COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

March 21, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 26,2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Glen H. Brooks, Jr., Director, Central Region

SUBJECT:

Approve an Agreement with the Child Care Coordinating Council.

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Child Care Coordinating Council for:

1.

Provisions for training exempt child care providers.

2.

Providing a designated (800) "Warmline" (phone line) for San Mateo County's CalWORKs participants.

3.

Providing funding for a full-time staff for the purpose of planning, developing and securing additional financing for those facilities that will receive funding from the Child Care Facilities Expansion Fund.

4.

Administration and management of the HSA Leavers Project.

5.

Administration and management of the Peninsula Quality Fund for Early Childhood Facilities.

Background

The County of San Mateo has previously contracted with the Child Care Coordinating Council for the services of Exempt Provider Training and the 800 "Warmline" (phone line). The Child Care Coordinating Council is the resource and referral agency for San Mateo County and a large provider of child care for CalWORKs participants and former CalWORKs participants. CalWORKs legislation mandated the creation of "a swift means of communication and co-location" with the county resource and referral agency to provide access to CalWORKs participants who desired information on available child care services and resources. The Child Care Coordinating Council has provided exempt provider training for several years as one of its many training services.

Last fall, the Board of Supervisors endorsed the effort to increase child care supply in San Mateo County by allocating $25,000 to the Peninsula Quality Fund for Early Childhood Facilities. The Child Care Facilities Expansion Fund also provides staffing to promote that effort. The objective of the Leavers Project is to identify exiting CalWORKs participants and ensure they are accessing all services available to them. The Child Care Coordinating Council will work closely with Human Services Agency staff on this project.

Discussion

Exempt Provider Training:

This Agreement provides funding through December 2004 to provide training for those child care providers of CalWORKs participants. Training provided enhances the quality of child care available to CalWORKs participants. Total funding for this section of the agreement is not to exceed $411,000.

800 "Warmline" (phone line):

This Agreement provides funding through December 2004. This designated 800 phone line will continue to provide child care resource and referral information. Participants will receive information on other available services such as the Child Care Food Program, Parent Services Project and Exempt Provider Training. The funding for this section of the agreement is not to exceed $224,529.

Child Care Facilities Expansion Fund/Staffing:

This Agreement provides a one time funding in the amount of $162,161. In exchange for the commitment of County funds contributed to the Child Care Facilities Expansion Fund for specific facilities projects, a percentage of additional child care slots will be committed to low-income families at affordable rates. In addition, preferential enrollment of available slots will be offered to Human Services Agency "Resource Parents" who need child care in order to continue to serve as foster or adoptive parents. There are currently 22,462 child care slots in San Mateo County. It is the County's goal to increase child care spaces in San Mateo County.

HSA Leavers Project:

This Agreement will provide a one time contribution of $24,999. The funding for Alternative Payment Program staff, the staff will recommend child care options and work with families exiting CalWORKs. The funds will also cover operational needs of the program.

Peninsula Quality Fund for Early Childhood Facilities:

This Agreement will provide a one-time contribution of $25,000. This fund will allow grantees to develop business plans including long-term facility plans to promote the retention of child care centers. The business planning process will be facilitated by an experienced private sector business planner and is geared to reducing the closure of existing centers.

This Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.

Vision Alignment

This Agreement with Child Care Coordinating Council keeps the commitment of Ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 6: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing quality child care options and safe child care centers in San Mateo County.

Fiscal Impact

The term of this Agreement is March 26, 2002 to December 31, 2004. The total amount of this agreement is $847,689. Funding for this agreement is from CalWORKs Single Allocation (Total $635,529) and CalWORKs Incentive funds ($212,160). There is no Net County Cost.