RECAP of the May EEC Board Meeting: Residential & Placement Program Regulations and Reimbursement Rate Structure Update
At Neighborhood Villages, we prioritize keeping up with the policy landscape in the early education and care field, both across the country and in Massachusetts. That includes tuning-in to the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care (“EEC Board”), to stay apprised of updates and to identify opportunities for how we can work with government and other stakeholders to improve our early education and care system.
The primary topics of this month’s Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Board meeting were an overview of residential and placement programs – as a preview of a framework for regulatory revisions to those programs – and an update on the reimbursement rate structure and plan. Here’s what you need to know…
If You Are a Provider:
Subsidy reimbursement rates are under examination by EEC. Changes will be considered based on the outcome of the state’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget process, as well as the requirement to come into compliance with federal regulations. Recently, the federal Office of Child Care – which oversees use of CCDBG funds – notified EEC that the 50th percentile of the market rate is now a required threshold that states must reach through their reimbursement to providers, in order to help families that receive child care financial assistance. EEC adjusted rates in the fall of 2022 to ensure that, at a minimum, the 30th percentile was met; however, not each age group in each region meets the threshold of the 50th percentile.
EEC is assessing the fiscal impact of the new threshold and is developing a strategy to ensure federal compliance, while also taking into account findings from the agency’s cost research and modeling, which included regional disparities in rates that are not commensurate with differences in costs of care. EEC is proposing to develop and implement a more equitable rate setting structure.
If You Are An Educator:
The application for the Early Childhood Educators (ECE) scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance for early educators seeking postsecondary degrees, is open until August 1, 2023.
If You are a Child Care Stakeholder or Advocate:
The changes to the Child Care Financial Assistance regulations, which the Board approved unanimously at the April meeting, will be implemented through a soft launch this summer, according to the Commissioner. She shared that the official date of effect for the new financial assistance regulations will be September 1, 2023, while the changes will be rolled out in the preceding months.
As part of its effort to examine regulations governing programs in its domain, EEC has begun a systematic review of residential and placement programs. The regulations that govern residential and placement programs have not been revised since 1995; through this process, EEC intends to bring regulations into alignment with its strategic plan. As a first step, EEC had staff members of the licensing team for residential and placement programs share a bit about these programs with the Board. The overview included the following information:
Residential programs primarily serve youth up to age 18 with behavioral health needs or other needs for additional support. These children are served in group care programs or temporary shelters. Combining group care and temporary shelters, the state has a licensed capacity for 5,631 children, though actual enrollment is much lower due to staffing shortages.
Placement agencies – including foster care placement and adoption agencies – oversee the approval of families to provide foster care in a private residence or to adopt a child. The state has 56 licensed foster care agencies and 27 licensed adoption agencies.
As the licensing agency for residential and placement programs, EEC plays a much different role in this program than it does in others.
As a licensor, EEC sets standards of care and its biggest role with respect to these programs is to review the programs annually to ensure the safety and care of the children.
While EEC licenses and oversees residential programs, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) oversees associated educational programs. Both agencies meet regularly together with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to coordinate operations and ensure best possible outcomes for children in their care.
EEC anticipates that this regulatory reform process – including work with the internal licensing team; engagement with other state agencies; engagement with partners in the field; and a period of public comment – will conclude with recommendations of regulation changes to the Board in the spring of 2024.