HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12021986 - IO.2 To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 0-
FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE C( �JI ltra
November 24, 1986 Cowa
DATE: Cly
Child Care Issues V^
SUBJECT:
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Request the Director of Personnel to contact the City of
Martinez to determine the following and report back to our
Committee on January 5, 1987 :
o Determine what steps the City of Martinez should take
to address the child care needs of their employees.
o Determine what zoning or land use limitations there are
on the placement of a child care facility in the
downtown area of Martinez.
o Determine the interest of the City of Martinez in
developing a joint child care information and referral
program with the County.
2. Request the Director of Personnel to develop and return to
our Committee on January 5, 1987, a Request for Proposal for
a program of specialized child care information and
referral for County employees countywide which would include
at least the following elements:
o Doing site visits at child care facilities before
referring County employees to such facilities.
o Maintain an up-to-date listing of available child care
resources throughout the County.
o Provide specialized and personalized child care
services to County employees designed to insure that
the child care needs of County employees are met.
o Negotiate with child care providers on behalf of the
County to obtain the most favorable rates possible in
exchange for guaranteeing to fill an agreed-upon number
of slots.
3 . Request the Director of Personnel to notify all County
employees of the availability of information and referral on
child care resources through the Contra Costa Children' s
Council. y
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
X APPROVE OTHER
, '. �
SIGN A( Nan C. Fanden Sunne W. McPea
ACTION OF BOARD ON December 2, 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 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: County Administrator ATTESTED December 2, 1986
Personnel Director ----
Exec. Dir. , Children's Council PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY
�
/ DEPUTY
Page 2
4 . Request the Director of Personnel to develop a proposed
management position on providing a County-financed subsidy
for child care for County employees that can be used as part
of the meet and confer process and return his
recommendations to the Board of Supervisors at an
appropriate time.
5 . Request the Risk Manager to meet with our Committee when we
meet on the subject of liability insurance for child care
facilities.
BACKGROUND:
On October 14, 1986, the Board of Supervisors approved the
direction being taken by our Committee as outlined in our October
13 report to the Board. On November 24 we met with staff from
the Personnel Department, County Administrator' s Office, and
Children' s Council. We reviewed the attached report which
verifies that there are child care needs present with significant
numbers of County employees countywide. In addition, we note
that child care is extremely expensive, particularly for single
parents and lower-income employees. A number of issues must be
resolved before we determine to what extent the County, as an
employer, should offer a child care subsidy as an employee
benefit. This issue must be dealt with in the meet and confer
process since it affects employees ' wages, hours, and working
conditions. In preparing this position, Personnel should get
copies of programs being operated by private sector companies who
have provided this as a benefit to their employees.
We believe we should try to develop a closer working relationship
with the City of Martinez since Martinez is the County seat;
since the County has many employees living or working in
Martinez, and since we understand the City of Martinez has also
expressed concerns about the field of child care.
We believe that one step that can be taken is for the County to
undertake an intensified child care information and referral
program for County employees that is tailored to their individual
needs. We believe that such a program needs to be undertaken on
a contract basis rather than using County employees. We want to
take a look at what an RFP for such a program might include so we
can begin to get an idea of what such a program might cost. The
Contra Costa Children' s Council, for instance, has a contract to
operate a similar specialized child care information and referral
program at Bishop Ranch. We would like to take a look at that
program and tailor a similar one for County employees.
We also note the task force which has been formed pursuant to AB
635 by Assemblywoman Teresa Hughes which will be making a factual
analysis of child care liability insurance problems and issues
and will be making a report to the Legislature by December 1,
1987 on the availability and affordability of child care
liability insurance.
We also note the passage of SB 1159 by Senator Royce. SB 1159
provides a mechanism for the State to insure foster family homes.
This legislation may provide a model for similar legislation
providing insurance for child day care facilities if that appears
to be necessary.
For these reasons, we make the above recommendations and urge
their approval by the full Board.
Contra Personnel Department
CostaAdministration Bldg.
VlJ lL 651 Pine Street
County . a
1' Martinez, California 94553-1292
4:
DATE: November 20, 1936
TO: Internal Operations Committee
FROM: Harry D. Cisterman, Director of Personnel
SUBJECT: Child Care Survey Update & Report
Introduction
On August 11, 1986 your Committee received the results of a Central County Child
Care Survey conducted by staff of the Personnel Department and the Office of the
County Administrator. Based upon that limited information, it was concluded
that there is a need among some County employees working in downtown Martinez
and at Merrithew Memorial Hospital for better and more extensive child care
services.
At your meeting ,on October 21, 1986 you asked that survey results for County
employees working in Central , East & West County be combined into one report.
I was also asked to report on the availability of current child care resources
and costs in the greater Martinez area. Lastly, my report provides inforlgation
on the development of a child care fee schedule which was discussed at the last
meeting of the Committee.
I . Survey Results
During the latter part of September, 3,099 questionnaires .
were sent to 13 different departments that had not pre-
viously participated in the initial Child Care Survey which
was conducted on July 16, 1986. Eight hundred and twenty of
the questionnaires (26.4%) were completed and returned to
the Personnel Department. Between both surveys, a total of
6,582 questionnaires were sent to 38 different County offi-
ces. A total of 1,858 (31%) employees responded to the
questionnaire. -
Of those persons who responded, 1,349 (72%) expressed no
present or anticipated need for child care services.
Although 72% expressed no need for these services, 25% of
the employees surveyed expressed a need for child care ser-
vices while three percent (3%) were undecided.
The results of the survey, with regard to employees
interested in full-time child care arrangements, according
to geographical location are presented below.
Greater Martinez
In the greater Martinez area, 153 respondents indicated
dissatisfaction with child care arrangements, while 33
employees did not indicate whether they were satisfied or
dissatisfied. In the dissatisfied group, employees with a
total of 24 infants and 42 toddler/preschoolers indicated
that they might use full time child care services if they
were available. It is estimated that additional eighteen
children might be added from the undecided group for a total
of 84 children.
Central County•
In Central County 35 respondents indicated that they were
dissatisfied with their current child care arrangements.
These employees, who have a total of 24 children, (9 infants
and 15 toddlers/preschoolers) might use full-time child care
if it were available. Two of the respondents did not indi-
cate whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with their
current child care arrangements.
East County:
In East County 10 respondents indicated that they are dissa-
tisfied with their child care arrangements while 6 did not
indicate whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied. The
respondents who stated that they are dissatisfied with their
current arrangements have a total of 2 infants and 4
toddlers/preschoolers.
West County:
Twenty-three respondents in West County indicated dissatis-
faction with their child care arrangements. Employees in the
dissatisfied group have a total of 4 infants and 8
toddlers/preschoolers. Fourteen of the respondents did not
indicate whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with
their current child care arrangements.
It is apparent that there are many employees who would be
interested in availing themselves of better child care
resources and services. It is important to note that in
addition to the estimated number of children of employees who
might utilize full-time child care, some satisfied child care
users might also move their children to other child care
facilities if care was readily available close to the
employee' s work site.
II. Availability of Resources in the Greater Martinez Area
With regards to available day care costs and other child care ser-
vices in the Martinez area, the following data was extracted from
summary reports issued by the Contra Costa Childrens' Council as
of October 31, 1986. Time did not permit staff survey of other
child care resources in the greater Martinez area.
Martinez/Pacheco Area
Family Day Care Capacity Per Unit
34 homes licensed 6 children
9 homes licensed 12 children
1 home licensed 10 children
1 home licensed 5 children
Average & Range of Fees
Full-time (week) Low High Average
Infant $50 $138 $82
Preschool 50 138 78
Part-time (week)
Infant $25 $ 75 $48
Preschool 25 75 44
Afterschool (week)
Full-time $50 $125 $71
Part-time 25 75 42
Center Based Care Capacity Per Center
Martinez Early Childhood Center 101 children
Agape Nursery School 80 children
YWCA Martinez/Pacheco 57 children
Cherub Child Care 36 children
Alhambra Montessori 36 children
Kiers Kids N Stuff Inc. 34 children
Patchin Schools 32 children
Kiwanis Youth Center 15 children
The Little Acorns School 14 children
Total Capacity 732 children (Family/Center)
Average & Range of Fees
Full-time (week) Low High Average
Infant $75 $110 $93
Preschool 49 97 69
Part-time (week)
Infant $33 $ 55 $44
Preschool 25 55 40
Afterschool (week)
Full-time $72 $ 80 $76
Part-time 24 55 39
III. Development of a Potential Fee Schedule
Development of a fee schedule is dependent on the resolution of certain
policy questions which could affect the direction and refinement of data in
such a schedule. The following questions are illustrative of some of the
issues with respect to constructing a viable fee schedule.
1. Should total family income or employee income be the basis
for computing a partial subsidy of child care expense?
Should there be a needs assessment element in computing the
subsidy? If family income is the basis, what are the legal
complications of requiring such information? What is the
appropriate subsidy basis in families with both spouses
employed by the County? Should each employee be treated as
equally entitled to such a "benefit" or should the family
unit be considered?
2. In determining subsidy, should a distinction be made between
licensed providers and unlicensed providers? Licensure is
not presently required of providers caring for 3 or fewer
children. Should the "neighbor-next-door" , "relative" ,
"friend" , etc. child care arrangement be considered?
3. Should the County undertake any share of liability insurance
required of providers to increase the availability of
providers?
4. Should the provision of child care subsidy be available for
other dependents with special needs such as handicapped,
sick, or aged family members who require "day care"?
5. Should a child care subvention plan contemplate a specific
County-wide overall budgetary parameter?
6. A program of child care subsidy for employees is an employee
benefit subject to meet and confer with employee organiza-
tions. Should child care be negotiated on a separate basis
with each union, recognizing that a wide range of needs and
interests will be present among the various employee
organizations?
7. Should a fee schedule consider various elements such as
infant vs. pre-school care vs. after-school care; number of
children in the same or different facilities; private schools
vs . custodial day care and use of child care facilities
during non-work hours?
Further investigation and research into this subject matter will require a
substantial commitment of time and money. In addition, staff will need direc-
tion regarding the policy issues discussed above.
cc: Eileen Bitten, Personnel Department
Beverly Moultrie, Office of County Administrator
Kim Franklin, Personnel Department
HDC/WPH:ms