Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative

2010

104 Surveys Collected•Central Mississippi PDD: 20 out of 234•East Central PDD: 9 out of 68•Golden Triangle PDD: 10 out of 71•ICS: 17 out of 187•North Central PDD: 5 out of 49•Northeast Mississippi PDD: 4 out of 22•South Delta PDD: 11 out of 105•South Mississippi PDD: 20 out of 231•Southwest Mississippi PDD: 13 out of 63

*Note. Five people named more than one region.

Survey Questionnaire Part I

• The 104 providers serve an average of 61 children in their center, ranging from a low of 14 to a high of 210.

• On average 24 children per center receive certificates.

How long do children generally keep their certificates?

61% keep it for a year or less

n=91

Why do children lose their certificates?91 answers given; many pertain to failure to turn in paperwork or a change in circumstances. Answers include:•“child support record; working 24 hours instead of 25; client has to go to work and school fulltime; a student is dropped in May without allowing the parent to work on the TANF program until school starts again”•“lose job or finish school”•“paperwork”•“parents fail to submit paperwork in timely fashion and/or lose jobs”

24% of providers in the survey said a child with a certificate lost the certificate because someone with a higher priority submitted an application.

Have any parents in your center submitted an application for a certificate that was denied?• Nearly three-fourths said yes

n=101

On average 5 parents per center are denied child care certificates, according to providers in the survey.

11% of providers in the survey said a parent in their center was denied a certificate because of failure to provide their social security number.

Other reasons certificates were denied:73 different answers given; many pertain to parental income, lack of funding, and lack of hours at work. Answers include:•“not working enough hours; not supplying requested info, such as child support”•“income & failure to put fathers on child support”•“too much income”•“By the time the application was processed, check stubs no longer current. Parent has submitted 3 times. She qualifies, but there is always one more form needed. Generally, denials are because of child support.”

Are any children in your center currently on the waiting list for a certificate?• 36% of providers said yes

n=99

On average 6 children per center are on the waiting list for certificates, according to providers in the survey.

Length of time on waiting list for a certificate

• 56% of providers who could provide information said children at their center spend 3 months or longer on the waiting list.

This chart pertains to the 25 providers who gave a specific estimate

n=25

Have any parents at your center not applied for a certificate even though they meet the income requirements for CCDF?• 56% of providers said yes

n=98

On average 5 parents per center meet the CCDF income requirements but have not applied for a certificate, according to the providers in the survey.

Reasons parents have not applied:

41 different answers given; the most common reason is child support. Answers include:•“not working the minimum number of hours for fulltime students”•“not getting all the paperwork in on time; change of income”•“lack of knowledge about program”•“aren't willing to go through the headaches they've witnessed all the previous applicants go through”

Do parents automatically get a CCDF child care certificate when they stop getting TANF child care?• 68% of providers said no

n=76

Length of time parent can keep child care certificate after losing job•67% of providers said parent loses certificate within 30 days

n=71

Length of time for certificate application to be approved or denied•60% of providers who could provide information said certificate decision is made in 4 weeks or less

n=40

This chart pertains to the 40 providers who gave a specific estimate

Length of time for rollover process in the fall•60% of providers who could provide information said the rollover process takes 1 month or less

n=59

This chart pertains to the 59 providers who gave a specific estimate

Do parents lose certificates at the 6-month redetermination period?• 62% of providers said yes

n=90

Have parents become ineligible at redetermination period?• 54% of providers said yes

n=92

Does redetermination cause a disruption in services?• 81% of providers said yes

n=84

Given a choice between redetermination at 6 months and 1 year, 81% of providers in the survey recommend 1 year.

Would you apply for slot-based contracts if more were available?• 87% of providers said yes

n=92

Providers’ suggestions for changing the child care certificate program (83 suggestions made)Example comments:• “Cut a lot of the red tape that causes parents not to be able to receive certificates”• “If parent is in school they should not have to work; if they marry and child doesn't belong to step-parent, shouldn’t count his income”• “When a parent has a new baby, she should be allowed a month to get birth certificate and social security card; total work hours should be 20-25/week”• “Change redetermination to one year; change to slot-based; less time completing rollover”

Did more of your children get certificates after stimulus money was put into Mississippi last spring?• 63% of providers said yes

n=100

Providers report that on average 7 children received certificates as a result of stimulus money in the State of Mississippi.

n=52

Is the requirement to file for child support a deterrent to applying for certificate?• 74% of providers said yes

n=100

Providers report that on average 6 mothers in their center haven’t applied for certificates because they don’t want to file for child support.

n=65

Do you provide services for Head Start kids?• 58% of providers said yes

n=102

• 69% of providers give before and after-school care to Head Start kids in their center

• Only 6% of providers receive money from Head Start for the services they provide to Head Start kids

• The providers say that on average 4-5 children from their center go to Head Start

Have you attempted to create a partnership with the local Head Start agency?• 54% of providers said yes

n=71

Providers’ description of partnership attempts with Head Start (37 comments made)Example comments:• “At one time, they agreed to partnership, but we're doing it right and they give nothing.”• “Good relationship with Head Start. They let us know when they're out of school.”• “Sometimes go to Head Start campus and read stories to the children; provide a monthly parent pages publication to teachers.”• “Head Start agency not a team player.”

Have you been able to speak to someone in the Designated Agent’s office with your questions about certificates?• 80% of providers said yes

n=102

Does the Designated Agent have translators for parents who don’t speak English?• 48% of providers said yes

n=79

Do you assist parents in filling out their application forms or redetermination forms?• 64% of providers said yes

n=104

One-third of providers report that the Designated Agent has “had a reaction” to finding out the provider assisted parents in getting a certificate.

n=63

Documents required with redetermination application, according to providers (68 responses given)

Example comments:• “Check stubs”• “Proof of child support and income”• “Proof of enrollment in school”

Are you aware of any cases where the Designated Agent lost documents or made mistakes in processing the application?• 49% of providers said yes

n=97

Situations where Designated Agent lost documents or made mistakes processing application (68 responses given)

Example comments:• “Misread paycheck stubs as being one week's pay instead of 2 weeks--promptly fixed error as soon as it was pointed out.”• “They stated it to be one price and then it went from $16/mo to $31/month. Had 2 children at same facility.”• “2008 SWPDD lost several envelopes with over 19 individuals’ roll over information, causing parents to lose certificates and roll off the program.”

Are you aware of any cases where parents or providers were barred from participation in the certificate program?• 18% of providers said yes

n=103

Situations where parents or providers were barred from participation in the child care certificate program

Example comments:• “Parents did not know that they had to continuously supply child support info; they were barred from program”• “Sign-out sheets disqualify child attendance if parent does not sign in/out correctly--must be better way.”• “If they don't report info in timely manner; if they are rude to PDD agents; if they question agents (at least it's better than in past years).”

Are deadlines ever extended for parents who don’t have all of the required documentation?• 72% of providers said yes

n=90

Does the Designated Agent provide annual training for you?• 90% of providers said yes

n=102

Training Programs

• 91% of providers in the survey say they attend the Designated Agent’s annual training

• 92% says it’s helpful

• They offered numerous suggestions for training topics

Providers’ descriptions of how parents are treated by the Designated Agent in the application and redetermination processes (77 responses)

Example comments:

•“Sometimes with indifference or no compassion”

•“OK”

•“Good and fair”

•“Some parents state case worker is professional and some parents complain case worker is not”

•“Stigmatizing and degrading process”

Do you participate in the quality ratings system?• 45% of providers said yes

n=101

Providers’ explained what motivated them to participate in the program (41 responses)

• The most common answer was to improve the quality of childcare. Other common answers were funding and a desire to do what’s best for the center and kids.

Providers’ descriptions of their experience with the MCCQSS program (40 responses)

Example comments:

• “very harsh grading system; couldn't meet up to their standards”

• “challenging, hard work, and rewarding at the same time”

• “like the people I work with, but think the program is too strenuous”

• “difficult program to be graded on but they're doing a great job”

• “I like the structure and materials they use. Finances mostly pose a problem in accomplishing all they have required.”

Providers’ reasons for not participating in the MCCQSS program (35 responses)

Example comments:

• “don't have qualified staff and can't afford staff with CDA or other credentials”

• “licensed for school-agers only”

• “don't have time or money to implement all requirements”

• “considering it; need more info”

Providers’ average weekly rates

Infants (90 responses) - $95

Toddlers (93 responses) - $86

4-5 Year-Olds (89 responses) - $83

After-School (80 responses) - $52

Providers’ explanation of what happens when a parent can’t afford child care fees (86 comments)

• Common answers were that the child can’t enroll, the provider encourages the parent to apply for a child care certificate, the provider attempts to work out something with the parent, and that the provider refers the parent to SWPDD/DHS/ECPDD/ NCPDD

Do you think DHS should raise reimbursement rates?• 82% of providers said yes

n=90

Do you think DHS should raise reimbursement rates even if it means fewer certificates?• 71% of providers said no

n=94

Do you think funding for the certificate program should be increased so as to increase rates without reducing the number of certificates?• 95% of providers said yes

n=100

Are you interested in receiving free business advice/support from someone in the business community?• 84% of providers said yes

n=88

Providers’ preferred way to access free business advice/support (83 responses)

• Many preferred receiving help at their center

• Other common answers included the local community college; by telephone or email

How often would you take advantage of free business advice/support?• 50% of providers answered a few times per year

n=85

Do you receive business help from other child directors or other resources?• 65% of providers said no

n=79

Do you offer help to others?• 92% of providers said yes

n=52

Does this organization offer any support?• 76% of providers said no

n=78

Kinds of help offered by support networks (16 responses)

Some examples included:• Child Care• Budgets• Professional Development Training• Moral Support

How often does this support network meet? (16 responses)

• 62.5% responded monthly• 12.5% responded yearly• 12.5% responded quarterly• 12.5% responded as needed

Is the center’s owner certified as a child care director?• 89% of providers said yes

n=98

In addition, 3 centers indicated they were church run or owned.

Is the certification through the Mississippi Director Credential or the CDA?• 65% of providers said yes

n=79

Providers responded there were an average of 2 directors at each facility.

n=97

Are other employees working toward a director certification?• 61% of providers said no

n=92

What kind of business training or technical assistance do you receive? (69 responses)

• 30% of the 69 providers who responded to the question have not received business training or technical assistance.

• For those who answered in the affirmative, DHS/OCY and MBB were the most commonly cited programs.

If you do not participate in any training or technical assistance programs, why not? (21 responses)

For those who did not participate in training or technical assistance programs, the most common explanations were lack of awareness of opportunities and time.

What kinds of additional training or technical assistance would you like to see offered? (77 respondents)

• 27% of responses included budgeting• 19% of responses included accounting• 30% of responses included general management• 55% of responses included staffing• 38% of responses included marketing

Do you participate in any state or federal grant programs, such as the USDA nutrition program?• 51% of providers said no

n=101

• About half the providers in the survey said they participate in state or federal grant programs. CACFP was the program named most often.

• Examples of reasons for not participating in government grant programs included “too hard to participate, too much red tape”; “paperwork”; “do not qualify”; and “don’t know of any grant programs being offered.”

Do you interact with child care centers in your area?• 78% of providers said yes

n=86

• Relationships with other child care centers included networking, training, encouraging each other, directors work together, referrals, and sharing ideas.

n=86

Providers’ comments on the difficulties of running their business (93 responses)

Many comments pertained to funding and staffing.

Example comments:•“having enough funds; keeping qualified staff”

•“having parents pay on time; knowing certs will be there”

•“it has become a time-consuming effort in dealing with CC Certs due to the disorganization and non-communication involved with the OCY DAs and TANF office”

•“hard to make ends meet in the Delta with extreme poverty”

•“having good employees who are dedicated to helping young children. . .”