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Consider approval of the Solano County Individualized Child Care Subsidy Pilot Plan
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X___
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve the Solano County Individualized Child Care Subsidy Pilot Plan.
SUMMARY:
AB 377 (Frazier) Child care subsidy plans: Counties of San Diego and Solano authorized, until January 1, 2023, the development and implementation of individualized county child care subsidy plans. The bill requires the plans to be submitted to the local planning council and the respective county board of supervisors for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item is absorbed by the department’s FY2017/18 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with AB 377, Children’s Network and the Solano County Local Child Care and Development Planning Council (Solano LPC) worked with local community stakeholders to develop the county subsidy plan (Attachment A). Mission Analytics Group, Inc. guided the creation of the plan by providing technical assistance and policy analysis consulting services during this process. To ensure meaningful input in all phases of the plan development, the Solano LPC has been working with an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives from State child care contractors and local social service agencies.
The pilot plan will allow flexibility in local subsidized child care contracts to increase families’ access to subsidized child care. The pilot plan was approved by the Solano LPC on April 4, 2018. Below is a summary of the proposed the changes:
1. Increasing income threshold for subsidized care initial eligibility
2. Restoring the age eligibility for California State Preschool Program contracts to 2.9 years old as of September 1st of the fiscal year.
3. Increasing hours of services for families seeking housing or employment.
4. Establishing a family fee schedule to set fees at approximately 10% of family income following any changes in the State family fee schedule and any annual updates to the income threshold.
These changes will support subsidized child care programs to fully use available subsidies and more children and families in Solano County to be served. Bi-annual evaluation reports are required by California Department of Education and will also be submitted to the Board of Supervisors.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the current pilot plan; however, this is not recommended as approval of this plan increases access to child care for low income families and fully utilizes Solano’s subsidized child care allocation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Solano County Individualized Childcare Subsidy Pilot Plan was developed through a community planning process led by the Solano LPC with funding for the development of the plan provided partially by First 5 Solano. The final plan was reviewed and approved by the Solano LPC Council on April 4, 2018.