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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06052001 - C.152 T, FHS #1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA �;����.=•.:.,I .i� ,;;:� FROM: Family & Human Services Committee := COUNTY DATE: June 5, 2001 SUBJECT: Child Care Affordability Fund SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION(S): AUTHORIZE and DIRECT the Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT) to disperse the FY 2001-02 Child Care Affordability Fund as follows: ➢ $140,000 to the Contra Costa Child Care Council for child care subsidies to low-income, at-risk families in Contra Costa County not eligible for CalWORKs child care; ➢ $50,000 to the Pittsburg PreSchool and Community Council for infantitoddler therapeutic child care for tow-income, at-risk children not eligible for CalWORKs child care; and ➢ $60,000 for child care for emergency foster families throughout the County. BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S): On May 14, 2001, the Family and Human Services Committee considered a report from Kathy Tabor, Chair, Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT) on their recommendations for allocation of the Child Care Affordability Fund for fiscal year 2001-02 (see attached report). Ms Tabor emphasized that child care is a complex issue, the solution to which is beyond the FACT Committee's funding allocation. However, their recommendations seek to use monies as strategically as possible. The FACT Committee recommendation is consistent with past year allocations approved by the Board of Supervisors. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: VYES SIGNATURE: _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR_RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): MARK SAULNIER ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED `AIFHER- VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUP VISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact:Sara Hoffman,335-1090 ATTESTED �aU JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: CAO Mary Kay Miller(EHS) FACT(via EHS) BY EPUTY BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S): Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier agreed with the challenges facing child care in Contra Costa County and said that we need a comprehensive approach to the issue. He also requested that the FACT staff check on the possibility of increasing the fund after completion of the new hotel in the Pleasant Hill BART Station Redevelopment Area 2 FABMILY AND CHILDREN'S TRUST COMMITTEE Please reply to: o� FACT Staff Contra Costa County Employment& Human Services Department 40 Douglas Drive Martinez,CA 94553-4068 (925)313-1614 (925)313-1758(tax) TO: The Family and Human Services Committee May 8, 2001 FROM: John Cullen Maty Kay Miller(FACT Sta SUBJECT: Child Care Affordability Fund (Referral 91) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RECOMINIENDATION The Director of the Employment and Human Services Department recommends that the .Family and Human Services Committee direct the Family and Children' Trust Committee (FACT) to disburse the Child Care Affordability Funds for FY 2001-2001 as follows: 1. $140,000 to the Contra Costa Child Care Council for child care subsidies to low-income, at-risk families in Contra Costa County not eligible for CaIWOR.K's child care; 2. $50,000 to the Pittsburg PreSchool and Community Council for infant/toddler therapeutic child care .for low-income, at-risk children not eligible for CalWORK's child care; and 3. $60,000 for child care for emergency foster families throughout the county. BACKGROUND In 1991, the Board of Supervisors earmarked $250,000 annually of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue from the Embassy Suites Hotel for child care in the county. From 1991 tluough 1995, the Internal Operations Committee of the Board was responsible for recommending a spending plan for these funds to the full Board. In 1996, responsibility for recommending annual financial plans to the Board was transferred to the Family and Human Services Committee so as to coordinate the use of these funds with other funding streams and, to the extent possible, leverage these funds to optimize scarce resources for child care. On February 25, 1997, the Board of Supervisors approved a reconurtendation from the 1996-97 Family and Human Services Committee, that the Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT) be responsible for establishing yearly priorities for the use of the Child Care Affordability Funds. THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S TRUST COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE APPROPRIATE EXPENDITURE OF VARIOUS STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS �9 In May, 2000, following discussions and approval of this Committee and the Board, the same three groups were awarded contracts for the current year as follows: 1. 51.53, 135 to the Contra Costa Child Care Council; 2. $46,865 to the Pittsburg PreSchool and Community Council; and, 3. $50,000 for emergency foster home child care. CURRENT CONTRACT STATUS REPORT Each of the current child contractors has performed very well under the terms of their agreements during the current year. As of May, 2001, the Child care Council has provided frill-time subsidized care to 45 children. 7 families of these children reside in East County, 11 in Central County and 14 in West County. The Council acts as a clearinghouse for child care referrals in the county and is in the best position to allocate Child Care Affordability Funds in an equitable manner to the neediest families. Pittsburg PreSchool is providing year-round full-day therapeutic child care to 24 infants and toddlers with a history, or at high risk, of child abuse/neglect and also providing significant parenting education, ESL classes,job training and referrals to other supportive services for the parents/caretakers of the children. The Emergency Foster Care Program within the Employment and Human Services Department has developed specific guidelines for the use of the fiends awarded to emergency foster families, and the funds are both providing child care for current caretakers, and also helping the Program to recruit additional emergency foster families that are sorely needed. BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION The FACT Committee has considered the child care issues currently facing the county, met with representatives of the community and child care agencies/providers and reviewed the results of Children and Families Commission (Prop 10) public hearings related to child care and also the strategies that the Commission will be funding during the next fiscal year. From these discussions and reviews, it is clear that the one area of child care that is still not being heavily supported in the county with new funds is subsidized care for needy families. These families,'most of whom are the "working poor" and not eligible for other assistance, often cannot continue to maintain their current positions and pay the cost of child care Cor their children. The FACT Committee believes that subsidized care for these families is important to the overall development and safety of the children, and also provides an incentive for the parents/caretakers to seek and maintain employment that will improve the family functioning and avoid the need of CalWORK's services and/or cash aid. A clear need for this subsidized care has been evident the past several years as both the Child Care Council and Pittsburg PreSchool always have extensive waiting lists. Currently, the Child Care Council has a list of 2,864 low-income, non-Cal WORK's children waiting for child care. Likewise, many emergency foster parents/caretakers, who are performing a valuable service to the county, often cannot continue their employment if they are required to pay child care costs for their own and their foster children. The FACT Committee is recommending continued funding of these programs at the specified levels and hopes your Committee will forward this recommendation to the frill Board for approval.