HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09171996 - C71 1 0
-ro ' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-04
Contra
FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE o s Costa
County
DATE: September 9, 1996
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON THE CHILD CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. ACCEPT this report from the Family and Human Services Committee on the
status of work on the process to be followed in allocating funds from the Child
Care Affordability Fund for the 1997-98 fiscal year.
2. REQUEST the Child Care Task Force and the Contra Costa Child Care
Council to provide their advice to the Family and Human Services Committee
on the process they believe should be followed in allocating funds from the
Child Care Affordability Fund for the 1997-98 fiscal year.
3. REQUEST the Child Care Task Force to forward to the Board of Supervisors
at their earliest opportunity the updated Child Care Plan, the Executive
Summary of which was reviewed by our Committee on September 9, 1996
and which is attached to this report.
4. REQUEST our Committee to meet again with all interested parties on this
subject during the month of October and return additional recommendations
to the Board of Supervisors.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOAR OM TTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): RK neSAI-11 NIFR
ACTION OF BOARD ON Se tnmbw 17 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT V ) 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.
ATTESTED September 17, 1996
Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: See Page 3 ISORS AND COUNTY A ISTRATOR
F&HS-04
BACKGROUND:
On June 18, 1996, the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committee future
financing plans for the use of the Child Care Affordability Fund in order that the use
of these funds can be better integrated with the use of other child care funds.
The Child Care Affordability Fund was established several years ago to provide
funding to assist in making child care more affordable for low-income parents. It is
funded from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) imposed on guests at the Embassy
Suites Hotel in the Pleasant Hill-BART Station Redevelopment Area. The Board's
intent at the time the fund was established was that the money from the TOT, not to
exceed $250,000 a year, was to go to the Child Care Affordability Fund. The Fund
has had a somewhat checkered history with various amounts of the Fund diverted
in some years to support contracts for needed and valuable social service programs
which otherwise would have been eliminated.
There has never been a concerted effort to open the Child Care Affordability Fund
to competition in applications for funds, nor has there been a very good program for
reviewing the overall child care needs of the County, the resources which are
available to meet those needs and deciding how the funding from the Child Care
Affordability Fund could be most productively integrated with other child care funds.
It has now been suggested that some type of competitive Request for Proposals
might be issued for these funds, with the County defining fairly clearly the areas in
which the funds would be used so applicants could focus their applications in the
areas which the Board has defined as being the most appropriate for the use of
these funds. In an effort to begin to get a picture of the overall child care funding
under the Board's administrative control, the Social Service Director has prepared
the attached report which outlines all of the child care programs which are
administered by the Social Service Department.
On September 9, 1996, we met with John Cullen, the Social Service Director; Kate
Ertz-Berger, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council; staff and
members of the Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT) and other child care
advocates.
As a result of our discussion it is clear that the recently enacted Federal Welfare
Reform will have a substantial impact on the availability and flexibility with which
child care funds can be used in California. In addition, the Child Care Task Force
has just finished work on an update of the Child Care Plan which was approved by
the Board of Supervisors several years ago. This has included an updated needs
assessment. We would like to get input from the Child Care Task Force on what
process they recommend be used to allocate the Child Care Affordability Fund. As
the designated Child Care Resource and Referral agency in the County, we believe
the Contra Costa Child Care Council also plays an important part in deciding what
the priorities should be for the allocation of child care funds in the County.
We are, therefore, recommending that the Child Care Task Force and the Contra
Costa Child Care Council be asked to provide their respective recommendations on
a process which might be followed to set priorities for the expenditure of the Child
Care Affordability Fund and to evaluate proposals from those who might be
interested in providing services consistent with those priorities. We believe that it
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F&HS-04
is also important to include all significant child care providers in the County, including
Head Start in our discussions.
We plan to meet again with all interested parties during October and will make
further recommendations to the Board following that meeting.
cc: County Administrator
Social Service Director
Community Services Director
Executive Director, Contra Costa Child Care Council
Child Care Task Force
-3-
';CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Social Service Department
DATE: September 4, 1996
TO: Claude L. Van Marter, Assistant County Administrator
FROM: John Cullen, Direc or
SUBJECT: Child Care Programs Administered by the Social Service Department
In response to your request, the following is a report on the child care programs currently
administered by the Social Service Department.
In FY '95-'96, no fewer than 16 significant child care programs with funding in excess
of$5.5 million were available to parents/caretakers. These programs encompass a wide variety
of services, funding sources, targeted "client" family groups, eligible service providers, payment
provisions/limits and administrative structures.
In general, these programs fall into three major categories:
1. California Department of Social Service Programs:
These are large programs with child care components for parents/caretakers, who
are, or have recently been, AFDC recipients and whose child care needs are being met
to permit their participation in work-related training/education programs, or allow their
entry into the work force without seriously compromising their AFDC grant or their
ability to survive financially on low, entry-level salaries. Most of these programs are
time-limited, focused on specific types of family situations (e.g. teen parents, families
just coming off welfare, children under 13, foster care children, etc.) and have payment
Emits determined by the state.
2. Federal and State Child Care Subsidy Programs:
These three programs provide child care for "working poor" families generally
without regard to AFDC status (Title III-A specifically excludes AFDC recipients) and
are administered through the Department of Education. Specifically targeted clients
include Child Protective Services (CPS) cases, or children at risk of abuse/neglect,
special needs children, children of teen parents, very low income working families "at
risk" of falling on (or back on) AFDC, and non-AFDC emancipated minor parents, who
have, or are pursuing, a high school diploma/GED. Each of these programs has a
payment limit determined by a "state child care provider survey" and the subsidies are
reduced by a "family fee" based on income and family size.
i Y r r
3. "Other" Contracted Child Care Pro rg ams:
In addition to the Child Care Affordability contracts with the Child Care Council
and Pittsburg Pre-School administered by the Department and currently under discussion,
the Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT)jointly administers two child care
contracts with Social Services:
a. The Family Stress Center Respite Nursery project provides short-
term respite care for parents/caretakers of abused/neglected children, or those at
risk of being abused/neglected, and medically fragile, drug-exposed infants; and
b. The Therapeutic Nursery Program of Pittsburg Pre-School is
supported through FACT and a portion of the Child Care Affordability funds to
provide specialized child care, counseling, parenting skills, training and education
to families experiencing child abuse/neglect problems or other family dysfunction.
The Summary Chart at the end of this report depicts the salient features of each of these
programs and the characteristics which differentiate each from the other. The next chart
illustrates the Social Service Department's magnitude of effort for child care both in terms of
the families served and the funds expended during the last fiscal year (FY '95-'96).
In addition to these specific, identifiable programs, child care is available, to varying
degrees, in many of the other programs administered directly or under contract. The majority
of the other six FACT-funded child abuse/neglect or family intervention projects provide child
care services as a part of the "package" of services available to low income, troubled families.
The Refugee programs, Family Preservation projects and other contracted direct service projects
also include child care components in their respective programs.
Program Data Collection and Reporting
For the largest segment of these programs, the kind and extent of available program
information or client data is dependent totally on the reporting requirements of the program.
Generally speaking, this is limited to client participation and expenditure data. The "fee for
service" reimbursement structure of most programs mitigates against the provision of services
related to family planning, parent education, counseling, etc., and thus, little information about
these issues is available.
The two exceptions to this are the CAL-LEARN program and the FACT child care
programs. Because the CAL-LEARN program provides extensive case management and
supportive services to enable teen parents to pursue a high school diploma/GED, more
information about these clients is currently available and there is an enhanced feasibility of
expanding this database.
Similarly, the contract monitoring processes developed by the FACT Committee for
evaluating their projects provides a mechanism for increased data collection and analysis than
is available elsewhere. The comprehensive, intensive nature of the projects themselves also
increase the likelihood that more "parent education/parent responsibility" services are being
provided to participants. In general, "contracted" service programs will have a higher level of
detailed data than is available elsewhere.
- Memo to: C. L. Van Marter September 4, 1996
Subject: Child Care Programs.... Page 3
Child Care Affordability Allocation Process
Given the prospect of major changes in social welfare programs resulting from the
recently enacted Welfare Reform Legislation, this;is an opportune time to begin the discussion
of how to develop an overall network of child care services throughout the County. Although
some of the existing programs will be continued under the Block Grant format, it can be
anticipated that there will be shifts in "targeted" families and eligibility criteria, and a tightening
of other restrictions. As these changes occur, adjustments in the remainder of the County's child
care programs (including those supported by the Child Care Affordability Funds) to maintain the
necessary network of service resources will be necessary. At that point, expanded discussions
not only with the Social Services and Health Services Departments, but with Community
Services, the Department of Education, non-profit community-based service providers and other
community groups will be invaluable.
Numerous options for allocating the Child Care Affordability monies in FY '96-'97 exist
(e.g. using the FACT process, perhaps expanded to include involvement of Child Care Task
Force members and others knowledgeable about child care, developing a new process using
members from these groups, creating a new "child care" coordinating structure, etc.). No one
option is necessarily better than another; however, I believe that adherence to some basic policy
guidelines which the Board has previously endorsed will produce the most desired outcome.
Some of these include:
1. Ensure the coordination of these funds with other available child care
resources and related services, by expanding these discussions to the broader child care
community network and involving interested parties as early in the process as feasible;
2. Develop a Needs Assessment process that can pinpoint gaps in services,
provide for extensive community and service provider input, and permit articulation of
program goals and objectives;
3. Allocate the funds through a competitive process that includes provisions
for thorough review of alternative program options, by a team (group, Committee, etc.)
of interested persons who are "conflict-free"; and
4. Provide for a program monitoring system capable of identifying
goal/objective achievement in the funded projects and a method of data collection to
support program review and future planning.
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FY '95- 96 CLIENT PARTICIPATION AND EXPENDITURE DATA
Programs Families Children Funds Spending County
Served/Mo Served/Mo Available Estimate Share
I. CALIF. SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS
1. GAIN 744 N/A $1,400,720 $11780,553 15.0% **
2. NET (non-GAIN educa- 23 38 229,000 120,000 0.0%
tion and training)
3. CAL-LEARN 52 59 1,116,000 233,333 0.0%
4. AFDC Dependent 544 904 No limit 1,376,004 2.5%
Disregard
5. Supplemental Child Care 119 207 No limit 253,233 2.5%
6. Transitional Child Care 83 163 No limit 501,859 0.0%
7. Calif. Alternative 1 3 No limit 8,074 2.5%
Assistance Program
TOTALS 1566 N/A $4,273,056
II. FEDERAL AND STATE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
1. Calif. Alternative 28 54 403,518 403,518 16.0% **
Payment Program
2. Federal Block Grant 74 109 465,151 465,151 0.0%
3. Federal Title IV-A "At 110 168 661,056 661,056 0.0%
Risk"
TOTALS 212 331 $1,529,725 $1,529,725
III. "OTHER" (PRIMARILY CONTRACT) CHILD CARE PROJECTS
1. Pittsburg Pre-School 23 24 99,850 99,850 0.0%
Therapeutic Nursery
(FACT/CCAF) -
2. Family Stress Respite 90 202 40,000 40,000 0.0%
Nursery (FACT)
TOTALS 113 226 $ 139,850 $ 139,850
* Estimates only; verified data not yet available
** GAIN and CAAP programs provide for maintenance of effort amount to be paid by the county, resulting
in these percentages. Also, spending in excess of funding is paid by the county.
h4Dpf,ivh✓M
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
0
J
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS
GAIN ................................................................................................................................. 1
NET ................................................................................................................................... 2
CAL-LEARN ...................................................................................................................... 3
AFDC DEPENDENT CARE DISREGARD ........................................................................ 4
SUPPLEMENTAL CHILD CARE (SCC) ............................................................................ 5
CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CRAP) ................................... 6
TRANSITIONAL CHILD CARE (TCC) ............................................................................... 7
STATE AND FEDERAL CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM ...................................................... 8
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT ............................................................................................... 8
FEDERAL TITLE IV-A "AT RISK" ..................................................................................... 8
TRUSTLINE REGISTRATION .......................................................................................... 10
Prepared by the Contra Costa County Social Service Department
1
GAIN CHILD CARE
WHAT IS GAIN?
The Greater Avenues fcsr Independence Program is called "GAIN." GAIN provides
education, training and employment services for AFDC recipients who meet targeted
population criteria. Some GAIN Target Groups are
1) People who have received AFDC for 36 out of the last 60 months,
2) Parents under the age of 24 without a high school diploma or who haven't
worked more than 3 consecutive months in the last year, and
3) Parents whose youngest child is age 16 or over.
There are other Target Groups. If you are receiving AFDC, your Eligibility Worker can tell
you if you are in a Target Group. If you are not in a GAIN Target Group and are
attending an approved education or training program, you may be eligible to receive child
care through the NET Program (See Page 2).
AFDC recipients participating in a GAIN activity may be eligible to receive supportive
services including transportation and ancillary expenses in addition to child care.
WHO CAN RECEIVE GAIN CHILD CARE?
♦ You must be in the GAIN Program and need child care while attending a GAIN
approved activity.
♦ The child(ren) must be in the AFDC Assistance Unit, on Federal Foster Care or
SSUSSP and be under the age of 13 (unless the child needs special care).
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements (See Page 10).
HOW MUCH DOES GAIN PAY FOR CHILD CARE?
GAIN will pay the child care provider the cost of child care while you are attending the
GAIN approved activity as long as the cost does not exceed the regional market rate limit
established by the State of California. If the child care provider is a parent or guardian of
the child or a member of the AFDC Assistance Unit, you cannot receive a GAIN child care
payment for that child.
WHERE CAN I APPLY? .
If you are already in the GAIN Program, ask your GAIN.Case Manager. To apply for the
GAIN Program or receive more detailed information about GAIN, ask your Eligibility
Worker or call the GAIP office in your region:
WEST COUNTY CENTRAL COUNTY EAST COUNTY
(510) 262-5269 (510) 313-1940 (510) 706-4740
1
NET CHILD CARE
WHAT IS "NET'?
The Non-GAIN Employment & Training Program, or "NET," reimburses child care costs to
AFDC recipients who are not in a GAIN Target Group and who are satisfactorily attending
an approved education or training program.
WHO CAN RECEIVE NET CHILD CARE?
To be eligible for NET child care assistance, you must be receiving AFDC and meet all of
the following criteria:
♦ You must be in an education or training program that can be completed within 2
years and will lead to a job in demand in the local labor market;
♦ You must be attending your education or training program full-time;
♦ You must be making satisfactory progress in the education or training;
♦ You cannot already have a bachelor's degree or higher;
♦ The child(ren) must be in the AFDC Assistance Unit, on Federal Foster Care or
SSUSSP and be under the age of 13 (unless the child needs special care); and
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements (See Page 10).
If you have job skills that are in demand in the local labor market and have the potential to
earn two times the poverty level in income, you are not eligible for NET.
HOW MUCH DOES NET PAY FOR CHILD CARE?
NET will reimburse you for the cost of child care while you are attending the NET
approved education or training program as long as the cost does not exceed the regional
market rate limit established by the State of California.
If the child care provider is a parent or guardian of the child or a member of the
Assistance Unit, you cannot receive a NET child care payment for that child.
NET does not pay for transportation or for the ancillary costs of education or training.
WHERE CAN I APPLY?
To request an application for the NET Program, call the NET Hotline : (510) 313-1611
2
CAL-LEARN CHILD CARE
WHAT IS CAL-LEARN?
The Cal-Learn Programhelps teen parents get a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
This is done through an integrated "package" of services, which includes intense case
management, child care assistance, transportation, and ancillary expenses. It also
provides cash bonuses for achieving good grades and for graduating. Unsatisfactory
grades or refusal to participate without good cause will result in cash sanctions to the
AFDC case. The Cal-Learn Provider in Contra Costa County is the East Bay Perinatal
Council.
WHO CAN RECEIVE CAL-LEARN?
♦ If you are a pregnant or custodial teen parent under age 19 who does not have a
high school diploma or GED and who receives AFDC, you must participate in
Cal-Learn. You will participate in Cal-Learn until you reach age 19 or obtain a high
school diploma or GED.
♦ Your child(ren) must be in your AFDC Assistance Unit.
♦ Teen fathers may participate in Cal-Learn providing they are receiving AFDC and
are in the same household as their child(ren).
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements (See Page 10).
HOW MUCH DOES CAL-LEARN PAY FOR CHILD CARE?
You must provide your Cal-Learn Case Manager with proof of your monthly child care
costs. Cal-Learn will pay the child care provider the cost of child care while you are
attending school as long as the cost does not exceed the regional market rate limit
established by the State of California.
If the child care provider is a parent or guardian of the child or a member of the AFDC
Assistance Unit, you cannot receive a Cal-Learn child care payment for that child.
WHERE CAN I APPLY?
For a referral to Cal-Learn, contact your Eligibility Worker. To receive more detailed
information regarding Cal-Learn, phone the East Bay Perinatal Council:
WEST COUNTY CENTRAL & EAST COUNTY
(510) 236-6990 (510) 427-3035
3
AFDC DEPENDENT CARE DISREGARD
WHAT IS THE "DEPENDENT CARE DISREGARD"?
The AFDC Dependent Care Disregard is a child care expense deduction from an
employed AFDC recipient's earned income. This deduction allows you to keep more of
yourAFDC grant.
WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS DISREGARD?
♦ You must be eligible for and receiving AFDC and have earned income from
employment.
♦ You must provide your Eligibility Worker with a receipt for child care expenses and
verify the number of hours you are employed.
♦ The child(ren) must be in the AFDC Assistance Unit and be under the age of 13
(unless the child needs special care).
♦ If your child care provider is a parent or guardian of your child or is a member of
the AFDC Assistance Unit, the disregard will not be allowed as a deduction.
HOW MUCH IS THE DEPENDENT CARE DISREGARD?
The maximum deduction from your earned income is $175.00 per month for each'child
age 2 and over and $200.00 per month for each child under the age of 2.
WHERE CAN I APPLY?
Contact your Eligibility Worker for more information about the Dependent Care Disregard.
You may afro be eligible for Supplemental Child Care (SCC). If you are eligible for SCC,
you may get help paying for your child care expenses that exceed the Dependent Care
Disregard.
4
SUPPLEMENTAL CHILD CARE PROGRAM
WHAT IS "SUPPLEMENTAL CHILD CARE"?
Supplemental Child Card,-or "SCC," is a program which covers costs of child care which
are over the amount allowed in the Dependent Care Disregard. If you are employed and
receiving AFDC, SCC can reimburse you for child care costs above the Dependent Care
Disregard.
WHO CAN RECEIVE SCC?
You must be on AFDC and meet all of the following requirements:
♦ You are employed;
♦ You are paying for child care for a child(ren) in your care who is in your AFDC
Assistance Unit or receiving Federal Foster Care or SSI/SSP, and who is under the
age of 13 (or needs special care); and
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements, including Trustline (See Page 10).
♦ If your child care provider is a parent or guardian of your child or is a member of
the AFDC Assistance Unit, SCC will not be allowed.
HOW MUCH DOES SCC PAY?
The State of California established the maximum amount allowable for child care
reimbursement through a survey of California child care providers. SCC will reimburse the
actual cost of child care, minus the Dependent Care Disregard (if allowed), up to the limit
established by the State.
WILL SCC AFFECT MY CASH AID?
No. An SCC payment will not count against your cash aid or Food Stamps.
WHERE CAN I APPLY?
Contact your Eligibility Worker for more information about the SCC Program and to obtain
an SCC 6 application form. You must submit a completed SCC 6 (one for each provider)
no later than the 11 th of the month (we recommend by the 5th) to receive payment by the
first of the following month.
5
CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM"?
The California Alternative Assistance Program, or "CARP," provides child care
reimbursement and Medi-Cal benefits to working persons who are eligible for AFDC.
Parents can waive the right to AFDC and receive CAAP for child care and Medi-Cal. The
option to select CAAP is available only at the time of the initial application appointment or
at your annual review.
WHO CAN RECEIVE CARP?
♦ You must be eligible for AFDC and have earned income from employment.
♦ You must provide your Eligibility Worker with a receipt for.child care expenses and
verify the number of hours you are employed.
♦ The child(ren) must be in the Assistance Unit, on Federal Foster Care or SSI/SSP
and be under the age of 13 (unless the child needs special care).
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements, such as Trustline (See Page 10).
♦ If your child care provider is a parent or guardian of your child or is a member of
the Assistance Unit, CAAP will not be allowed.
HOW MUCH DOES CAAP PAY?
The State of California established the maximum amount allowable for child care
reimbursement through a survey of California child care providers. CAAP will reimburse
the actual cost of child care up to the limit established by the State.
WHERE CAN 1 APPLY?
If you are currently employed and receiving AFDC, contact your Eligibility Worker. If you
are employed and not receiving AFDC, you may apply at your nearest Social Service
office. Contra Costa County Social Service Department offices are located at
WEST COUNTY CENTRAL COUNTY EAST COUNTY
1305 Macdonald Ave. 30 Muir Road 4545 Delta Fair Blvd.
Richmond, CA 94801 Martinez, CA 94553 Antioch, CA 94509
(510) 412-3002 (510) 313-7983 (510) 706-4980
and
151 Linus Pauling Dr.
Hercules, CA 94547
(510) 262-7703 ``1
6
TRANSITIONAL CHILD CARE
WHAT IS TRANSITIONAL CHILD CARE?
The Transitional Child Care Program, or '?CC," is a subsidy program available to persons
who lose their AFDC eligibility due to earned income and need continued child care. For
those who qualify, TCC is available to help with child care expenses for 12 months after
they become ineligible to AFDC.
WHO CAN RECEIVE TCC?
♦ You must be a former recipient of AFDC who became ineligible due to increased
income from employment or due to marriage or reconciliation with a spouse who
has income or property.
♦ You must have been eligible for and received AFDC in at least three out of the last
six months before you became ineligible.
♦ You must provide the TCC Case Manager with a receipt for child care and verify
the hours you are employed.
♦ The child(ren) must have been in the AFDC Assistance Unit, be on Federal Foster
Care or SSI/SSP and be under the age of 13 (unless the child needs special care).
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements, such as Trustline (See Page 10).
♦ If your child care provider is a parent or guardian of your child or is a member of
the Assistance Unit, TCC will not be allowed.
HOW MUCH DOES TCC PAY?
The State of California established the maximum amount allowable for child care
reimbursement through a survey of California child care providers. It also established the
amount of the child care cost that the participant is responsible to pay, known as the
"Family Fee." The Family Fee is based on the gross income of the family and on the
family size. The amount of TCC payment is the actual cost of child care, less the Family .
Fee, up to the limit set by the State.
WHERE CAN I APPLY?
If you are a former AFDC recipient who was discontinued due to increased income from
employment, phone (510) 313-1562 for more information and to request an application.
7
STATE AND FEDERAL CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS ,
WHAT ARE STATE AND FEDERAL CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS?
Contra Costa Social Service Department administers three child care programs through
the California Department of Education in addition to child care programs directly related
to welfare cash assistance programs. These programs subsidize child care to families
who,may or may not have ever received cash aid. The three programs are the California
Alternative Payment Program, the Federal Block Grant Program, and the Federal
Title-IV-A "At Risk" Program.
WHO CAN RECEIVE CHILD CARE FROM THESE PROGRAMS?
Each program targets a different type of family situation.
♦ California Alternative Payment Program:
This program serves children who are receiving Child Protective Services (CPS) or
who have been determined by a qualified professional to be at risk of abuse and/or
neglect.
♦ Federal Block Grant
Children in this program must be
- Special Needs Children
- Children of Teen Parents
- Children receiving Child Protective Services or who are at risk of abuse or
neglect
- Children of very low income working parents who are not on AFDC.
♦ Federal Title IV-A "At Risk"
This program serves only low income working families who are not on AFDC.
Because of low income, they are considered "at risk" of having to go on AFDC
without this help. This program has the following priorities:
- Former AFDC families who have exhausted TCC benefits (See Page 7)
- Former AFDC families who do not qualify for TCC for reasons other than
failure to pay family fees or failure to cooperate with Family Support
- Emancipated minor parents who are working and not on AFDC and either
have a high school diploma/GED or are in an education program
which will lead to a high school diploma or GED.
continued on next page }
8
HOW MUCH DO THESE PROGRAMS PAY?
The State of California established the maximum amount allowable for child care
reimbursement through a survey of California`child care providers. It also established the
amount of the child cat6l cost that the participant is responsible to pay, known as the
."Family Fee." The Family Fee is based on the gross income of the family and on the
family size. The amount of the child care payment is the actual cost of child care, less the
Family Fee, up to the limit set by the State. In some cases, Child Protective Services
may waive the Family Fee.
WHO MAY PROVIDE CHILD CARE?
The parent must decide who provides child care. However, payment can be made only
when certain requirements are met.
♦ Your child care provider must be licensed or exempt from licensing and must meet
other specified requirements, such as Trustline (See Page 10).
You must provide the Case Manager with a receipt for child care and verify the
hours care is needed.
♦ If the child care provider is a parent or guardian of your child or is a member of the
immediate family living in the home, child care payments will not be allowed.
♦ In the California Alternative Payment Program, religious instruction during the
hours child care is provided is prohibited.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Families whose children are at risk of abuse or neglect are referred by Child Protective
Services, a Licensed Social Worker, a Physician, or a Court. These written referrals are
sent to Contra Costa County Social Service Department Child Care Unit
1305 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94801. FAX: (510) 374-3705
If you want to apply for the other programs, call the Child Care Hotline: (510) 412-3230.
Note: These programs have limited funding and usually have long waiting lists.
Applicants may also want to explore other child cane resources by calling the Child Care
Council Directory at
West County Central County East County
(510) 233-KIDS (510) 676-KIDS (510) 778-KIDS
9
TRUSTLINE REGISTRATION -
WHAT IS TRUSTLINE?
Trustline is-a process through which parents can feel more secure about the child care
providers they have chosen. All unlicensed child care providers who are not exempt must
be registered with Trustline for the following programs: GAIN, NET, Cal-Learn, TCC,
SCC, GAAP, and State and Federal Child Care Subsidy Programs. Non-exempt child
care.providers are required to be fingerprinted and apply for Trustline to ensure that they
don't have any disqualifying criminal convictions or child abuse reports. The Trustline
Registry is operated by the California Department of Justice and the California Child Care
Resource and Referral Network (in Contra Costa, this is the Child Care Council).
ARE ALL UNLICENSED PROVIDERS REQUIRED TO BE TRUSTLINED?
No. The following are exempt from Trustline Registration:
♦ Aunts, uncles, and grandparents of the chfid(ren)
♦ A public or private school or public recreation r program as defined in Health
and Safety Code Section 1596.792
♦ A child care provider who will be providing care for 30 calendar days or less.
HOW DOES AN UNLICENSED PROVIDER REGISTER WTH TRUSTLINE?
The Eligibility Worker or Case Manager vAll give the parent a "Trustline Packet." This
packet has all the forms needed to apply for Trustline. The parent must give the packet to
the child care provider. Once the application is complete, it must be returned to the
Contra Costa County Child Care Council. The Child Care Council offices are located at
WEST COUNTY CENTRAL COUNTY EAST COUNTY
3727 Barrett Ave. 2450 Stanwell, #200 1005 Fitzhuren Road
Richmond, 94805 Concord, 94520 Antioch, 94509
(510) 233-KIDS (510) 676-KIDS (510) 778-KIDS
IS THERE A FINGERPRINTING FEE?
Yes. The fee varies depending on where the child care provider goes to be fingerprinted.
The cover letter tells the provider where he or she can be fingerprinted and some of the
fees. If the child care provider is unsure of where go to be fingerprinted, the Child Care
Council also does fingerprinting. An appointment should be made. The fee must be paid
by the provider or by the parent; it will not be paid by the County.
For more information, please call your Eligibility Worker or Case Manager.
10
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MOM
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Contra Costa .County
Child Care Plan
Executive Summary
Contra Costa County
Child CarePlan
1996
Executive Summary
For copies of the complete plan contact:
Child Care Council
1035 Detroit Ave., Ste. 200
Concord, CA 94518
(510) 676-5442
PLAN 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction........................................................................... 1
Vision ...................................................................................2
Findings................................................................................5
Recommendations ...............................................................7
TaskForce............................................................................9
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLAN 2001
INTRODUCTION Contra Costa County began a serious scrutiny of its child care system over
ten years ago. At that time a broad based group of parents, child care pro-
viders, advocates and representatives from government, business and la-
bor, analyzed what then existed, discussed what was needed, and made
recommendations for change and improvement.
Ten years later, in 1995, the Child Care Task Force once again took on the
task of examining the child care system in Contra Costa County, determin-
ing what was needed, and making recommendations for change and im-
provement.
The greatest change the Task Force found was in the size of the child care
delivery system. It had more than doubled between 1983 and 1995. The
need for child care also grew during this period from 28,080 children need-
ing licensed care in 1983 to 47,105 in 1995.
However, the Task Force also found many of the concerns articulated in the
initial report still plague the child care system - need still surpasses avail-
able supply, affordability continues to be a problem for low and moderate
income families, and concerns about the quality of child care and the frag-
mentation and lack of coordination of the system still exist.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
PLAN 2001
VISION The Task Force believes the following principles should serve as the foundation
for the kind of child care delivery system we want and need in Contra Costa
County.
Principles Related to •Child care programs must meet the needs of two generations: the parent's
Family Friendly, Quality situational needs and the child's need for a developmental program.
Programs .The child development system should promote school readiness and edu-
cation.
•The system should give parents choices.
•The system should provide support services to enrolled families,whether
delivered directly or through cooperating agencies.
•Child care and development programs should be available to all children,
regardless of income, special needs or cultural diversity, etc.
•The system should maximize continuity of care at all levels.
• Programs should be culturally and linguistically responsive to families.
• Programs should provide high quality care and education, which means:
a. Well trained, well compensated teachers, caregivers and adminis-
trators who are culturally competent.
b. An adequate number of staff to be sensitive and responsive to each
child and to support each parent.
c. A safe, healthy, and age-appropriated physical environment.
d. Continuity of care and continuity of relationships.
e. Culturally and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities.
f. Involvement of parents.
• Programs should promote social competence, including:
a. Racial harmony.
b. Ethnic and cultural understanding.
c. Gender equity.
d. Religious tolerance.
e. Non-violent problem solving.
•The system should provide parents with access to information to make
informed decisions about care.
2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLAN 2001
•The system should include consumer protection for all types of care; in-
cluding licensing and Trustline.
•The system should minimize artificial and unnecessary divisions and distinc-
tions.
• Child Care should be affordable for all families.
• Programs should be geographically accessible.
•The system should encourage the socio-economic integration of children
and families. Programs should be open to families of all income levels
through a variety of methods.
Principles Related to • Families should have a voice in planning services and in the delivery of
Design of the system services at all levels.
• The delivery system should provide for a diverse array of programs, in-
cluding,but not limited to:centers,family child care homes,parent choice
subsidy programs, resource and referral programs, half day programs,
full day programs,campus centers,child care programs designed to meet
the needs of teen parents,exceptional needs programs,migrant programs,
respite(CPS) programs, and license exempt child care.
• System design should make subsidized programs easy to administer.
• Administrative policies,should enhance the delivery of services to families.
• The system should be based on rational planning,including accurate data
collected at the local level.
• Basic civil rights and non-discrimination protection should exist across
the system.
• The system should provide for effective and accessible training for staff.
• The system should promote the professionalism of the child care and
development field.
• The system should focus on quality services, positive outcomes for chil-
dren and parents,and appropriate accountability.
• The system should include prevention and early intervention services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
PLAN 2001
Principles Related to • The overall level of government funding should be adequate to support
Funding quality programs for all eligible families and a strong infrastructure and
support system for families and child care programs.
• Adequate child care funding is good for Contra Costa business and es-
sential for the economic development of the County.
• There should be equitable geographic distribution of funds based on com-
munity needs for child care and development programs.
Principles Related Programs should employ staff who understand children and families.
to Staff . The system should include a variety of effective mechanisms to promote
leadership at every level, including, but not limited to, professional asso-
ciations, workforce training programs, and continuing professional de-
velopment programs.
•The system should provide child care workers with:
a.Good salaries which recognize and compensate training,
education, and responsible.
b. Health care, retirement and other benefits;and decent working
conditions.
c. Effective supervision, evaluation and mentoring.
d.Accessible and differentiated career development opportunities which
lead to professional and economic advancement.
Principles Related to . Programs should be integrated and coordinated with other service sys-
Integration of Services tems to provide access to the comprehensive services that families need,
including, but not limited to, health care, nutrition, social services and
family support programs.
•Contra Costa businesses and communities are, and need to be, partners
in the child care and development system.
•Contra Costa businesses need to be more understanding and supportive
of employees'family needs.
4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLAN 2001
FINDINGS • The estimated number of children of working parents needing child care ser-
vices grew from 28,080 in 1983 to 47,105 in 1995. A growth rate of 68%*
• The supply of child care grew from 15,540 slots in 1983 to 31,539 slots in
1995. A growth rate of 103%'
• The number of centers rose from 176 to 340 between 1983 and 1995.
A growth rate of 93%
• The number of family child care homes grew from 840 to 1,490 from 1983 to
1995. A growth rate of 77%
• The cost of full time child care for a pre school age child rose from approxi-
mately$223 per month in 1983 to over$400 per month in 1995. A growth rate
of over 80%.
• 33,886 children in Contra Costa County are eligible for some type of child
care subsidy. In 1995 only 5,181 or 15.3% were able to be served due to
limited resources.
• Youth, ages 10 to 14, by and large, are not being served by existing school
age programming.
• The approximately 4,000 children of child care age with special needs in the
county are not being adequately served throughout the child care system.
• Child care for parents with alternative work schedules is very limited.
* Please note that these figures include children ages 0-10. Determining the
true scope of unmet need requires analyzing need and supply by age category.
When analyzed by age category the following picture of unmet need emerges:
#of children available unmet
needing care slots need
Infant/Toddler(0-3) 10,193 4,701 5,492 (54%)
Pre School (3-5) 9,972 16,419 —
School Age (5-10) 26,941 10,419 16.522 (61%)
Total 22,014
It should be noted that although the number of child care slots available to serve
preschool age children county wide exceeds the number of preschoolers who
need care, this does not necessarily mean that there is an adequate supply of
preschool child care. Factors such as location, cost, and quality of care must
also be considered.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
PLAN 2001
• Most parents(60%) recognize their own role in insuring quality in the licensed
child care system. However,significant numbers of parents also believe gov-
ernment,schools,employers and community organizations have a role to play
in insuring quality child care.
• Limited child care resources are not always geographically allocated based
strictly on need.
• Approximately 80%of the available subsidy funding is in contracted centers,
about 20% is available for parent choice subsidy programs although this has
grown in recent years.
• The growth of parent choice subsidy programs has resulted in an increase in
public funding of exempt child care. (Exempt child care is care which is not
required to be licensed such as in-home care provided by nannies and rela-
tive care.)
6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLAN 2001
RECOMMENDATIONS
To insure an adequate • Support efforts to increase the supply of quality infant/toddler care by
supply of child care ecouraging the expansion of existing models and promoting creative new
for families in Contra models.
Costa County . Support efforts to increase the supply of quality school age care by en-
couraging the expansion of existing models and promoting creative new
models.
• Support further research of suitable services for youth (ages 10 through
14) and promulgate this information to interested parties.
• Encourage efforts to provide training and support to child care providers
so that they may better serve children with special needs.
•Support efforts to expand the supply of alternative and flexibly scheduled
child care.
To insure families •Advocate for additional funding for subsidized full time child care.
throughout the county
are able to afford
quality child care
To insure the available • Seek geographic allocation equity, based on need, as new funding be-
subsidy resources comes available.
truly and equitably . Advocate for publicly funded part day child care programs (HeadStart &
address the needs of State Preschool) to offer greater program diversity. Specifically, full day,
families full year, programming and programs to serve infants and toddlers.
• Seek to achieve greater balance between centerbased contracted pro-
grams and parent choice subsidy programs as new funding becomes
available by increasing funding to parent choice subsidy programs.
To insure parents, •Increase the availability of parent friendly, multi-lingual,multi-cultural con-
including teen parents, sumer education using a variety of communication vehicles.
are informed consum- . Include intensive consumer education as part of all parent choice subsidy
ers of child care programs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7
PLAN 2001
To improve the quality of •Encourage the community colleges to offer more child development train-
child care in Contra ing in flexible formats.
Costa County Encourage ongoing support and mentorship programs for family child
care providers as an adjunct to formal training.
• Develop and implement strategies to provide more individualized coach-
ing, technical assistance and consultation to family child care providers
and child care centers. Specifically linking ongoing technical assistance
for child care programs to formal training.
To strengthen the overall • Support efforts to coordinate the various elements of the child delivery
child care delivery system.
system in Contra Costa . Encourage all parent choice subsidy programs to make direct payments
County to child care programs and/or care givers.
•Research the use of exempt care under parent choice subsidy programs.
• Build a system of support services such as health and mental health for
families utilizing child care.
8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLAN 2001
CHILD CARE Gayle Bishop
TASK FORCE Beverly Boyd
D.D. Carson
Donna J. Daly
Wilda Davisson
Kate Ertz-Berger
Anne Fincke
Catherine Giacalone
Frances Greene
Shawn Guinn
Nance Jamison
Stephanie Josey
Sharon Krinard
Karen Lassell
Dana Marlowe
Joyce Marolt
Joan Means
Donna Patterson
Susan Peterson
Virginia Richardson
Cathy Roof
,Janet Tompkins
Lillie Woods
Naomi Zipkin
STAFF Claude Van Marter, Assistant County Administrator
Dede Supino,Child Care Plan
Lynda Kilday,Advocacy
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9