What are Shared Services?
Shared services refer to coordinated supports that help child care providers operate more efficiently and sustainably. These services may include functions such as billing and payments, enrollment support, human resources, professional development, data and technology supports, and administrative assistance. By sharing or centralizing these services, providers can spend more time focusing on children and families while reducing administrative burden.
What is the Child Care Hub Architecture Project?
The Child Care Hub Architecture Project is a statewide planning effort led by the Delaware Department of Education's Early Childhood Excellence (ECE) as part of its Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B 5) initiative, in partnership with Public Consulting Group (PCG). The project is conducting a comprehensive feasibility analysis and developing a statewide Child Care Hub Blueprint to explore how Delaware’s early childhood system could better deliver shared services, centralized enrollment, and quality and workforce supports through a coordinated, sustainable, and scalable model.
Is this project creating or launching a new child care hub?
No. This project is for planning and readiness only. It does not implement or launch a child care hub. Instead, it gathers input, tests ideas, and develops a statewide plan that can inform future decisions.
The project aims to include voices from across Delaware and reduce barriers to participation whenever possible.
How can I participate?
There are several ways to engage, depending on your interest and availability:
Complete the Survey to share input with a small-time commitment
Focus groups (in person or virtual) to discuss experiences in more detail
Do I need special experience or expertise to participate?
No. You do not need technical or policy experience. The project is interested in your real life experience, whether you are a family member, provider, or community partner. Incentives may be offered for certain activities to help make participation more accessible.
Will participation be accessible?
Yes. The engagement approach prioritizes accessibility and inclusion. This may include:
- In person and virtual options
- Flexible scheduling
- Plain language materials
- Incentives to reduce participation barriers
- Outreach through trusted community organizations
Will participants receive incentives?
Some engagement activities may offer incentives, such as gift cards or hourly compensation, to recognize participants’ time and reduce barriers to participation.
For example:
- Surveys will include raffle based incentives
- Focus groups will offer gift cards
- Incentives vary by activity and will be clearly explained when you sign up or are invited.
What topics will be discussed?
Engagement activities may focus on:
- Child care enrollment and access
- Administrative and operational experiences
- Workforce supports
- Technology and data challenges
- System coordination
What services a child care hub could provide?
Incentives help ensure participants can share honest feedback without financial or time related barriers.
What happens to the feedback that is shared?
Feedback from surveys and sessions is documented and summarized to identify themes. It is used to:
- Validate assumptions
- Refine draft ideas and prototypes
- Inform the statewide Child Care Hub Blueprint
- Individual comments are not shared publicly.
How will I find out about engagement opportunities?
Engagement opportunities will be shared through:
- Email updates and partner communications
- Community organizations and trusted networks
- Digital and printed outreach materials
- Social media posts
Do I have to participate more than once?
No. You can participate as much or as little as you choose. Even completing one survey or attending one session helps inform the project.
What will come out of this project?
The project will result in a statewide plan and supporting materials that reflect stakeholder input and real world considerations. These materials will help inform future decisions about child care system coordination in Delaware.