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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01112011 - C.108RECOMMENDATION(S): ACCEPT the annual report from the Local Child Care Planning & Development Council on their activities, as recommended by the Family and Human Services Committee. FISCAL IMPACT: None - report only. BACKGROUND: On December 6, 2010 the Family and Human Services Committee received a report from the Local Child Care Planning and Development Council regarding their activities over the past year. The Committee requested that this report be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for acceptance. The report is attached. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: None CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: None APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 01/11/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYES 4 NOES ____ ABSENT ____ ABSTAIN ____ RECUSE ____ Contact: Dorothy Sansoe, 925-335-1009 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: January 11, 2011 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C.108 To:Board of Supervisors From:Family and Human Services Committee Date:January 11, 2011 Contra Costa County Subject:Referral #81 - LPC Activities Page 1 of 5 M E M O R A N D U M DATE: December 6, 2010 TO: Family and Human Services Committee Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II, Chair Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V, Vice Chair FROM: Ruth Fernández, LPC Coordinator/Manager, Educational Services SUBJECT: Local Planning Council for Child Care and Development – Council Activities-Referral #81 CC: Contra Costa County Office of Education Dr. Joseph A. Ovick, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pam Comfort, Associate Superintendent, Educational Services RECOMMENDATION(S): ACCEPT the below written report of activities, key accomplishments and challenges during fiscal year 2010-2011 for the Local Planning Council for Child Care and Development (LPC) as they relate to the implementation of the Comprehensive Countywide Child Care Plan 2008-2011 in the following goal areas: 1) Promoting access to quality child care, 2) Develop and nurture a trained workforce, 3) Foster and promote coordination and collaboration with the community, 4) Advise sponsoring entities on local issues and priorities in child care and development. KEY PLANNING COUNCIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Convened over 15 local subsidized early care and education programs to coordinate and advocate for the retention of subsidized funding serving low income children throughout the County. • Developed, implemented, and administered a countywide professional development program for individuals working in subsidized programs in Contra Costa County. • Served as a public and inclusive coordinating and planning mechanism for the diverse field of early care and education in the County. • Created and published educational resources in English and Spanish for child care providers and parents of young children. • Sponsored a seminar for City Planning Department staff to provide technical information and supportive child care language that would inform the development of municipal General Plans and Housing Elements Reports. • Developed user-friendly resources on professional development resources, events, and higher education degree programs. • Attended city council meetings, First Five commission meetings and other planning commission meetings throughout the County in support child care services. • Successfully completed Annual Self-Evaluation and Compliance Report as required by the California Department of Education. CHALLENGES: • 50% reduction in annual state funding allocation for the Local Planning Council. Page 2 of 5 • 25% reduction in annual state funding allocation for the AB212 Professional Development Program Staff Retention activities. • Reduction of staffing infrastructure for the implementation of LPC projects and activities. • Unfilled LPC membership categories. ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED FOR REPORTING PERIOD (July 2010 – June 2011) GOAL 1: PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILD CARE Strategies Activities Objectives Cross-agencies collaboration & partnerships Convene quarterly county-wide State-funded Program Administrators Meetings. Meetings are held at the County Office of Education from 2-4 p.m. • Promote cross-agency conversations that will promote: collective problem solving, resource cross- pollination, shared best practices. • Leverage existing resources to explore new partnerships and collaboration opportunities. • Serve as a source of information regarding the needs, challenges, and opportunities for State-funded/Title V Child Development Programs. • Provide a forum for dialogue, new connections and relationships among child care services agencies including Head Start, Early Start, Early Head Start, School Districts, Non-profit agencies and State- Preschool Programs. Participate in cross agency collaborative for First Five’s Preschool Makes a Difference Program (PMD) • Serve as a liaison for the development of new relationships between school districts and other community agencies. • Support the implementation of quality standards identified by PMD and best practices for professional development and curriculum in child development programs including family child care, state-funded programs, federally funded programs, private, and exempt providers. LPC Coordinator participates in the Healthy and Active Before Five Leadership Council Meetings, events, and activities. Promote the implementation and enforcement of healthy food and beverage environment policies in child care programs and in all LPC meetings and events. On-going collaborative meetings with Head Start programs and the Community Services Bureau • Leverage existing resources for staff professional development and growth. • Coordinate efforts to support the early care and education workforce to achieve the completion of degrees within the established federal timeline (AA, Page 3 of 5 BA, MA) • Share resources and pilot new initiatives that promote innovation and creativity Implement new regulations from the California Department of Education (CDE) Voluntary Temporary Transfer of Funds (VTTF) • Continue to monitor the process established by the California Education Code (EC) Section 8275.5 known as the Voluntary, Temporary Transfer of Funds. • Ensure all child care and development funds appropria by CDE are fully utilized within the fiscal year (FY). • Assist and facilitate the local process in the voluntary transfer of Child Development Division (CDD) contract funds between CDD funded agencies in Contra Costa County. • The LPC Coordinator continues to inform Contra Costa CDD funded agencies about resources and information released by the state’s Child Development Division. As defined by the state CDD contractors will have an opportunity to request transfer of funds for FY 2009-10 from November 1- 15 and May 1-15. Requests must be submitted to the LPC during these periods. Develop local priorities for new state child care and preschool funds Priorities are determined and approved by the Local Planning Council, Board of Supervisors and County Superintendent of Schools and are submitted to the CDD by May 30th of each calendar year. GOAL 2: DEVELOP AND NURTURE A TRAINED WORKFORCE AB 212 Professional Development Program (PDP) Provide advising and professional growth counseling services • Coach and mentor staff members at state-funded child care programs for continued professional development and educational achievement • Connect staff members with local, regional, and state-wide educational and professional development resources such as conferences, seminars, trainings, certificate programs and higher education degree programs and institutions. Provide stipends as incentives for continued professional growth and educational advancement • Participants are required to complete a minimum of 3 college units for degree or child development permit applicable courses. • Develop a professional development plan for quality improvement based on their classroom observations and indicators as indicated in the children’s desired results developmental profiles • Implement the approved professional development Page 4 of 5 activities in their plan and write a reflective essay of their learning • Promote the retention of qualified staff at State- funded Child Development Programs Increase the teacher’s knowledge, skills, and strategies for achieving better outcomes for children, while continuing education and professional development. • Promote teacher’s reflective practices in the classroom • Foster peer coaching and classroom observation • Support the use of self-assessment tools and inter reliable quality evaluation tools AB212 Center- Based Team Professional Development Grants Identify eligible and interested state funded programs to successfully implement a team professional development plan (grants up to $5,000) The Center-Based Team Professional Development Grant is designed to foster: Peer learning: through the creation of small peer learning groups or discussion groups. Communication: to identify areas of staff expertise and areas for staff growth. Mutual Cooperation: to promote sharing of professional knowledge, to put knowledge gained from professional development opportunities into practice in the classroom, and to support team-based approaches to program improvement. Professional Development: in areas that have been identified by the staff team at the site. Personal Growth and Emotional Support for Staff: to support the retention of a stable and skilled workforce. GOAL 3: FOSTER & PROMOTE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION WITH THE CHILD CARE COMMUNITY Parent Education Campaign Create a Road Map to Kindergarten Guide for parents with children age 0-5 Provide families with a navigation tool that will guide them to better prepare their children to enter Kindergarten by reinforcing key school readiness skills children need to successfully transition into a more structured academic learning environment. The Road Map also includes relevant information about kindergarten information requirements and tips for parents to become partners with their child’s teacher and school. Develop marketing tools that link families with 211 telephone services specifically to access school district information when preparing to register their children in kindergarten Collaborate with the County Office of Education, the 211 Database/services and the Community Services Bureau to create and disseminate relevant information with community agencies, pediatric clinics, parent education programs, and other family resource centers. GOAL 4: ADVISE SPONSORING ENTITIES ON LOCAL ISSUES AND PRIORITIES IN CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT Page 5 of 5 Build rapport with LPC appointing bodies and other local government officials Implement Contra Costa County Comprehensive Countywide Child Care Plan 2008-2011 • Provide bi-annual reports to the Family and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors pertaining to LPC activities, challenges, and strategic planning. • Mobilize public and private resources to address identified local child care needs Plan, organize and implement the 7th Annual Young Children’s Issues Forum ~2011 Provide a forum for open dialogue and information sharing between legislators, local officials and the community regarding current children’s issues.