Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09101991 - IO.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS aE,-------- 1 Contra FROM: INTERNAI1 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE • Costa rs September 9, 1991 _. _ a County DATE: Srq coi K� REPORT ON MEETING WITH CHILD CARE TASK FORCE SUBJECT: SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Accept this report from the Internal Operations Committee on the status of planning for meeting the child care needs in Contra Costa County. 2. Authorize the Internal Operations Committee to continue to meet with the Child Care Task Force on' a bi-monthly basis to monitor implementation of the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant in the County, review the use of Title IV-A Child Care funds in the County and otherwise oversee child care related issues in the County and for this purpose agree to continue the existence of the Child Care Task Force through December 31, 1992 and request the Internal Operations Committee to report on the actions and future of the Task Force at that time. BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors has appointed a Child Care Task Force to develop priorities for the expenditure of the new federal child care dollars which are being made available this year. The plan for the expenditure of these funds had to be forwarded to the State by August 28, 1991. The Task Force held seven meetings to prepare the necessary plan and prepare it for submission to the CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT"e"'YES SIGNATURE: --RECOMMENDATION OF:=HRODE COMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE --APPROVE SIGNATURES: SUNNE WEIGHT McPEAK ACTION OF BOARD ON eptember 10, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE -X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED September 10, 1991 County Adm_Lnlstrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Social Services Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Community Services Director Child Care Task Force (Via CAO) BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) State. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed priorities on August 13 , 1991 and approved them for submission to the State, subject to final adjustments and approval by the Child Care Task Force at their meeting on August 19, 1991. At the Task Force' s meeting on August 19, 1991, the final version ,of the Plan and Priorities was reviewed and - approved for submission to the State Department of Education. A copy of the Plan and Priorities as submitted to the State is attached for the Board' s information. At its August 19, 1991 meeting, the Task Force also indicated that it felt there were important activities that still needed to be conducted and oversight of child acre programs and funding which were needed. The Task- Force would, therefore, like to continue meeting under the auspices of the Internal Operations Committee, although the Task Force has decided to reduce their meetings to every other month, beginning in September, 1991. Our Committee will continue to make regular reports to the Board of Supervisors following each such meeting. l .�. H FNI They Board of Supervisors Contra ie&oft eBoar Cler(c of the Board Count;/Administration Building oaunri Admin�trator 651 Pine St., Robm 106 Costa Martinez,California 94553 County Tom Pmem.1st District Nancy Q Fehden,2nd Disbict Robed I.Gdwoft,3rd Diatrct Sunne Wright MCPoak 4th District Tom Tddsktdfl.51h District CHILD CARE TASK FORCE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: FINDINGS, PROCESS FOR DETERMINING .PRIORITIES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FINDINGS The forty-two member Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force, a public/private partnership committed to parent choice and responsibility in meeting child care needs, convened for the purpose of setting local priorities for direct services under the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant determined that 13,549 children, ages 0-13, are eligible for subsidized child care services. Currently, 3,231 full and part-time center-based subsidized child care slots and 599 parent choice subsidy child care slots including GAIN and TCC exist in the County. Factors used to determine eligibility for services included total child population, AFDC recipience, and school lunch program partici- pation. The Task Force divided the County into four regions and eligibility was further broken down by region and by the following age groups: infants/ toddlers, preschool children, and schoolage children.. Of the 13,549 children, ages 0-13, eligible for services under the Block Grant, 3,171 are infant/toddlers, 3,549 are of preschool age, and 6,829 are schoolage children. A survey of subsidized child care providers in the County revealed that infants/toddlers and schoolage children were most seriously underserved in terms of available subsidized care. The number of children in each age group eligible for services by region was calculated and compared to the- number of children in each age group by region currently receiving subsidized child .care services. Data was also collected regarding the current level of subsidized service to children with special needs and children at risk of abuse or neglect. CHILD CARE TASK FORCE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2. PROCESS FOR DETERMINING PRIORITIES With the aid of an outside facilitator, the Child. Care Task Force conducted a "nominal group .process" to determine local child care priorities. With this process, small groups were formed and five service priorities per small group were identified based upon the available data and professional and personal knowledge. The full Task Force then reconvened to continue the nominal group process by combining small group priorities in a rank-order to establish five priority areas: infant/toddler care, schoolage care, and care for special-needs children, at-risk children, and children of teen parents. The Task Force then turned to the percentage allocation and geographic distribution of the funds. One proposal was made and approved (with one negative, vote) that allocated 80% to infant care and 20% to schoolage care while placing special-needs care, at-risk care, and care for children of teen parents into specialized subset categories of infant and schoolage populations. The Task Force further decided that the .eligibility formula derived from collected data would be used to determine a distribution :ratio for moving toward geographic equity. It-' was, therefore, determined that Block Grant funds. should be directed throughout county regions based on a 2:1:1:0 ratio with West County having twice the level of. need for child care than North Central and East county regions, and South Central county having less than 1% of need based on eligibility. With the process for determining priorities initiated, the Task Force proceeded by holding a public hearing on August 5, 1991, to . hear testimony. Testimony was given by two citizens, Ronda Garcia of 2450 Stanwell Drive, Concord, and Martha Coleman of 2820 Commerce Street, Concord. ,At the public hearing/Task Force meeting, an alternative proposal was offered for consideration. This proposal allocated 60% to infant/toddlers, 10% to schoolage, and 30% to spread equally among children of teen parents, special needs children, and children at-risk for all age groups. The calculated geographic distribution ratio was used in determining geographic allocation. Ms. Garcia gave public comment in support of this alternative proposal stating that it: (1) provides the preschoolage group with funding; and (2) does not divide funds into such small CHILD CARE TASK FORCE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 categories that the County is unable to impact actual need. Ms. Garcia felt the . initial proposal did not adequately address these two issues which were of concern to her. Ms. Coleman testified to the need for Respite Care for infants in foster care and drug-exposed infants, both of which Ms. Coleman identifies as placing unusual strain on parents, making respite care support essential. The testimony was heard by the Task Force and it was determined that the alternative proposal would more adequately address the concerns of both individuals making public comment. Discussion pursued regarding this alternative proposal and with a consensus of support, a motion was. made to adopt the alternative proposal. The alternative proposal was then unanimously approved and the. concurrent priority recommendations were drafted for submission. RECOMMENDATIONS The Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force recommends that the Federal Block Grant Funds totalling $824,000 for the County be allocated as follows: ♦ 32% for infant/toddler care in West Contra Costa County. 28% for infant/toddler care in East Contra Costa County. ♦ 10% for schoolage care in North Central Contra Costa County. ♦ 10% for children with special needs for any age group in any region of the County. ♦ 10% for children at risk of abuse or neglect in any age group in any region of the County. ♦ 10% to children (any age group) of teen parents in any region. o f. the County. Program improvement recommendations were offered by the Task Force specifically in the areas of quality assurance, training, reimbursement rates, and salaries and benefits.