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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-01-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCV CHILD CARE TASK FORCE (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item dbe presented by: NEW BUSINESS DATE: January 23, 1990 SUBJECT: Santa Clarita Valley Child Care Task Force Report DEPARTMENT: City Manager BACKGROUND Attached is a detailed report of the work of the Santa Clarita Valley Child Care Task Force since its inception in the Spring of 1989. Ms. Lorraine Schrag, member of the Santa Clarita Valley Child Care Task Force Steering Committee, will be presenting the report highlighting the Task Force history, accomplishments and recommendations to the City of Santa Clarita: RECOMMENDATION Defer item to budget discussions in June. Request City Manager to consider proposal as part of the budget preparation process and make a recommendation to the 'City Council with the proposed 1990-91 budget. ATTACHMENT Child Care Task Force Report APPROVED '" TM Item: SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE c/o Lorraine Schrag 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, #A8 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 805-255-2474 January 10, 1990 The Honorable Jo Anne Darcy, Mayor City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Mayor Darcy: Enclosed please find a report detailing the work of the Santa Clarita Valley Child Care Task Force since its inception in the Spring of 1989. We would like to present our report and recommendation to the City Council for consideration during the budget process. Therefore, we request the opportunity to be included on the Agenda of the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 1990, to present this report.. I may be reached at 805-255-2474 to confirm arrangements for this presentation. Thank you very much. Sincerely, 0�4,t� Lorraine Schrag, for the Steering Committee cc: Task Force Steering Committee: Raquel Garcia, City of Santa Clarita Terry Hoover, Chair, Resource and Referral Subcommittee Marcy Pickop, Chair, Family Day Care Association Subcommittee Lorraine Schrag, Child Care Resource Center Terry Taylor, The Newhall Land and Farming Company Joan Waller, Chair, Community Education Subcommittee Enclosure 0 0 SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE Report and Recommendation to City of Santa Clarita City Council I. OVERVIEW The Santa Clarita Valley Task Force presents this report to the City Council, and with the intent of definition and continuity of purpose, respectfully recommends that the City of Santa Clarita fund the position of Child Care Coordinator as a regular full-time position as of July 1, 1990. In 1989, the City of Santa Clarita applied to the California State Department of Education for a local Coordination Grant. The Grant was awarded to the City for the purpose of funding a six month Child Care Coordinator position, a Needs Assessment to identify current available child care services as well as unmet child care needs in the community, and the support of a local Child Care Resource and Referral Office. A Child Care Task Force was convened to promote an understanding and lay a foundation for child care options within the community. The Task Force defined and achieved many of its goals, and in the process became more familiar with the perceived role and value of the Child Care Coordinator. II. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY Santa Clarita Valley's Child Care Task Force was born as a result of a local sense of urgency about child care. Some eye-opening statistics include: * Eight million children under the age of five have mothers who work. * Sixty percent of married men who work have wives working full or part time. * About one-third of all American children between the ages of six and 13 are home alone from sometime after school. Knowing these facts and caring about children and parents in the Santa Clarita Valley, representatives from the City of Santa Clarita, College of the Canyons, the YMCA, The Newhall Land and Farming Company and local citizens convened a Task Force in the Spring of 1989. With the formation of three subcommittees: Community Education, Resource and Referral, and Family Day Care, the primary goal of this Task Force was to improve the affordability, availability and quality of child care in the Santa Clarita Valley. III. ACCOMPLISHMENTS A. Community Education Subcommittee To educate the local community, this committee held a half-day seminar on December 2, 1989, entitled "Spotlight on Home Day Care." The seminar, held at College of the Canyons, emphasized informing those interested in providing day care in their homes on the various aspects of running a business, becoming licensed, providing age appropriate activities for preschool children, and raising awareness about the rights and responsibilities regarding child abuse. 2. Future plans include addressing how businesses can help their employees and the community with their child care needs. 0 B. Resource and Referral Subcommittee To respond to the requests of parents needing child care referrals,. this committee assisted in establishing a branch of the Child Care Resource Center (based in North Hollywood) in the Santa Clarita Valley. Though the CCRC has served the needs of the local community for several years, the recent growth in population has made it essential to open a local office to address the expanding needs of Santa Clarita Valley families. With the impetus of the California Child Care Initiative Project, funded in part by the City of Santa Clarita and local businesses, the Child Care Resource Center opened at 26111 Bouquet Canyon Road, #A8, Santa Clarita, in December of 1989. 2. Community awareness and education regarding child care issues were increased through increased media publicity. C. Family Day Care Subcommittee To address the lack of a network for day care providers, this committee formed a non-profit, soon-to-be incorporated Santa Clarita Valley Family Day Care Association. Monthly meetings with speakers addressing the concerns of child care providers, a monthly newsletter, and a referral network for licensed members of the Association were fully functional by the end of. 1989. Members held their first election of officers in January, 1990. 3. Plans include a Home Tour for child care providers in February, 1990, and fundraising activities for supporting the educational and networking aspects of the Association. D. Additional Accomplishments and Future Plans The Task Force has arranged with United Way for the assignment of a graduate student intern to assist.in the implementation of a Child Care Needs Assessment. The Task Force awaits involvement with the Santa Clarita Child Care Coordinator, especially in the areas of the Needs Assessment; as representatives on the technical advisory committee composed of the County Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, City Planning staff, Fire Department, School Districts and Park & Recreation Department to reduce red tape, ease the licensing process and expedite City zoning and development; and in making broad-based policy related to child 7 care. IV. RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY A. The Child Care Task Force recommends that the City of Santa Clarita fund the Child Care Coordinator as a regular full-time position as of July 1, 1990. Reasons for this recommendation include: 1. The hundreds of hours of work completed by the Child Care Task Force have laid a valuable foundation and must continue. These hours, voluntary in most cases, represent significant efforts and accomplishments. At this time the v • Child Care Coordinator is needed to oversee the continuation of these tasks in order for the City to continue its proactive position in this area of critical need. In recognition of the growing importance of Child Care Coordinators, there are currently 39 Local Government Child Care Coordinators in the state of California, of which 14 are in the Los Angeles County area. 2. The Needs Assessment represents a lengthy process of surveying child care services in the community. By the time the survey information is ready for evaluation, very little time will remain for the Child Care Coordinator to effectively use the information, make recommendations for improvements or implement programs. These activities are fundamentally the most vital phases of the process. 3. Development of a long range master plan for child care in the City of Santa Clarita will take more than six month for careful evaluation and follow up. A framework for the future of child care in the Valley is at stake. 4. Investigation and recommendation for the formation of an employer based consortium to develop public-private partnerships for development and funding of child care programs and facilities will take longer than six months to research and prepare. Ongoing efforts will be required in this project. 5. Continued support of the Child Care Coordinator position will allow for the development of additional support from the corporate and non-profit sectors for expanded efforts in child care coordination, grants for pilot programs, consortiums for new centers and improved training. V. CONCLUSION Through the cooperative efforts of the City of Santa Clarita and segments of the business, educational, recreational and early childhood community, the Child Care Task Force has undertaken a strong agenda for the children and families of Santa Clarita and has demonstrated an ability to accomplish vital goals in the best interests of the community. Continuing the Child Care Coordinator position is a cost effective way to leverage the State Department of Education grant; ensure the continuity of programs, plans and resources; proactively anticipate future child care needs and perpetuate the standards and quality of life our community represents. Because the City of Santa Clarita has shown itself to be progressive and positive in its encouragement and participation in the efforts of the Child Care Task Force, we urge continued support in the form of the City's willingness to budget the full-time, regular position of Child Care Coordinator beginning July 1, 1990.