Phase One (1) Market Rate Survey Tool (Survey Tool) Creation and Dissemination Revise the Department’s current standard communication and Survey Tool, refer to Appendix H, to meet the current Federal guidelines. Attend the designated Children’s Cabinet meetings, to provide and elicit feedback regarding the Statewide Survey, methodology, and data points. Obtain and incorporate Child Care Provider feedback in the development of the Survey Tool through the use of advisory groups, which may include the Children’s Cabinet and any other designated, established group of stakeholders. Obtain the Department’s approval of revised standard communication and Survey Tool prior to administering to Child Care Providers. Send revised, Department-approved, standard communication and Survey Tool to approximately three thousand (3,000) Child Care Providers Statewide. Ensure Study 1 is delivered by June 1, 2026; Ensure Study 2 is delivered by June 1, 2029; and Ensure survey communications include at minimum: Pre-notification emails, postcards, and letters; Two (2) reminders sent on days fifteen (15) and thirty (30) following the initial Survey Tool request. Inform the Department of response rates and barriers throughout Phase One (1). Collect Survey Tools from the Child Care Providers. Study 1 must be collected by October 1, 2026; and Study 2 must be collected by October 1, 2029. Phase Two (2): Survey Tool Analysis and Market Rate Report Complete a full analysis of the Survey Tools collected and culminate in the initial draft report. Submit the initial draft report to the Department. Study 1 draft must be submitted by November 30, 2026; and Study 2 draft must be submitted by November 30, 2029. Ensure the draft report includes, at a minimum: The results of the Survey Tools and Narrow Cost Analysis; The percentages of Child Care Providers whose rates are at, or below, the current Market Rate; Percentages must include State and county calculations for the fiftieth (50th), fifty-fifth (55th), sixtieth (60th), sixty-fifth (65th), seventieth (70th), and seventy-fifth (75th) percentiles. Market Rates and costs of Child Care Services in each of Maine’s sixteen (16) counties, using subgroups of: Age groups; Daily and weekly use; Part-Time and Full-Time use; and Child Care Provider type. Number of Child Care Providers’ participation in: Child Care Subsidy Program; Transitional Child Care; and TANF/ASPIRE Child Care. Barriers to participation in the Child Care Affordability Program; Generally accepted Child Care Provider payment practices, including: Child Care registration and other fees charged to parents; Charging parents above the Child Care Affordability Program parent copayment, including size and frequency of payment totals. Child Care Providers’: Wages; Staffing; Benefits; Ratio group sizes; Non-personal expenses; Rent; Utilities; Food; and Other (i.e. license fees, background check fees, supplies, ground keeping, etc.) An estimated cost to provide Child Care Services (including any relevant variation by geographic location, Child Care Provider, or age of child) to support: Child Care Providers’ implementation of the health, safety, quality, and staffing requirements; Higher-quality care, using the Quality Rating and Improvement System of quality indicators at each level of quality; Children with special needs; Children involved with the child welfare system; and Other categories or special populations to be included. Incorporate additional data components as requested by the Department. Issue the final report, including Department feedback, to the Department. Study 1 final report must be submitted to the Department by February 1, 2027; and Study 2 final report must be submitted to the Department by February 1, 2030. Collaborate with the Department to respond to comments and requests for documentation and explanation regarding methodologies used to determine the Narrow Cost Analysis and Child Care Market Rates in the final report.
