
717
716
361
347
468
446
437
436
435
8/1/2009
9/1/2009
10/1/2009
11/1/2009
12/1/2009
1/1/2010
2/1/2010
600
400
200
0
Contract Slots Used
14
teen parent vouchers
Date
8/1/2009
9/1/2009
10/1/2009
11/1/2009
12/1/2009
1/1/2010
2/1/2010
Teen P arents - Parental Placements *
Contract Slots
Teen P arents Used
teen parent vouchers Parental Placements * Totals
361
717
36
1114
347
716
47
1110
468
932
67
1467
446
988
70
1504
437
955
54
1446
436
925
45
1406
435
854
38
1327
Totals
Priority Populations Program Quality
Standards
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors * will
serve as an overarching frame for programs working
with priority populations.
The Protective Factors are:
 Parental resilience
 Social connections
 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
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Quality Standards align with QRIS and program
characteristics evaluated in FY ‘10 Income Eligible Bid

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.
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Core Services for Priority Populations









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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
Services Unique to each Priority Population
Supportive Child Care Providers
 Case Coordination with DCF Case Managers
 Discharge Planning
 Supporting DCF treatment goals
Specialized Child Care Services for Homeless
Families
 Maintain affiliations with Homeless shelters
Teen Parents
 Regular and routine contact with local schools and
DTA offices (if necessary) to monitor and document
parent participation in school, or GED attendance
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Priority Contract add-on rates

Supportive Child Care

$15.65 per. day includes:
• case management/counseling/referrals
• coordination with DCF
• Transportation

Teen Parent Child Care Service

$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

$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.
19
EEC Priority Populations Funding
Line Item
3000-3050
Type
Supportive Contract
Additional contract
slots for foster parents
Homeless
Teen Parent IE
3000-4060 Contract
* effective February 1, 2010
** Recommendation for FY '11
3000-4060
3000-4060
FY10
Open
Amount
Access
$51,965,829
-
FY11
New FY10
FY10
proposed
Amount
Slots
Amount
FY11 Slots
$51,965,829
3,991 $65,103,769 **5000
$0
$1,054,062
$878,385
$0
$1,932,447
$7,821,910
$0
$7,821,910
255*
512
$9,330,000
$6,210,697
$7,821,910
***Recommendation for FY’11: Additional contracted slots for foster parents will be
earmarked from the existing amount of contract slots allocated in Income Eligible.
Foster children will no longer be considered a family of “1;” foster families will be
required to meet EEC IE requirements and service need.
20
***1000
**600
512
Feedback from Advisory Committee
February 26, 2010
Supportive Child Care
21

Low income working parents should be the priority for IE concern about using 1000 income eligible slots for foster parents
 EEC response: Foster parents who access income eligible slots
will have to meet IE requirements

Supportive slots should be used for foster parents – DCF
should support these families not EEC IE
 EEC response: All foster families do not require add-on
services, but need a child care slot to maintain placement;
 EEC response: Regional DCF staff will determine the
appropriateness of an income eligible slot vs. a supportive slot
based on individual family needs.

Rate for supportive is “eaten up” by transportation costs
 EEC response: Transportation is expensive. Transportation
needs must be determined on an individual family basis for two
reasons:
• to maximize use of add-on rate, and
• to maximize engagement opportunities with families.
Feedback from Advisory Council
February 26, 2010
Teen Parents
 With no expansion of the existing number of slots for
teen parents, teens may have to go on TAFDC to receive
child care, which is not the preferred way for teen parents to
access care.
 EEC response: Current contract slots for teen parents
are not filled; our procurement will address the potential
mismatch between birth data and existing child care slots
for teen parents.
 EEC response: in the current fiscal climate, access
through TAFDC provides another way for more teen
parent families to have their child care and support
service needs met.

22
Support for blended rate – general agreement of the
Council