HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12112001 - SD.9 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ;Yr Contra
FROM:
Costa
Mark DeSaulnier
County
DATE: December 11, 2001
SUBJECT: CalWORKS Child Care Funding RESOLUTION NO. 2001/590
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
BACKGROUND!
As a result of the State of California's recent economic downturn, the State Department of
Education has directed those agencies that administer Stage 3 CalWORKS funds to begin
terminating subsidies to families who time off Stage 2 after January 31,2002. On
November 1, 2001, 55 families in Contra Costa County with 95 children in child care were
notified that they may be terminated from subsidy programs. A similar number of families
were notified on December 1, 2001 that they may lose benefits.
The Governor is holding back$24 million in Stage 3 CalWORKS child care funding. This
money would be used to provide child care subsidies to families who have been off cash aid
for more than 24 months. In holding back the funds, the Governor has stated that he
wants the Legislature to revamp the subsidized child care system by January 31, 2002 to
achieve greater equity between CalWORKS families and low income working families in
accessing child care and to serve additional children with no additional funding.
If the Governor does not release the$24 million, a total of 270 families in Contra Costa
County.with 483 children will lose their child care assistance by the end_of_the current fiscal
year,June 30,2002. These are families who have struggled to transition from welfare to
work. They have done what was asked of them and played by the rules; however, they are
not earning incomes that would allow them to pay for child care. The average cost of child
care in Contra Costa County is over$600 per month for a preschool age child in a center
and over$500 per month in a family child care home. Many of these families have more
than one child and most make less than ten dollars an hour.
The Women's Caucus is struggling to meet the Governor's demands; however, it may not
be in time to help families who are timing off Stage 2 by January or February.
RECOMMENDATION-
That
.COMMENDATION-That the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County adopt by resolution their support
for the release of the$24 million to continue support to these families and forward a copy of
this action the Governor's office immediately.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
ACTION OF BOARD ON ��('OAPPRON9RD_. OTHER
SEE ADDENDUM .FOR BOARD ACTION
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
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.
ATTESTED /) "
JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OFT E BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Contact: Mark DeSanWer (925)646-5763
cc: County Administrator
Employment and Hunwn Services Director
Governor Gray Davis BY ,DEPUTY
ADDENDUM TO ITEM SD.9
December 11, 2001
On this day, the Board was scheduled to consider adopting Resolution 2001/590 indicating the
Board of Supervisor's support for the release by the Governor of $24 million of Stage 3
Ca1WORKS funding to provide continuing child care subsidies to families who have been off
cash aid for more than 24 months, and forwarding a Resolution to the Governor's office.
It was noted by Supevisor Uilkema that the Governor had released the funds over the weekend,
after this item was placed on the agenda and before the meeting.
Therefore, the Board took the following action:
DIRECTED that staff prepare a letter to Governor Gray Davis expressing the Board's
appreciation, and encouraging resolution of the matter with the Legislature for the 2002/2003
budget year.
(Ayes: 1, 1I1, IV, V and II; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: None)