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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11041997 - C90 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-01 Contra �..-- r FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ���'�� � Costa DATE: October 27, 1997 `�: ;. a .�4� County REPORT FROM THE CHILD CARE TASK FORCE ON RECOMM NDATIONS SUBJECT: MADE TO THE BOARD BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTRA COSTA CHILD CARE COUNCIL SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. APPROVE the attached action plan as outlined by the Contra Costa Child Care Task Force. 2. DIRECT the County Administrator to include in the Board's proposed 1998 Legislative Program a position in support of waiving work participation requirements for mothers of children under 12 months of age. 3. REQUEST the Youth Commission to convene an information sharing meeting of all concerned individuals about the needs of the 10 to 13 year old population. 4. REQUEST the Social Service Director to insure that all TANF recipients receive the counseling they need to make informed child care choices by making sure that child care experts are available in all Social Service Department offices. 5. REQUEST the Child Care Task Force to convene all appropriate parties to determine the needs and resources that are available to provide child care training programs through the community colleges. 6. ADOPT a position in support of requiring that all exempt (unregulated) child care providers who are paid with public funds receive at least a minimum level of training, as would have been required by SB 309 (Watson). CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEND TION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE -OTHER MARK DeSAULNIER DONNA G ER SIGNATURES November 4, 1997 ACTION OF BOARD ON 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. County Administrator ATTESTED November 4, 1997 Contact: Social Service Director PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: Community Services Director SUPERO RS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Child Care Task Force (Via Dean Lucas) Executive Director, Contra Costa Child Care Council BY F I I A. DEPUTY c.Cv F&HS-01 7. ADOPT a position in support of requiring that all exempt (unregulated) child care providers who are paid with public funds should be "Trust Lined" (have a criminal records check through fingerprints) to insure they have never been convicted of a violent crime, including child abuse. 8. REQUEST the County Administrator to review Representative Woolsey's HR 899 and Senator Dodd's S. 19 and provide a report to the Board. 9. REQUEST the Social Service Director to determine the cost to "Trust Line" a child care provider and report that information to the Board. BACKGROUND: On July 22, 1997, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from our Committee which included the following recommendation: 10. REQUEST the Child Care Task Force to review the recommendations made to the Board of Supervisors by the Executive Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council and the responses provided by the Social Service Director and Community Services Director and design an action plan which can be returned to the Family and Human Services Committee for further consideration. On October 27, 1997, our Committee met with members of the Child Care Task Force, the Social Service Director, and the Community Services Director. Virginia Richardson, Chair of the Child Care Task Force, presented us with the attached report in response to the Board's request and reviewed it with our Committee. Supervisor Gerber expressed particular support for items 9 and 10 on the Task Force's action plan. Kate Ertz-Berger noted that unregulated providers have to be "Trust Lined" if they are not relatives. The object of item #10 is to require that all providers be fingerprinted and their criminal record checked. In addition, she noted that the Child Care Council is trying to generate resources to provide training to unregulated providers. John Cullen noted that the Social Service Department's CalWORKS Plan is moving in the direction of "Trust Lining" all providers and encouraging training for all providers. Supervisor Gerber asked that Mr. Cullen specifically determine the cost to take a provider's fingerprints and run them through the Trust Line system and report that information to the Board. From the discussion with the members of the Child Care Task Force, our Committee has agreed to recommend that the Board endorse the Task Force's action plan and that the specific recommendations included above be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval. For additional background information, we have provided the Board with copies of Kate Ertz-Berger's original presentation to the Board and the response from the Social Service Director and Community Services Director. -2- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE October 27, 1997 Family and Human Services Committee Private Industry Council Conference Room 2425 Bisso Lane Concord, CA 94523 Dear Committee Members: On July 22, 1997, the Board of Supervisors requested the Child Care Task Force (CCTF) to review the recommendations made to the Board by the Executive Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council and the responses provided by the Social Service Director and Community Services Director and design an action plan which can be returned to your Committee for further action. We are pleased to submit the following report in response to your request. The CCTF members' comments on the recommendations made to the Board by the Child Care Council Executive Director and the responses provided by the Social Service and Community Service Directors and action plan for the Committee's consideration are as follows:. COMMENTS: 1. , Contact our state legislators and urge them to take the federal option to waive work participation requirements for mothers of children under 12 months of age. CCTF concurs. No action to be taken at this time. 2. Pay providers directly under the parent choice subsidy programs administered by the Department of Social Services. This has been accomplished through legislation. 3. Support Senator Rainey's bill SB 158 which would make funding available for facilities. Letters of support sent. The substance of this bill was included in the welfare reform legislation. 4. Ask the Youth Commission to convene an information sharing meeting of all C.qo parties concerned about the 10 to 13 year old population. CCTF concurs. 5. Insure that all TANF recipients receive the counseling they need to make informed child care choices by making sure that the child care experts are available at all DSS offices. CCTF concurs. The Contra Costa Child Care Council has received a small private grant to establish a pilot project through the Social Service Department. 6. Keep separate the child care needs of welfare recipients and the employment opportunities that child care as a profession may offer. CCTF concurs. West and East Central offices have child care training for GAIN participants. 7. Explore the feasibility of child care training programs with the community colleges. CCTF concurs. The recommendation is underway. The three community colleges have responded to the State Department of Education's RFP which, although not funded, laid the foundation for training for child care (teacher) providers. Currently 912 are enrolled in the colleges. Literacy, however, is recognized as a possible stumbling block. Other players, such as Regional Occupational Programs, should be involved. 8. Make sure that all welfare recipients have access to adequate child care consumer education. CCTF concurs. This recommendation is substantially the same as #5. 9. Support Senator Watson's bill, SB 309, which would require a minimum level of training for all exempt (unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy. CCTF concurs but the bill failed. 10. Support requiring all exempt (unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy money to be Trust lined to insure they have never been convicted of a violent crime, such as child abuse. CCTF concurs. We should keep advocating for this position, to include exploring the possibility of the County implementing this requirement on its own. 11. Move immediately to transition the Head Start Program from a part day, part year program to a full day, full year program which can meet the needs of welfare 2 recipients transitioned to work. CCTF concurs. This is underway. CSD Head Start is implementing this recommendation, restricted only by the lack of funding. The budget bill includes state funds for state pre-school. CSD is expecting a $4 million increase ip Head Start funds. The Department has also received a one-time facilities grant for playground equipment. These are significant increases for the County's Head Start programs. 12. Support federal legislation which would expand funding available for child care: Representative Woolsey's bill- HR 899, and Senator Dodd's bill- S. 19. CCTF concurs. ACTION PLAN: NOTE- The actions correspond to the recommendations listed above. 1. This item should be incorporated in the County's legislative program. 2 & 3. These need no further action 4. The Contra Costa Youth Commission should be asked to convene an information sharing meeting. 5. The work should be continued, and should include #8. 6. Policy makers and practitioners should be advised to be mindful of the needs of both welfare recipients caring for their families and those who may choose to enter child care as a profession. 7. Continue to explore fundingfor community college and Regional Occupation Program (ROP) training. The Child Care Task Force should pull together all the players to determine the needs and resources available. Ed Lewis would be a good resource. The Task Force should have input with community colleges, adult education and ROP programs being formed. 8. This should occur in conjunction with #5 above. 9. SB 309 (Watson) was not enacted. 10. Explore the feasibility of extending Trust line to all providers at the local level. 11. The Community Services Department is implementing this recommendation. 3 9 0 12. This item should be incorporated in the County's legislative program. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with our thoughts and recommendations. CCTF members will be present to amplify our responses and respond to your questions. Yours truly, Virginia Richardson, Chair Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force cc: Social Service Director Community Services Director 4 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Social Service Department TO: Family and Human Services Committee DATE: July 14, 1997 FROM: John Cullen Scott Tandy SUBJ: Child Care and Welfare Reform The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWOA) requires Contra Costa County, along with the rest of the county, to redesign our approach to assisting families to become self-sufficient. The Contra Costa County Social Service Department and the Community Services Department stand in the forefront of this change through our service responsibilities to needy persons in this county. In this role, we recognize that making changes to better enable parents to support their families without assistance will require a coordinated use of resources to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency. One of the greatest needs of families as they make this transition will be child care. Under PRWOA, the essential need for child care is recognized through the creation of the Child Care and Development Block Grant which now includes the child care monies from GAIN, Supplemental Child Care, childcare disregard, Transitional Child Care, non-GAIN Employment and Training, and State Department of Education programs. There are many different issues related to child care that will be discussed over the next few years — availability, accessibility, affordability, quality, and parent choice, to name a few. The availability of child care resources in Contra Costa County is largely defined by its funding sources. Although funding comes from many different sources, of greatest concern to the county, the community, and child care advocates is the availability of government money. In preparing to deal with these issues within the context of welfare reform, it is important to have a baseline understanding of current child care resources and service delivery systems. This report covers only government sources of funding, Federal, State and County money, as they stand in 1997, and the programs funded. Having an understanding of what is currently available and the challenges that lie ahead is a_necessary part of planning for change. The report is comprised of charts that indicate the different child care subsidy programs available to low-income families in Contra Costa County. It includes programs administered by the County Social Service Department, Community Services Department and the Private Industry Council. It also includes information on child care funding to schools and community based organizations. BACKGROUND Government funding for child care in the County currently comes from three sources: the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the County. Monies from CDE and CDSS are a combination of Federal and State funds. The small amount of County General Fund money used in child care programs comes from Community Development Mitigation fees, the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) that forms the Child Care Affordability funds, and the Social Service Department budget. Under past state law, each county was required to establish a Local Planning Council under the auspices of either the County Board of Supervisors or the County Board of Education to recommend priorities for the use of Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds in the county. By agreement, the Board of Supervisors is the appointing authority in Contra Costa County. ROLE OF THE LOCAL PLANNING COUNCIL The Local Planning Council in Contra Costa County is the Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force. This Task Force was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in August, 1991, to design a County Plan and to make recommendations for priorities for use of Federal Block Grant funds. In 1994, at the request of the Child Care Task Force, the Task Force was redesigned to exclude representatives from the Social Service Department and Community Services Departments. Ultimately, and based on a decision of the Task Force, these department representatives were assigned the designation "Child Care Expert," and were directed to represent themselves rather than their departments. Voting members of the Task Force are now comprised of 13 licensed center providers and private non-profit agencies, 4 parents, 7 experts, 2 business/labor, 2 government, and 2 Office of Education. As a result of these designations, recommendations from the Task Force have routinely addressed the needs of licensed center providers, but have not adequately addressed the needs of low-income families for subsidized child care or welfare reform issues critical to the County government itself. DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CONTRA COSTA.000NTY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE AND THE CONTRA COSTA CHILD CARE COUNCIL At the time of the formation of the Task Force, confusion arose over the roles of the Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force and the Contra Costa Child Care Council. The Child Care Task Force was appointed by the Board of Supervisors as 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." On the other hand, the Contra Costa Child Care Council evolved separately as a private, non-profit organization and the contract resource and referral agency designated by State CDE in this county. Part of the confusion has occurred because the Executive Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council currently chairs the Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force. In general, there is a problematic conflict of interest with this dual responsibility because the Contra Costa Child Care Council also receives some of the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant money for which the Child Care Task Force is charged with setting priorities. This potential conflict exists if any of the Task Force members who receive Block Grant money chair the Task Force. WELFARE REFORM In the proposals from the Super-Conference Committee for welfare reform in California, there will be legislation requiring Local Planning Councils to advise about child care issues under welfare reform. Local Planning Councils would be appointed half by the Board of Supervisors and half by the Board of Education. Membership would be comprised of child care providers, child care consumers, local government and community representatives. The Local Planning Council would be responsible for conducting needs assessments and developing local priorities as well as coordinating waiting lists and programs. Some state funding would be available to these groups. Such a redesign in the membership of the Contra Costa County Child Care Task Force would give County Government more input in discussions and recommendations. This would permit the County to better coordinate services and meet the needs of low income families in our community and permit more careful planning on how the $25 million Contra Costa Count receives will be spent. Under the proposal agreed upon in the legislative Super-Conference Committee, child care would be divided into three stages. The first stage, for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF -formerly called "Aid to Families with Dependent Children" or "AFDC") who are seeking employment, will be paid through the Social Service Department. Stage two, for TANF recipients in training or education, and stage three, for needy, working families regardless of TANF status, would be administered by Alternative Payment (AP) providers. As we work through welfare reform, Contra Costa County's position is enhanced because the Social Service Department is also an AP provider for CDE. Statewide, only a few counties are AP providers. Having this source of child care funding available to.the Social Service Department in a single program, and coordinating with other County AP providers, will enable us to provide virtually seamless child care to families as they transition from TANF to self-sufficiency. RECOMMENDATIONS In consideration of the welfare and child care block grant changes, the Contra Costa Social Service Department and Community Services Department make the following recommendations for consideration by the Board of Supervisors: 1. Direct all child care block grant issues to the Social Service Department and Community Services Department, in order that we may coordinate services with the TANF block grant; 2. Reconstitute the Planning Council to perform duties envisioned under welfare reform. In addition, include in this reconstitution a Task Force chair who is not receiving or directing any activities involving government funding for child care, thereby avoiding conflict of interest; 3. Ensure that child care funding is universally accessible to all low-income families, whether or not they receive welfare; 4. Ensure that all parents requesting child care receive the counseling they need to make responsible child care choices; 5. Support a system that treats TANF or former TANF recipients the same as any other child care consumer; 6. Support expansion of Community Services child care facilities into East County; while protecting the quality of care in the facilitites; 7. Support expansion of Head Start into a full-time, year-round program; 8. Support training programs for volunteers from TANF, Head Start and Child Development parents to become child care providers; 9. Support efforts for development of a countrywide child care tracking system. In addition, we agree with the recommendation of the Board's Policy Forum Family Support Task Force that the Board of Supervisors bring together the major stakeholders in child care to: • agree upon the necessary elements of a quality, affordable, accessible child care system for children and youth (considering the Family Support Task Force findings), • Identify critical service delivery and organizational infrastructure issues and options from the perspective of all stake holders, • develop consensus, where possible, on critical issues with an implementation action plan for issues under local control and an advocacy action plan for issues under state or federal control. Change can come to Contra Costa County smoothly and efficiently, as we all work together. Our goal is to ensure adequate funding for and availability of quality child care throughout the county. The Board of Supervisors has also asked that our departments comment on the child care recommendations presented to the Board on April 22 by Kate Ertz-Berger in her capacity as the Executive Director of the Child Care Council. Attached are our responses. 1. Contact our state legislators and urge them to take the federal option to waive work participation requirements for mothers of children under 12 months of age. We agree with this. Developmentally for children, it's wise. Fiscally, it avoids the high cost (and lack.of availability) of infant care. 2. Pay providers directly under the parent choice subsidy programs administered by the Department of Social Services. In recognition of parental choice and encouragement of self-sufficiency, the Social Service Department provides parents with funds for child care. Additionally, when decided by the parent, the Department also pays providers directly. 3. Support Senator Rainey's bill SB 158 which will make funding available for facilities. We support the basic idea which would help increase quality of sites and providers. 4. Ask the Youth Commission to convene an information sharing meeting of all parties concerned about the 10 to 13 year old population. We support. This is the population that starts getting into trouble with too much unsupervised time. 5. Insure that all TANF recipients receive the counseling they need to make informed child care choices by making sure that child care experts are available at all DSS offices. We support all families receiving the counseling they need. We currently have a unit of child care experts at Marina West who handle all CDE money and who will be providing this counseling as part of the Marina West pilot project. 6. Keep separate the child care needs of welfare recipients and the employment opportunities that child care as a profession may offer. We see these as opportunities that welfare reform should address. Providing child care is an employment opportunity regardless of welfare reform. We are offering training in west county on a voluntary basis in cooperation with ROP, Contra Costa College, the Adult Schools and Head Start. Trainees will be qualified care providers, as well as learning something about starting their own Family Day Care. We anticipate Head Start hiring the trainees in the Fall. We are discussing expanding this program to Pittsburg in the Fall. We have responded to CDSS' request for pilot projects to offer training to TANF recipients. 7. Explore the feasibility of child care training programs with the community colleges. We are currently doing this. CDE has put out a Request for Application for a 2- year training and mentoring program. We gave a letter of support to the college and Child Care Council when they responded to this RFA. 8. Make sure that all welfare recipients have access to adequate child care consumer education. We have some information available in our District offices. We also refer to the Child Care Council for information. We will continue to pass on information in coordination with the efforts of the Council to make sure all parents have access to this education. 9. Support Senator Watson's bill, SB 309, which would require a minimum level of training for all exempt (unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy. We support this concept. 10. Support requiring all exempt (unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy money to be Trustlined to insure they have never been convicted of a violent crime, such as child abuse. We support extending Trustlihne to all providers. 11. Move immediately to transition the Head Start Program from a part day, part year program to a full day, full year program which can met the needs of welfare recipients transitioning to work. We support. Head Start has been proven effective for helping children get a better start on their education. Community Services has begun the process to transition into full day, full year program. 12. Support federal legislation which would expand funding available for child care: Representative Woolsey's bill- HR 899, and Senator Dodd's bill- S 19 We support. July 3, 1997 katerecm TALKING POINTS RECEIVED NEW RESEARCH FINDINGS APR 221007 CLERK BOARD OF Good child care is good for kids M==t The years 0 to 3 are the most critical for a child's brain development. During these critical first years,the foundation is laid for all social,emotional, physical and psychological development to come. CHILD CARE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY • Lack of infant/toddler,school age and alternative schedule care • Impact of class size reduction on child care • Welfare reform may mean a growing use of publicly subsidized, unregulated child care • Adequate access to child care includes referrals and parent education so parents may make informed choices • Quality child care requires intentionality on the part of the caregiver. • Child care as a possible employment opportunity for TANF recipients • Health and safety of the children must be the fast priority regardless of caregiver • Current resources may be inadequate to address child care'needs. • County government currently controls 60% of total child care subsidy funding(525.5 million) coming to Contra Costa County. 40%goes to 5 local education agencies and 10 community based non-profit agencies. • 30% of the county's subsidy dollars($7.8 million) are supporting part day, part.year programs serving poor families. These programs offer the least support for welfare recipients as they transition from welfare to work RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Contact our state legislators and urge them to take the federal option to waive work participation requirements for mothers of children under 12 months of age. 2. Pay providers directly under the parent choice subsidy programs administered by the Department of Social.Services. 3. Support Senator Rainey's bill SB 158 which will make funding available for facilities. 4. Ask the Youth Commission to convene an information sharing meeting of all parties concerned about the 10 to 13 year old population. 5. Insure that all TANF recipients receive the counseling they need to make informed child care choices by making sure that child care experts are available at all DSS offices. 6. Keep separate the child care needs of welfare recipients and the employment opportunities that child care as a profession may offer. 7. Explore the feasibility of child care training programs with the community colleges. 8. Make sure that all welfare recipients have access to adequate child care consumer education. 9. Support Senator Watson's bill, SB 309, which would require a minimum level of training for all exempt (unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy money. 10. Support requiring all exempt(unregulated) care givers paid with public subsidy money to be Trustlined to insure they have never been convicted of a violent crime, such as child abuse. 11. Move immediately to transition the Head Start Program from a part day, part year program to a full day, full year program which can meet the needs of welfare recipients transitioning to work. 12. Support federal legislation which would expand funding available for child care: Representative Woolsey's bill - HR 899 Senator Dodd's bill - S 19 . Ensure plenty of affordable,high-quality places for babies to be cared for. Possible strategies to ensure more funding to help parents afford care include: L Invest a greater percentage of local general fund money in child care services. 2. Increase existing funding levels for State Department of Education's early child development programs. 3. Support federal legislative efforts to expand child care funding for low income working parents. 4. Increase infant care reimbursement rates — the State Department of Education helps cover the additional provider costs of caring for babies. 5. Municipalities should set aside a percentage of property taxes for child care/children's services (e.g., Prop. J in San Francisco, Measure K in Oakland). 6. The state should be sure to fully use all available federal dollars. 7. Establish more collaboratives to fully tap existing funding sources (e.g., Head Start, State pre-school); expand Early Head Start and link to full-day programs. 8. Use developers' fees to establish child care services in growing residential areas. 9. Develop more local child care pools — public/private partnerships with funds from state, local and corporate sources to help subsidize child care costs. Possible strategies to ensure adequate supply of care for all babies who need care include: 1. Local governments can ease restrictions on facilities (e.g., zoning barriers). 2. Governments can mandate child care facilities be included as part of planning for new residential and commercial districts. 3. Increase funds for family day care providers (loans, incentives or other funds) to stimulate creation of additional slots. 4. Support the creation and expansion of child care availability for non-traditional hours and situations: night time, weekends, sick baby care, etc. REGIONAL CHILD CARE CAMPAIGN YWIN ' . ._`•1.:n.^:' ::t;:. K):• `.: .? :. >< Bay Area Regional Child Care Campaign g ><:s Policy Statement _ D y Action Alliance for Children San Francisco unified School District Preamble Child Development Program Hatsaas,Ioc. California: P.kan Hear Hugo Family My Can I am your child. You can take good care of me by providing: Growth and Opportunity,Inc. Contra Costa Child Can Council a Training and support for my caregivers, whether they are parents, other Child Cars La_Center family members or professional child care providers; Gardner Childna's Center.Inc. Fast PaloNelthboCommuni"Aralen a Child care information so my parents and others can make informed sad Neighborhood Development / Staeting Points at SF Mayor's Office of choices about quality care for me and all other babies and children; Children.Youth and their Families Economic Opportunity Council of San >- Support for my family to do the best possible job nurturing me; and Francisco,Inc. Visiocica Valley Family School CbiWeen4 Commission.Coon"of > Plenty of affordable, high-quality places for babies and children to be Seats Crtu cared for. Children's Council of San Francisco California Family Child Care Training Invest in me and you are investing in your own future. Take good care of Collaborative C la native A Children and me now so I can take good care of you later. Families collaborative Santa Crut County Child Development Resource Center Policies .Children's Services Intsemadocd Child Development aid Family Studies Department.C1"College of San Francisco Improve Training and Support for Caregivers Fairfax/San Aaselmo Children's linter { Fairfai/San Anselmo j Parent Services Project . Develop a progressive "career ladder" development structure for family Child Care coordinating council of San Mateo child care providers (including non-licensed providers such as nannies, au California Child Care Resource and Referral pairs, family members, etc.) which includes training, on-site technical Network Chitdr.naadYout68ervkgCit,ofs.aJo•s assistance, and observable quality indicators. This would result in specific developmental levels and defined job descriptions for positions such as Coleman Advocates for ChiWm and Youth Nuiaut F�oaomk Devebpmant L.Center, child care aide, child care teacher, etc. Child Care Project Infant Toddler Consortium 2. Mandate the lowest ratio of babies to providers (3:1) and the highest National!center Joe the Earl.chadhaod qualification for providers of infant care. (This could be done by Worit ICs supporting the effort to merge Title 22 and Title 5 in child care codes.) Orpoltationa from then countless Alamo Contra Cost&Cy 3. Strengthen the links between resource and referral organizations, Illarin County Contra casts canon ]iontereyCounty, community colleges and other community-based training programs to Francisco County enable providers to learn and earn academic units outside the classroom, Santa Cm in on-site, ongoing training programs. This campaign is sponsored by generous grants from the Miriam and Peter Haas Fund, David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Peninsula Community Foundation. �ID 4. Improve outreach and support to non-professional caregivers (i.e., family members, friends). The "Warm Line" is a model of a successful outreach and support program that could be expanded. 5. Explore an educational credit program, similar to the G.I. Bill, for child care providers - they earn scholarship support for higher education with every year of service as a provider. 6. Provide trainings in languages other than English. 7. Ensure adequate compensation (salaries and benefits) for caregivers so that they can continue to provide quality care. Adequate compensation will also encourage high quality individuals to enter the field. Provide improved information on child care availability and quality, so parents and others can make informed choices about care for their babies. 1. Provide child cage information in a .parent's primary language wherever child care choices are made. Information about child care should be available to parents in many formats, including in-person consultation with child care counselors, in print, and on videos. 2. Increase funding to publicize the 1-800 number that currently helps parents find the resource and referral agency serving their county. 3. Increase funding to expand resource and referral outreach so that all parents have access to information about quality child care. Counselors should have the ability to travel to places such as laundromats, welfare offices and health clinics in order to reach more parents. 4. Ensure that child care information is designed to reach specific segments of the child care market (e.g., grandparents and foster parents). Provide families with support to do the best possible job nurturing their babies. 1. Expand child care programs' ability to provide parent support services. 2. Support community organizing efforts to empower parents and ensure they have a voice in making decisions that affect their children and families. 3. Provide parents with opportunities to access information about child growth and development, early education and parenting. 4. Offer all parents the opportunity to access job training and employment to ensure economic self-sufficiency. 5. Ensure that all parents and guardians are entitled to up to 40 hours per year of unpaid leave to spend with their child in his or her child care setting.