Financing for ECE Quality and Access for All: Key Informant Interviews for an Environmental Scan of State and Federal Financing Policies

Instrument 1—Topic Guide for Semi-Structured Interviews

		Program level		State level			Regional/Federal TA
		Head Start program directors	Head Start finance managers	EHS-CCP directors	State-level ECE policy individuals	State-level CCDF-focused and PDG-focused staff	Head Start Collab Office directors	Regional Office Staff	T/TA staff that develop guidance for grantees on meeting fiscal requirements
Structures and Governance
Policies	What type of policies or systems are in place to support/enable programs to braid funding (both Head Start and non-Head Start programs)?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	How often do policies related to braided funding change?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	Please tell us about your role in supporting financing decisions at the state and at the local/program level.	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	What governance structures exist to support collaboration/braided funding approaches?				X	X	X
Partnerships and collaboration	Who do you work with at the state level around ECE funding? What type of financing work do you collaborate on (policy, TA/support)?				X	X	X	X	X
	What state agencies are involved in supporting E/HS-child care partnerships?	X		X	X	X	X
	What types and how often is there communication across Head Start-state partners with regard to funding approaches?	X			X	X	X	X	X
Braided Funding Models and Approaches
Models and approaches	Which funding streams do you focus on or use for braiding funding?	X	X	X		X
	What are the types of braided funding approaches you have seen in programs?	X	X	X	X			X	X
	How does (the approach to) braiding support differ by program components (e.g., transportation, staffing, etc.)?	X	X	X				X	X
	Does approach to braiding funding differ year-to-year based on enrollment (mix of children enrolled)? By how much money is available?	X	X	X
	What informal guidance do you share with programs about braiding funding?				X	X	X	X	X
Providing support for target populations	How do different braided funding approaches support provision of comprehensive services to children and families?	X	X	X		X		X	X
	How do you approach braiding funding to support children with disabilities? Does your approach to braided funding vary for children with disabilities specifically?	X	X	X	X	X
	What aspects of braided funding approaches do you think might best meet the needs of children and families?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	What aspects of braided funding approaches do you think best meet the needs of the workforce?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Decision-making
Steps in decision-making	What prompted you to consider braiding funding?	X	X	X
	What considerations are needed for a program to braid funding?	X	X	X		X
	What steps does a program need to take to braid funding?	X	X	X		X
	Where do you find information about braiding approaches, regulations, and requirements?	X	X	X			X	X	X
	How do you think about braiding source X with others? With Head Start funding and requirements?	X	X	X		X
Benefits and Challenges
Benefits and challenges	What are benefits to braiding funding?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	What are key challenges (or barriers) programs face to braiding funding?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Other
Additional information	Tell us examples of strong Head Start partnerships that are not supported by EHS-CC Partnership grant funds?			X	X		X
	Is there anything else you would like to share with us that is important to this topic or would add to our understanding?	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
	How does uncertainty of funding year to year (or over time) affect decisions around braiding funding?	X	X	X		X

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