Background
In 1991,
Assembly member Jackie Speier authored AB 2141 (Chapter 1187), which
created Local Child Care Planning Councils (LPCs) in each county.
AB 2141 authorized these local councils to determine local child
care needs, to develop priorities for the allocation for federal Child
Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds, and to prepare a
county-wide child care plan.
The advent of
federal and state welfare reform in combination with a devolution of
responsibility to counties to create and administer welfare programs has
impacted their role of local child care planning councils.
Chapter 270, Statutes of 1997 (AB 1542) created a new welfare
program in California: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to
Kids (Cal WORKs). This same legislation also strengthened the role of local
child care planning councils.
Strengthened Role of Local Planning Councils
Local Child
Care Planning Councils continue to determine local community child care
needs through the development of needs assessments and county-wide child
care plans. These Councils
have a large role in developing quality, accessible child care.
Child Care is a
key component of the Cal WORKs welfare program, which attempts to move
families to economic self-sufficiency.
Although the authorizing legislation for local planning councils if
found in the Cal WORKs legislation (AB 1542), local planning councils are
mandated to work with a variety of local players in addition to those
connected with the welfare system to build a comprehensive child care
approach for all families. Those
encouraged to participate in the local planning process include:
* Subsidized and
non-subsidized child care providers;
* County welfare departments;
* Head Start/Early Head Start;
* Local education agencies;
* Job training programs;
* Employers;
* Integrated child and family service councils;
* Parent organizations; and
* Other interested parties.
Additional
new responsibilities of local child care planning councils include:
* Design a system to
consolidate local child care waiting lists.
Currently, CDD is funding nine pilot Centralized Eligibility List
projects and an evaluation of those pilot projects. (1.5 million)
* Coordinate part-day programs, including State Preschool and Head
Start, with other child car to provide full-day care;
* Provide consultation to the CDE and California Department of Social
Services on developing a single application and intake form.
* Identify county priorities for expansion of child car programs in
unserved and underserved areas by zip code.
* AB 212 (Chapter 547) established a child care staff retention
programs for staff that works directly with children in state-subsidized
child care centers (15 million)
* SB 1703 (Total $42 million) includes playground compliance grants,
contracts for equipment/materials for Resource and Referral Agencies
(R&Rs) for inclusion of children with disabilities and 30% of this
funding will be allocated for contracts for R&Rs and/or LPCs for
training and technical assistance, developing local plans and/or awareness
and outreach that benefits
* LPCs are encouraged to collaborate with the State Children and Families
Commission projects and local Children and Families commission projects at
the local county level.
* LPCs and R&Rs participate in Regional Resource Center meetings in 10
locations throughout the state.
